Flex MBA | Admissions

Admissions Start in March 2025 and Graduate in 2027. Schedule a personal consultation

The Flex MBA is a part-time program designed to accommodate your busy schedule, allowing you to enjoy the full MBA experience from one of the top business schools in the country––your way.


Ideal for early- to mid-career professionals and managers, the Flex MBA will help you propel your career forward, whether you want to advance in your current industry, make a career change or achieve your biggest entrepreneurial goals.


Flex MBA Class Profile Sheet
  • 3.3 Average GPA
  • 75 Students in the Fall Class of 2025
  • 5.64 Average Years of Work Experience

Class Visits

Experience the Flex MBA in action. Meet students, listen to faculty and gain valuable insight into our dynamic program. There is no better way to see inside UCI’s Flex MBA!

Please email flexmba@uci.edu to express your interest in attending a class visit. You will receive a confirmation and introduction to a Flex MBA Student Host for your visit once your class visit is scheduled.

Crystal Fisher, Class of ’21 Career Path Transition
Why Merage? Benefits of the Merage School

Admissions Information

Applications are submitted online and are evaluated in the order they are received once all supporting documentation has been turned in. We encourage applicants to submit their applications as early as possible. Applicants will receive status updates from the admissions coordinator throughout the review process.

Winter 2025 Quarter - January Start
October 15
December 1

Spring 2025 Quarter - March Start
October 15
December 1
February 1
February 24

Fall 2025 Quarter - September Start
October 15
December 1
February 1
February 24
May 1
June 15

 

Gain access to our full-service Career Center, executive mentoring and networking opportunities. Immediately start exploring career paths through electives and our centers of excellence.

At any point during the application process, you may send us your supplemental documents, official transcripts, etc. We will keep these records on file until your application is completed. Applications are reviewed on a rolling admission basis. Once your application is complete, you can expect an admissions decision within 2-4 weeks.

Transcripts

An overall GPA of 3.0 is preferred. If your overall GPA is lower than a 3.0, the Admissions Committee will take into consideration your undergraduate institution attended and major, as well as additional degrees and licenses/certificates obtained.

Please upload unofficial transcripts from every college and university attended with your online application, this includes any transfer colleges. These will be used to conduct the initial review. You will be asked to submit official transcripts only if you are admitted and then decide to attend UCI. At that time, only send the officials for the institution(s) where a degree was earned.

The preferred and quickest method for sending official transcripts to UCI Graduate division is to send your electronic transcripts to us via email to gradtranscripts@uci.edu.

If sending by mail please send to the below address:

UCI Graduate Division 
120 Aldrich Hall
Irvine, CA 92697-3180

Candidates may apply to the program if they hold the equivalent of a four-year U.S. Bachelor's degree. Applicants submitting transcripts from non-U.S. universities should include evidence of degree conferral (proof of graduation: please upload your diploma if not referenced on the transcript) as well as all transcripts or marksheets to the application and consult with the admissions office on what will be needed to fulfill the official requirement if you are unable to order officials in a timely manner from your university. International applicants should refer to the International Applicant page for more specific requirements.


Official GMAT or GRE Score

The GMAT/GRE requirement is waived for all Flex MBA applicants.

If you choose to take either the GMAT or GRE, there is no advantage to taking one exam over the other. If you take an exam multiple times, we will take the highest total score that you obtained on that exam. The Admissions Committee does not average exam scores.

GRE scores are valid for up to five years from your test date. Exam results should be sent to UC Irvine institution code: 4859. For more information on the GRE, visit: ets.org/gre.

GMAT scores are valid for up to five years from your test date. Exam results should be sent to UC Irvine institution code: 0DP-7R-16. For more information on the GMAT, visit: mba.com.


Official TOEFL Score

Applicants are waived from the English Language Proficiency requirement if they have earned an undergraduate or master's degree from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction according to the World Higher Education Database (WHED). Please see WHED's instructions on how to search for your institution.


Two Letters of Recommendation

Submissions of letters of recommendations are preferred using the form through our online system. However, letters received in the mail, will be accepted if received in a signed and sealed envelope directly from the recommender.

At least one recommendation should be from a current or former supervisor providing clear evidence of your managerial experience or potential for advancement. They may also be obtained from people who know you professionally, such as clients, former bosses or others. Recommendations from professors are not helpful unless you have done extensive work or research with them.


Essays

One essay is required and can be in either written or video format. The specific essay prompt can be found on the application. The essay should illustrate your professional accomplishments, career goals, and values that you will bring to the Merage School Flex MBA program. Please answer the questions within the space limits indicated.

You may also choose to submit a second, optional written or video essay.


Employment History (Résumé)

A minimum of two years of professional work experience is preferred. The Admissions Committee weighs the quality of work experience more heavily than the quantity. Direct management experience is preferred, but not required. Submit a copy of your résumé and for each position held, include the name and website of the organization, job title, a detailed description of your responsibilities and reason for leaving.


Interview

Interviews are by invitation only, are required for admission and are conducted by the Admissions Committee. The interview is a way for us to evaluate your interpersonal and communication skills, as well as a way for you to ask questions and determine whether the Merage School is right for you.

If invited to an interview, you will be informed via email. When possible, applicants will be invited to conduct interviews on campus. However, for those applicants who prefer not to travel to Irvine, or who prefer to maintain social distancing, Zoom interviews are acceptable. In some cases before an in-person or Zoom interview, candidates may be invited to participate in a separate video interview. This is not an indication of an applicant’s chance of admission, but an additional step we use to learn more about you.