USA · Master's
Cornell SC Johnson — Nolan School of Hotel Administration
MS in Hotel Administration (Research)
Cornell SC Johnson — Nolan School of Hotel Administration
Course Overview
This is the research degree at Cornell's Nolan School, and it should not be confused with the MMH — the professional Master of Management in Hospitality that sits alongside it. The MS is a two-year, thesis-based programme for people who intend to publish and, in most cases, continue to a PhD and an academic career. Students are admitted to work with a specific faculty member across areas including consumer behaviour and services marketing, revenue management and pricing, hospitality finance and real estate, operations and analytics, and organisational behaviour in service firms.
The funding structure is what makes it viable from Sri Lanka. MS research students are typically supported by a teaching or research assistantship covering tuition plus a living stipend — Cornell does not generally expect research master's students to self-fund, which is the opposite of the MMH's roughly USD 85,000-a-year proposition. Admission is correspondingly small and competitive, and applications turn on research fit and quantitative preparation rather than industry seniority.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree with an outstanding academic record — hospitality, business, economics, psychology, statistics or a related discipline.
- check_circle Demonstrated quantitative preparation: statistics, econometrics or research methods coursework is expected regardless of your undergraduate field.
- check_circle Statement of research interest naming the Nolan School faculty whose work you want to build on — supervisor fit is the decisive factor in a cohort this small.
- check_circle Writing sample (undergraduate dissertation or research paper) and an academic CV.
- check_circle Three academic references. GRE or GMAT is normally required for the research track — confirm the current policy for your admission year.
English Proficiency
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (Cornell's preferred test), or IELTS Academic 7.0 Overall.
- check_circle Cornell applies its English requirement strictly and rarely waives it on the basis of English-medium instruction alone — plan to sit the test.
- check_circle The statement of research interest and writing sample are also read as evidence of academic English.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (Funded) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (covered by assistantship where awarded) | USD 0 (Covered) | Rs. 0 (Covered) |
| Assistantship Stipend (indicative, per year) | USD 30,000 /yr | Rs. 9,600,000 /yr |
| Living Expenses (per year, Ithaca NY) | USD 20,000 /yr | Rs. 6,400,000 /yr |
| Health Insurance & University Fees (per year) | USD 3,500 /yr | Rs. 1,120,000 /yr |
| Net Position With a Funded Assistantship | Stipend covers living costs | Stipend covers living costs |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Most MS graduates continue into PhD programmes — at Cornell or at other hospitality and business schools — and then into faculty posts. Others move into research and analytics roles at hotel groups, revenue-management and pricing teams, consultancies, and industry research bodies such as STR and CBRE Hotels. The US grants 12 months of OPT, extended to 36 months where the programme carries a STEM designation, which is worth confirming with the school. For Sri Lankan graduates the strongest return path is academic: hospitality and tourism management faculty positions at Colombo, Sabaragamuwa, Rajarata and Uva Wellassa — the universities running Sri Lanka's tourism degrees — plus SLITHM, and research or strategy roles with SLTDA and the larger resort groups.
Related Programs
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Cornell SC Johnson — Nolan School of Hotel Administration
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