Boston University is a private research university with more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. The university was founded in 1839 and has been ranked as one of the top universities in the U.S. for its strong academic programs and student success rates. Read on to know more about Boston University Graduate Admission Requirements For International Students, boston university graduate application deadline, boston university application fee for international students, boston university application fee waiver for international students, and boston university international students tuition.
Boston University’s international student admission requirements are designed to ensure that students have the skills and qualifications necessary for success in their degree program. To apply for admission, you must complete all application materials by the published deadline, submit all required documents, provide proof of English proficiency (if applicable), and pay any application fees or tuition deposit if required.
The following information provides details about Boston University’s graduate admission requirements for international students:
Boston University Graduate Application Deadline: The deadline to apply for admission is November 1st, but it is recommended that you apply at least two months before your intended start date so that any issues can be addressed before classes begin in August or September.
Boston University Graduate Admission Requirements For International Students
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Secondary School Records
You will need to send original or certified copies of your home country’s credentials as part of your application. Please refer to our Secondary School Credentials page to find the admission requirements for the country (or countries) in which you studied. You must also submit a copy of any terminating or qualifying examination results or certificates.
All documents written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a notarized English translation. Please note that both documents are required—the original in your first language and the English translation.
English Proficiency Testing Results
If your first language is not English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test (DET). If English is your first language, but you speak another language at home, you may consider submitting English proficiency results to demonstrate fluency.
Duolingo English Test (DET)
BU accepts results for the Duolingo English Test (DET) as evidence of English proficiency, which combines an English proficiency test with a brief video interview. Students who are most competitive for admission will have a total score of at least 120-130. Please note that BU requires both the total score and all subscores of the test. We will review your subscores for consistency within each subject area.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
BU accepts results for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as evidence of English proficiency.* Students who are most competitive for admission will have a composite score of at least 90-100 and minimum scores of 20 in each section. The Board of Admissions looks closely at the score for each section as well as for consistency across all subscores within each single language proficiency test.
Indicate on the TOEFL registration form that you want your test results sent directly to Boston University.
The TOEFL code for Boston University is 3087.
TOEFL website
Email: toefl@ets.org
For testing in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and US Territories, call 877-863-3546.
For testing in other countries, call 609-771-7100.
*For students applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, BU will also consider results from the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition. We are unable to accept the IELTS Indicator, TOEFL ITP Plus, and TOEFL Essentials exams at this time.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
BU accepts results for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total/overall score of 7 or higher will also satisfy BU’s English Language proficiency requirement for all programs.* BU will also review your component scores for consistency within each subject area.
IELTS website
We accept official results submitted directly from the testing service. Please provide the testing service with the following information:
Account Name: Boston University Undergraduate Admissions
Address: 881 Commonwealth Avenue, 6th Floor
City: Boston
State: MA
Zip code: 02215
*For students applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, BU will also consider results from the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition. We are unable to accept the IELTS Indicator, TOEFL ITP Plus, and TOEFL Essentials exams at this time.
English Proficiency Waiver Request
Proficiency waiver requests for undergraduate applicants must be received by the application deadline and must accompany a complete application. The decision to waive the English proficiency requirement is at the discretion of the Board of Admissions. To submit a waiver request, please complete the English Proficiency Waiver Request Form.
InitialView and Vericant Interviews
As an additional way to demonstrate your English language proficiency, BU recommends scheduling an optional interview with InitialView or Vericant. Please note that the submission of TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test results are also required.
Center for English Language & Orientation Programs (CELOP)
If your TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score is below the required minimum, it is possible that you can still be admitted to BU by attaining the minimum score before classes begin. You may choose to come to campus early and enroll in intensive English courses at our BU Center for English Language & Orientation Programs (CELOP). Once you’ve achieved proficiency in English, you can continue your studies at BU.
Documentation of Financial Support
All students who will be studying on an F-1 Student Visa or J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa are required to submit financial documentation and we recommend submitting these items along with your application. Complete the Confidential Statement for Financing Studies & Sponsorship Support Confirmation and submit documents confirming available funds for the annual costs of study (such as savings deposits, checking accounts, or a signed bank letter verifying the ability to pay educational expenses). All documented sources of support must be:
- current (within 12 months of starting date at Boston University)
- written in English
- signed and stamped by a bank official
You may submit these materials as PDFs with your Common Application. On the My Colleges tab, select Boston University. You will find the link to upload your documents in the Other Information section of the Application Questions. Make sure your documents are less than 500 MB in size.
You may also upload these documents and view a comprehensive list of all required, received, and uploaded materials for your application in the MyBU Portal under the “Application Status” page. The MyBU Portal opens to applicants in early October each year.
Be sure to keep copies of all documents sent to the University. You will need this information for:
- Getting a student visa from the US Consulate
- US Customs and Border Protection upon entry to the United States
- Transferring from another US school.
Students applying Early Decision are required to submit their financial documentation by the application deadline. Please note that the Board of Admissions will not be able to proceed with an academic review of your application without the above documents.
Copy of Data Page of Passport
All international students must supply a photocopy of the photo/data page of their current, valid passport. This can be uploaded via the Common Application, uploaded to the MyBU Portal under the “Application Status” page, or faxed to 617-353-5334. PDF is our required file format.
Standardized Tests
Boston University is test optional for first-year applicants applying for fall 2022/spring 2023.
- This policy applies to all undergraduate schools and colleges at Boston University as well as all scholarship programs.
- International students will be required to submit the TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo English Test as the primary means for evaluating English-language proficiency.
Prospective students and applicants must decide for themselves whether or not to include standardized test scores with their application for admission to Boston University. When making this decision, we ask students to consider the totality of their academic record, their contributions both in and out of the classroom and to their communities, and whether they feel confident that the sum of these experiences fully reflect their academic ability and potential.
Students have the ability to indicate whether they would like us to consider their standardized test scores when they apply. Once you have submitted your application, this answer cannot be changed.
If you would like your standardized test scores considered:
Boston University accepts self-reported standardized test scores on your application. You may also submit your official test scores via the testing agency, or through the self-report form on the MyBU portal.
Please note: If you submit self-reported standardized test scores, an official score report from the testing agency will be required before enrolling at Boston University. If there are discrepancies between self-reported and official standardized test scores, your enrollment at Boston University may be rescinded.
When sending official scores, the BU codes are:
- SAT: 3087
- ACT: 1794
BU superscores both the SAT and ACT. To take advantage of superscoring, we recommend including all your test scores if you take more than one test or take a test multiple times. For both the SAT and ACT, BU uses the highest score of each section, regardless of test date, to best represent you as an applicant.
- If you’ve taken the SAT more than once, you can select which results you want to send to us using Score Choice. We only consider the highest SAT scores submitted.
- For the ACT, we recalculate a new composite score using the highest score from each section, regardless of test date.
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Master’s & CAGS Deadlines
Fall 2022
- Priority Deadline: January 15, 2022
- Recommended Deadline to receive a priority consideration for scholarship support: January 15, 2022
- Child Life Final Deadline: February 1, 2022
- Counseling (Mental Health and School) Final Deadline: April 15, 2022
- Counseling (Sports Psychology): Closed
- Recommended Deadline for International Applicants for On-Campus Programs: April 1, 2022
Spring 2023
- Application Opens: August 2022
- Recommended Deadline: December 1, 2022
- Recommended Deadline for International Applicants for On-Campus Programs: October 15, 2022
- Please note: Child Life will no longer be accepting Spring applications.
Doctor of Education (EdD) Deadlines
EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies: Leadership in Early Childhood Education-Grade 12Application Opens: August 12, 2021Recommended Deadline: December 1, 2021
For more information, email Dr. Bob Weintraub rjtraub@bu.edu.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Deadlines
PhD in Educational Studies & PhD in Counseling Psychology and Applied Human DevelopmentThe PhD application portal is closed for Fall 2022 and we are no longer accepting applications. The fall 2023 application will open in mid-August 2022.
Decision Timeline
Typically, admissions decisions are released approximately eight weeks after an application is complete. Fall applications are currently being reviewed. Please note: The Admissions Committee only reviews complete applications.
Since admissions decisions are made by faculty members who may not be on campus during University breaks, the review process may take longer during the summer (approximately mid-May to early September) and winter breaks (approximately mid-December to mid-January). Please plan your application time accordingly.
Application Cutoff Dates
Although BU Wheelock accepts applications on a rolling basis, we do stop accepting Boston Campus program applications for any given semester approximately six weeks before classes are scheduled to begin. The EdM in Sports Psychology Counseling application window has closed. Additionally, please note that our PhD programs, MS in Child Life, and EdM in Counseling programs do not accept applications on a rolling basis.
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Application Fee: Our application fee is $80 and can be paid via the Common or Coalition Application.
Undergraduate Admissions
A complete undergraduate application for admission must include:
- A completed Application for Undergraduate Admission
- Official transcripts from high school or GED
- Undergraduate Transfer Student Status Report Form (only for schools attended in the US within the last three years)
- Official transcript(s) from each college attended
- A completed personal statement
- A nonrefundable $80 application fee for undergraduate degrees
Graduate Admissions
Applicants for master’s degree programs and certificates must hold a bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent from an accredited institution.
A complete graduate application for admission must include:
- A completed Application for Graduate Admission (online application preferred)
- Three letters of recommendation. It is required that one be an academic reference if you graduated or engaged in post-graduate education in the past three years.
- A self-evaluation (short essay discussing your motivation for study)
- A current résumé
- Official transcript(s) from each college and graduate school attended
- A nonrefundable $85 application fee for master’s degree programs and $25 application fee for certificate programs
International Applicants
To allow for processing time, applicants requiring student visas must submit completed application materials and International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) forms at least six weeks prior to the start of the semester. Applicants whose native language is not English, and who have not received a degree from an institution where the primary language of instruction is English, should submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score.
The ETS TOEFL institution code for Boston University Metropolitan College Graduate Programs is 3087.
International applicants must submit the following materials:
- Score from Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- International Student Data Form
- Authorized financial statement from a bank (original, shown in US dollars)
- Copy of current I-20 and I-94, both sides (if applicable)
- Letter of financial support from sponsor (firm, government, parents, etc.)
- Notarized English translations of all documents not in English
In certain cases, the Admissions Committee may request an international applicant to submit official scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Use institutional code 3087.
boston university application fee waiver for international students
Application Fee Waiver Request
The fee waiver application for PhD applications to Fall 2022 is now closed.
If you wish to request a fee waiver for a Master’s application, please submit the form below. Please note the deadlines below.
For 2022:
Deadline for Early Consideration Fee Waiver: September 23, 2021.
Deadline for PhD Application Fee Waivers: December 10, 2021.
Deadline for Master’s Application Fee Waivers for Priority Scholarship Deadline: January 10, 2022
Deadline for Master’s Application Fee Waivers: March 10, 2022.
NOTE: We cannot grant fee waivers to applicants that have already submitted at least 1 application in our system. YOU MUST REQUEST YOUR FEE WAIVER AFTER CREATION OF YOUR ACCOUNT AND BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION. No refunds will be made to students requesting a fee waiver after they submitted an application.
To request a fee waiver you must have started your application to BU’s College of Engineering. You will need to enter your CAS ID in the form below. The deadline to submit a Fee Waiver Request is 5 business days prior to the application deadline. Deadlines are listed on our website here: http://www.bu.edu/eng/prospective-graduate/apply/how-to-apply/
- If approved, you will receive an email from Liaison (application vendor) with instructions on how to redeem the fee waiver in 1 to 3 business days (most fee waivers are just applied to your account so you can submit with no fee).
boston university international students tuition
Billed expenses for the 2022/2023 academic year*
Tuition | $61,050 |
---|---|
Room (depending on type of accommodation) | $11,260 |
Board (most dining plans) | $6,140 |
Fees | $1,310 |
TOTAL ESTIMATED BILLED EXPENSES | $79,760 |
+
Other expenses
Books and Supplies | $1,000 |
---|---|
Personal Expenses | $1,370 |
Local Transportation (average) | $630 |
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES | $3,000 |
= Total Cost of Attendance | $82,760 |
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The university has an undergraduate body of about 15,000 students and a graduate body of about 8,000 students. The university offers over 100 degree programs across its nine schools and colleges, including the School of Law, School of Education, School of Public Health and Medical School.
Boston University has been ranked among the top 25 American universities by U.S. News & World Report for 16 consecutive years. It also ranks among the top five institutions for doctoral programs in business administration, criminology, education policy studies and psychology.
Boston University graduates include former U.S. President John F. Kennedy (1940), U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (1977) and several Pulitzer Prize winners such as historian Robert Dallek (1965) and writer Edward Pessen (1968).