All the relevant information can be found here.
FAQ
PhD Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible to apply?
Will I be accepted to the program?
The only way to know is to actually apply. Nonetheless, you may want to review the current students section, and the graduates section of our website to see if your profile is similar to theirs.
How do I apply?
Applications must be submitted via the SFI application platform. Any information submitted via another channel will not be considered.
Can I apply to multiple campuses simultaneously?
Yes, but because each campus has specific requirements you must apply to each campus separately.
Can I re-apply to the same campus if my application has been rejected in the past?
Yes, you may, but you will have to pay the application fee for each application.
Can I apply to the SFI PhD program if I am in the final year of my master program?
If you are in the final year of your master program, you can apply with your preliminary transcripts and grades. If your application is shortlisted, the selection committee will get in touch with you for the required documents.
Do I need to apply to the universities separately if I have already applied through the SFI PhD application platform?
Only those candidates who have applied to “Leman” and are interested in EPFL should apply to the EPFL EDFI doctoral program and to SFI doctoral program at the same time. Please find the details here: https://www.epfl.ch/education/phd/edfi-finance/edfi-how-to-apply/.
How many students apply and how many are admitted to the program?
Approximately 30 students will be admitted every year. The admission rate is close to 10% for the overall program. This admission rate varies by University.
Is the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) required for the program?
The GMAT or GRE is not mandatory to apply. However, any good GMAT or GRE score will be noted and may increase your chance of admission to our PhD program. The sole exception is for applications at the Zurich campus with a MSc from a non-Bologna state or with master degrees in fields other than economics, finance, or business administration; in which case the GMAT is expected to surpass 660 points and the GRE is expected to surpass 165 points for verbal reading and 153 for quantitative reasoning. More information regarding the Zurich campus here.
What are the working conditions?
The working language of Swiss Finance Institute PhD Program in Finance is English. Swiss Finance Institute PhD students are provided offices from the first year of the program on. They also benefit from a wide range of first-class university facilities—library, computers, sports facilities, etc.—provided by the partner institutions.
How high is the application fee?
The application fee is of USD 100 to apply to one campus, USD 120 to apply to two campuses, USD 140 to apply to three campuses, and USD 150 to apply to four campuses.
When can I expect a decision reply regarding my application?
Decisions regarding submitted applications are usually sent four weeks after the end of the admission round.