Application Guidelines

Applicants are required to have:

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Some well-qualified applicants with below a 3.0 GPA may be considered. Please see the Admission Types section below for more information.

Most applicants have:

• More than two years of professional work experience
• Experience in the hospitality and tourism sector

The MSBA-HTM program enrolls students with a variety of academic and professional backgrounds, so there's no need to have a specific undergraduate degree or current hospitality role to be admitted to the program.

To complete and submit your master's degree application, the following application materials are required:

• Completed online application form
• A scanned copy of official transcripts from all universities or colleges where a degree was conferred
  • Unofficial web transcripts downloaded through a university's online portal will not be accepted, except for Virginia Tech alumni.
  • Students with degrees from universities outside the U.S. will need to submit a report from a credential evaluation service. TOEFL/IELTS scores may also be required. See Additional Materials for International Students section below.
• A copy of your resume
• Two letters of recommendation sent electronically through the application portal
  • At least one recommendation must be from a current or recent past supervisor
• Academic and professional goals statement
  • Applicants are asked by the Graduate School to provide a 1-2 page double-spaced personal statement that addresses why you are pursuing a graduate degree, why at Virginia Tech, and why now.
• Two-minute video 
  • We find that one of the most important factors our students must consider when applying for a graduate degree in hospitality and tourism management is their career goals. Please submit a two-minute video telling us why you have chosen to begin your MSBA-HTM at this time. Explain what makes it feel like the right career path for you now and what you plan to do with this degree. Please note that we encourage you to record this video with your cell phone or computer. We do not expect it to be highly produced. (Optional for all Fall 2024 applicants.)
• A $75 non-refundable application fee

Please note that GMAT/GRE test scores are not required to apply to the MSBA-HTM program.

To complete and submit your master's degree application, the following application materials are required:

• Completed online application form
• A scanned copy of official transcripts from all universities or colleges where a degree was conferred
  • Unofficial web transcripts downloaded through a university's online portal will not be accepted, except for Virginia Tech alumni.
  • Students with degrees from universities outside the U.S. will need to submit a report from a credential evaluation service. TOEFL/IELTS scores may also be required. See Additional Materials for International Students section below.
• A copy of your resume
• Academic and professional goals statement
  • Applicants are asked by the Graduate School to provide a 1-2 page double-spaced personal statement that addresses why you are pursuing a graduate degree, why at Virginia Tech, and why now.
• A $75 non-refundable application fee

Please note that GMAT/GRE test scores are not required to apply to the MSBA-HTM program.

You can begin your MSBA-HTM degree or graduate certificate for any of the three academic terms — Fall, Spring, or Summer.

The MSBA-HTM program has a rolling admissions process. We typically provide a decision within two weeks of your completed application, sometimes sooner. Please keep in mind that an application is only considered complete when all your admissions documents have been received by our office, including your letters of recommendation and a copy of your official transcript.

Your application and all supporting materials must be received by our office by the deadline dates listed below. We strongly encourage early application to ensure that your recommenders have ample time to submit their letters before the deadline.

Applications submitted after the deadline will only be considered if space is available. Please email msbahtm@vt.edu to inquire.

View Virginia Tech's academic calendar to see the date each semester begins for future academic years.

Regular Admission
Students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher from a regionally accredited university are eligible for admission to the MSBA-HTM program as regular students with no restrictions.

Provisional Admission (Master's only)
Students may receive an offer of provisional admission to the MSBA-HTM program if they have a GPA below the minimum of 3.0. The applicant must demonstrate other experience or qualifications that show the potential to undertake graduate study.

If an applicant accepts a provisional offer of admission, they will be required to take four core courses and earn a B or better in each course. Upon successfully completing the four core courses, a student will automatically transition to regular status.

Commonwealth Campus Admission
Commonwealth Campus admission is considered a non-degree seeking status. Students may receive an offer of Commonwealth Campus admission if they do not meet the standard for regular or provisional admission, but the admissions committee feels they are still a strong candidate for graduate study. Prospective students may also choose to apply directly as Commonwealth Campus students to try out a course or if they are unable to complete their application packet by the deadline for their desired term. Please note that even though Commonwealth Campus status is considered non-degree seeking, all of the courses taken in this status will count toward the MSBA-HTM degree or certificate.

If an applicant accepts a Commonwealth Campus offer of admission, they will be required to take four core courses and earn a B or better in each course. Upon successfully completing the four core courses, the student will be invited to reapply for regular admission and will receive the program's recommendation to the Graduate School for regular admission. No other recommendations will be required if student previously completed the application for regular admission.

Stand-alone certificate applicants that do not meet the standard for regular admission are only considered for Commonwealth Campus admission, as provisional status is not available to certificate-only students. Please note that you must earn a 3.0 or better in order to have your certificate conferred by the university.

Prospective students may also choose to apply as Commonwealth Campus students prior to being fully admitted into the MSBA-HTM program. This provides the applicant with an opportunity to start the program with one core course while they complete their application packet for the next semester or consider whether the program is right for them.

Please note that Commonwealth Campus students are ineligible for financial aid while in this status. 

• Students with undergraduate degrees from universities outside the U.S. must submit a report from a credential evaluation service that converts grades into a grade point average (GPA) with a course by course break down of their degree. The university will accept evaluations done by any credentialing agency listed on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services web site.
• TOEFL scores are required of all international students whose first language is not English. The university-wide minimum score requirement is 90 for Internet and 577 for paper.  Please visit the TOEFL website for additional information on the TOEFL exam.
• TOEFL waivers are provided for:
  • U.S. naturalized citizens and permanent residents
  • Applicants who have graduated from an accredited university where English is the language of instruction. The language of instruction must be confirmed as English on your transcript evaluation for the Graduate School to provide the waiver.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is also accepted in lieu of the TOEFL. A 6.5 minimum is required to apply.
• Official test scores should be sent to the Virginia Tech Graduate School, institution code 5859. Do not enter a department code.
• Additional information for international graduate students can be found on the Cranwell International Center site.

The Virginia Tech Graduate School is pleased to waive the $75 application fee for its military students. Please indicate your military affiliation in the Financial Assitance section of the online application form and provide required documentation.