M.S. in Hotel Administration

Cornell University's M.S. in Hotel Administration is a research-focused graduate programme offered by the Nolan School of Hotel Administration.

The programme is designed for highly qualified students seeking advanced expertise in hospitality management research and is particularly suitable for candidates considering academic, research or doctoral careers.

Students work closely with graduate faculty and customise their study through advanced coursework in areas such as financial management, marketing, operations, strategy and real estate.

A central feature of the programme is an original master's thesis completed under faculty supervision and defended through a final examination.

The programme is highly selective and typically admits only a small number of students each year.

Applicants must hold a recognised Bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited university.

Successful applicants typically demonstrate:
An exceptional academic record
Strong quantitative skills
Research experience
Relevant hospitality knowledge or experience
A strong academic statement of purpose

A GMAT or GRE score is required.

Cornell notes that competitive applicants may have a GMAT score above 700 or a strong GRE result.

At least two recommendation letters are required:
One from a college-level academic instructor
One from an employer or professional reference

The programme is highly selective and typically admits only a very small cohort each year.

Applicants must satisfy Cornell Graduate School's current English Language Proficiency Requirement.

Applicants who are required to demonstrate English proficiency may need to submit TOEFL or IELTS results.

Cornell Graduate School publishes the accepted scores and exemption criteria separately, and applicants should verify the current requirement before submitting their application.