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Academics

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions we get about our graduate certificates

What is the certificate course format? Are classes offered online or in-person?

All graduate certificate courses will be held in a live virtual format, where certificate students will meet once or twice per week over Zoom.

Do all three courses need to be completed in the same term?

We recommend certificate students take only one course during their first semester as a certificate student to ensure success. The second and third courses can be taken together, schedule permitting.

When is tuition due?

Tuition payments will be collected on an individual course basis.  Payments are due by the start of each course.  For more details about billing and payment schedule contact Student Financial Services at ga_sfs@bentley.edu or call the Student Accounts Office at 781-891-2162. 

What are admission requirements?

Below are eligibility requirements, but please note a candidate's whole background is considered during the application process:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
  • Preferred two years of work experience   
  • International students are encouraged to apply, however students seeking an F1 visa are not eligible to apply for a graduate certificate  
  • Application fees are waived, and GMAT/GRE scores are not required
What materials do I need to apply?

Please visit our application page for details on applying. 

Can I defer my enrollment?

Certificate students who are unable to enroll during their intended term of entry may request to defer acceptance to the next consecutive term by emailing their request to applygrad@bentley.edu no later than the first day of the term. Please note that deposits are not refundable but may be applied to a future term if students are unable to enroll in the Certificate program for their original intended term of entry.

Tell me more about the “stackable” Master’s Degrees option at Bentley.

Enrolling into a certificate program is a pathway to earning a Master’s degree at Bentley. Certificate students who complete their program are eligible to waive many requirements for admission to our MBA or Master of Science (MS) programs. Courses in your chosen certificate program can be used to fulfill requirements for a relevant Master’s program.  For more information on specific degree options,  visit https://www.bentley.edu/academics/graduate-programs/certificates or reach out to our Admissions team at applygrad@bentley.edu. 

I am a current student at the McCullum Graduate School of Business, can I pursue a certificate program while completing my graduate degree? 

No, you are only able to pursue one or the other.  The certificates are designed to be a pathway to a degree program, and thus they are for students who may or may not complete a degree program in the future.  However, Bentley alumni are eligible for 10% discount off tuition should you wish to pursue a certificate for further professional development. 

What benefits from career services are available to me as a Graduate Certificate Student?

We are excited to offer enrolled Graduate Certificate students access to a three-part LinkedIn Learning series, with custom content focusing on how to enhance your graduate student resume to start out to recruiters, how to develop a compelling cover letter to stand out to recruiters and how to enhance your LinkedIn profile and build an effective elevator pitch to impress recruiters and land more informational meetings.