Financial Information

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Withdrawals, Leaves of Absence, and Adjustments

FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Tuition Scholarship Policy
Dean's Fellowships
Graduate Research Assistantships
Graduate Teaching Fellowships
Part-Time Employment Within Boston University
Off-Campus Part-Time Employment
Graduate Cooperative Education Program

FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS
Martin Luther King Jr. Fellowship
National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science
Late Entry Accelerated Program Scholarship (Need-based)
Federal College Work-Study (Need-based)

EDUCATIONAL LOANS
Federal Direct Student Loan Program
Federal Perkins Loan (Need-based)
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
Other Private Credit-based Loans

Tuition, fees, residence and dining plan rates, and any previous balance must be paid in full each semester before the payment deadline. Invoices are mailed to registered students’ permanent addresses several weeks before the start of the semester. Payments made in advance of registration should be directed to Student Accounting Services, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215-1390.

The University does not accept credit cards as payment of tuition, fees, residence and dining plan, or the like. Checks must be made payable to Boston University.

Although the University does not offer its own deferred payment plan for full-time students, parents may arrange for financing through private agencies. This should be done well before the start of the academic year. Information on such plans may be obtained by contacting Student Accounting Services, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215-1390; 617-353-2264. Financial Assistance, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, also provides information on meeting college costs in its booklet, Financing Options for Your Education.

Deposits made on acceptance of the University’s offer of admission are credited to the student’s semester bill.

The University assumes no liability for failure to provide educational or related services arising from causes beyond the reasonable control of the University. The University will exert reasonable efforts to provide comparable or substantially equivalent services, but its inability to do so shall not subject it to liability. The Trustees of the University reserve the right to change tuition rates, fees, and residence and dining plan rates at their discretion when it is deemed advisable.

Tuition and Mandatory Fees

It has been and remains the policy of Boston University to withhold all diplomas, degrees, official transcripts, and other official recognition of work done at the University from students with respect to whom there are any outstanding overdue debts to the University, including, but not limited to, amounts owed in satisfaction of tuition, loan agreements, fees, and charges as well as monies owed for occupancy in University-owned or -operated residences and for dining service. No student may withdraw from the University in good standing or graduate from the University unless all current obligations to the University are paid in full.

In figuring total expense, the student must add to the above tuition and fees his or her residence and dining plan rates, medical insurance, and any special fees, personal expenses, or other charges the student may incur. Current costs for such items are given in the pages that follow.

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Medical Insurance

The 2008/2009 cost of the Boston University Medical Insurance plan for full-time students (U.S. citizens and international) is: Boston University Student COMPLETE Plan (basic): $1,466; or Boston University Student PLUS (comprehensive): $1,997 per year.

Massachusetts law requires all students carrying at least 75 percent of the full-time curriculum to be covered under a qualifying medical insurance plan. If the student does not wish to participate in the Boston University Medical Insurance plan, he or she must annually file a Medical Insurance Waiver form that certifies coverage under a comparable medical insurance plan. The Medical Insurance Waiver form should be returned to Student Accounting Services, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215-1390.

Part-time students are also eligible to purchase the medical insurance. For information, contact Student Accounting Services, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215-1390.

The insurance premium is subject to change.

Other Expenses

The estimated cost of books and supplies is $860 per year. Approximately $1,772 to $3,994 should be allowed for incidental expenses, which vary with individual circumstances, such as transportation, laundry, clothing, recreation, and miscellaneous expenditures.

Following are other charges that may form part of the cost of attending Boston University:

Application for Admission: $75

Late Fee: A minimum late fee of $150 for full-time students and $75 for part-time students may be assessed to those students who complete their official registration during the late registration period.

Transcripts: To request an academic transcript of grades and coursework, a student should submit a Transcript Request form to the University Registrar’s office. Letter requests will be honored if they are signed and give complete information about attendance, including enrollment dates, college(s) of registration, and degree(s) earned. Official transcripts are mailed approximately two weeks after receipt of the request. The transcript fee is $5 per copy, and payment must accompany the request. For transcripts sent express mail, add $14 per address. The express mail charge is subject to change depending on the carrier used. Unofficial transcripts for student use may be obtained from the University Registrar’s office on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Replacement of Boston University Identification Card (Terrier Card): $30

Apartment Rentals

Below are estimated monthly rates for privately owned, unfurnished apartments in the Boston University area.

Furnished room (shared kitchen and bath): $650 and up per month.

Studios: $1,050 and up per month.

One-bedroom: $1,275 and up per month.

Two-bedroom: $1,900 and up per month.

Current information on University housing, rates, availability policies, and dining plans is available at www.bu.edu/housing.

Withdrawals and Refunds

Mere absence from classes does not reduce a student’s financial obligation or guarantee that a final grade will not be recorded. Students who officially withdraw or take a leave of absence will have their tuition and fees canceled in accordance with the University’s refund schedule, which is published by the University Registrar’s office and is available at University Registrar Office. The procedure for withdrawing or taking a leave of absence is explained under Withdrawals, Leaves of Absence, and Reinstatement in the “Policies and Procedures” section of this site. Full-time undergraduate degree candidates wishing to request an exception to the refund schedule must do so in writing to the University Service Center at 881 Commonwealth Avenue; all others must submit their written requests to the appropriate dean’s office.

Part-time students who remain registered, but reduce their course loads during the first five weeks of the semester, will have their accounts adjusted for the difference between the original and reassessed tuition charges.

A credit balance (overpayment) resulting from withdrawal, cash payment, and/or other adjustment will be refunded upon written request or a personal visit to Student Accounting Services, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.

Students with any federal financial aid should refer to the additional information pertinent to them under “Withdrawals, Leaves of Absence, and Adjustments” in the Financial Aid section below.

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FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

Several sources of financial aid and education financing options are available for eligible graduate degree students in the College of Engineering at Boston University. Funding options include both merit and need-based assistance from a variety of University, federal, and private sources. All students applying to the PhD program are automatically considered for all available forms of financial aid. Master of Science applicants who wish to be considered for fellowships or assistantships should indicate this on the Application for Admission. International applicants who wish to be considered for admission and financial aid must submit applications no later than December 15 for the following fall semester and October 1 for the following spring semester. The corresponding deadlines for domestic applicants are January 15 for the fall and October 1 for the spring. Most financial aid is awarded to fall semester applicants. Only a limited amount of funding is available for spring applicants. Applicants requiring financial aid are encouraged to apply for the fall semester. The College of Engineering has a policy of maintaining support for funded graduate students who continue to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Admitted MS students who do not receive University support but are eligible for educational loans will be sent appropriate information with the letter of admission. Matriculated students must remain in good standing and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in order to be eligible for continued federal, University, or College financial support.

Withdrawals, Leaves of Absence, and Adjustments

Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence before the first day of the semester are eligible to receive full credit for tuition and fees, excluding nonrefundable deposits and the application fee. Students who officially withdraw or take a leave of absence on or after the first day of the semester will have their tuition charges adjusted based on the University’s published tuition refund schedule. Notification of withdrawal and requests for a leave of absence should be made to the University Service Center (USC), 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. For additional information and counseling, contact the Service Center at 617-358-1818.

Federal funds will be adjusted according to federal regulations, which stipulate that students who withdraw or take a leave of absence before 60 percent of the semester expires will retain aid in proportion to the percentage of the semester for which they were enrolled. Boston University grants are reduced to cover the same percentage of tuition that was covered prior to their withdrawal or leave. The family is expected to pay any remaining balance since the family has the primary responsibility for paying educational costs.

Additional information is available online and from the Financial Assistance office.

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FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Tuition Scholarship Policy

Tuition scholarship can be awarded only for courses applicable to a student’s degree program. Physical education and other unrelated classes are not supported, nor are withdrawals or audits.

Boston University awards scholarship funds only to students who are in compliance with federal aid regulations regarding defaulted education loans or requirements of the United States Selective Service Administration. Applicants with prior histories of compliance deficiencies are advised to establish early contact with the Graduate Programs Office of the College of Engineering.

Dean’s Fellowships

The Dean’s Fellowship provides a PhD applicant with an academic-year stipend of $18,200 (for 2008/09), 32 credit hours of tuition support for one academic year, and individual enrollment in the Boston University Student Medical Insurance COMPLETE Plan (basic). In addition, the student’s department may offer the guarantee of support for the first summer at a stipend rate of $9,100, bringing the total calendar year stipend to $27,300. The Dean’s Fellowship is not renewable, but each recipient can expect continued support in subsequent years provided that she/he makes good progress toward completion of the doctoral degree. This support will typically come in the form of a Graduate Research Assistantship but may also include funding as a Graduate Teaching Fellow. No specific teaching or research service is required of Dean’s Fellows, but recipients are expected to establish research goals with a research advisor during the first year of study.

All applicants to the PhD program are automatically considered for the Dean’s Fellowship award, and no special application is required. Potential recipients are nominated by each department, and final decisions regarding annual awardees are made by the Dean of the College of Engineering.

Graduate Research Assistantships

Research Assistantships provide a stipend of $9,100, up to 10 credit hours of tuition scholarship, and individual enrollment in the Boston University Student Medical Insurance COMPLETE Plan (basic) for each semester of support. The 2008/2009 calendar year stipend for first-year students equals a total of $27,300. In subsequent years, Research Assistants may expect stipend increases up to $30,030 as progress is made toward the degree. Research Assistants are expected to work a minimum of 20 hours a week during the academic year and 40 hours a week during the summer semester.

Academic research faculty members holding sponsored research grants or contracts offer Research Assistantships each year to qualified students who have particular interests and abilities in research areas of mutual interest. Applicants interested in research assistantships should complete the Financial Aid Application Form describing their research interests and experience.

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Graduate Teaching Fellowships

A Graduate Teaching Fellowship provides the student with an academic-year stipend of $18,200 plus individual enrollment in the Boston University Student Medical Insurance COMPLETE Plan (basic). In addition, Teaching Fellows receive up to 10 credits per semester of tuition scholarship during the academic year, plus an additional 4 credits of summer tuition scholarship (which must be used for required coursework) for each academic-year semester of employment. A maximum of 24 credits of tuition scholarship will be awarded for any given calendar year. All tuition scholarship must be used for coursework leading to the degree. Credit hours must be used during the semester for which they are awarded.

Graduate Teaching Fellows work approximately 20 hours per week under the supervision of a faculty member in support of courses taught by the College of Engineering. Duties may include tasks such as leading discussion sections, supervising laboratory sessions, grading homework, and writing homework solution sets. All new Graduate Teaching Fellows must attend a mandatory Training Seminar at the beginning of the semester. Applicants interested in Graduate Teaching Fellowships should complete the Financial Aid section of the Application for Admission and describe any relevant teaching qualifications, experience, or interests.

Part-Time Employment Within Boston University

A variety of paid part-time positions are available for graduate students through the Student Employment Office at Boston University. Opportunities vary each semester but may include such jobs as grader, laboratory assistant, office assistant, and research assistant. Students who are awarded Federal College Work-Study grants (restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents) have access to additional employment opportunities posted by the University Work-Study Office.

Off-Campus Part-Time Employment

A number of part-time off-campus jobs are available to Boston University students through the Student Employment Office. A full-time graduate student should not expect to work more than about ten hours per week or earn more than about $1,000 per month from such employment. Students awarded Federal Work-Study grants have access to additional employment opportunities listed by University Work-Study Office. International students may not work more than 20 hours per week total, including on-campus and off-campus jobs. All RA and GTF appointments require the student to work 20 hours per week, hence international students receiving these forms of financial aid may not hold any other type of employment. This employment restriction also applies to the summer semester.

Other international students are advised to seek the counsel of the International Students & Scholars Office at 19 Deerfield Street to obtain the most up-to-date information and regulations concerning employment issues for foreign students.

Graduate Cooperative Education Program

The Cooperative Education program run by the College of Engineering enables students to gain valuable professional experience as an integral part of graduate study. Participants are provided with valuable experience that helps link knowledge gained in the classroom with the practical environment of industry. Hours and payment vary with position. Students interested in the Cooperative Education program are advised to consult with the College of Engineering Career Development Office.

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FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILBLE TO U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS

Martin Luther King Jr. Fellowship

This fellowship is available to students who are U.S. citizens, new to Boston University and beginning graduate studies, and who are committed to the principles espoused by Dr. King. It provides a scholarship for full-time tuition and fees plus a stipend for living expenses and Boston University health insurance. Students may not apply directly for this fellowship but are nominated by the department of admission. To be considered for this fellowship, a student should be in contact with the department of admission to request nomination, and provide to the department a statement describing his or her accomplishments in and commitment to social justice and community involvement.

National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science

Boston University participates in the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science (GEM) program. Students interested in this fellowship award should apply directly to the GEM organization. The College of Engineering will provide all admitted GEM awardees with a supplemental tuition and stipend scholarship, in addition to the GEM scholarship, to provide full-time study and a total academic year stipend of $17,500.

Late Entry Accelerated Program Scholarship (Need-based)

The Late Entry Accelerated Program provides tuition scholarship funds to LEAP students who demonstrate need via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and enrolled at least half-time. To be eligible for LEAP scholarship funds of up to $27,595 for the 2008/09 academic year, dependent on the level of demonstrated need, the applicant must first secure a base loan of $8,500 per academic year from the Federal Direct Loan Program. Boston University LEAP tuition assistance is available for up to seven semesters of combined Phase I and Phase II study. Interested applicants should file a FAFSA form as part of the application process, listing Boston University (code 002130) as a recipient institution. International LEAP students are not eligible for Financial Aid and must be prepared to present financial documentation to the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) prior to arrival on campus.

Federal College Work-Study (Need-based)

Federal Work-Study is a federally funded program designed to promote part-time and summer employment to help domestic students (U.S. citizens or permanent residents) meet educational expenses. The program provides students with the opportunity to earn money and to develop professional skills. Applicants who wish to be considered for Federal Work-Study support must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), listing Boston University (code 002130) as a recipient institution.

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EDUCATIONAL LOANS

Federal and private educational loans are available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Loans offered by private agencies have varying terms and are available to creditworthy students or students with a creditworthy co-signer. The private loan amount will depend on the total cost of education and will be adjusted to account for other forms of secured financial aid. A student having a record of an overdue account, foreclosure, or bankruptcy will be unable to secure a private educational loan. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Manager of Financial Aid at 617-353-9760 or enggradask@bu.edu.

Federal Direct Student Loan Program

The Federal Direct Student Loan Program offers funding to students who are enrolled at least half-time in a degree program. The interest rate is fixed at 6.8%. These loans are either need-based (subsidized) or non-need-based (unsubsidized). The type of loan for which a student is eligible is determined by the level of need established by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA may be filed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov listing Boston University (code 002130) as the recipient institution. The loan repayment period begins six months after graduation, leaving school, or dropping below half-time enrollment.

Subsidized (Need-based) Loans Students with demonstrated need may borrow up to $8,500 per academic year in subsidized funds. No interest accrues on the subsidized portion until the repayment period begins.

Unsubsidized (Non-need-based) Loans In addition to the subsidized loan, a student may borrow an additional unsubsidized loan of up to $12,000 for a total loan of $20,500 per academic year. Interest on the unsubsidized loan is incurred starting with the day the loan is first disbursed. The interest may be paid as it is incurred or may be capitalized until loan repayment.

Federal Perkins Loan (Need-based)

Formerly called the National Direct Student Loan, the Federal Perkins Loan program is need-based. The interest rate is fixed at 5 percent and no interest occurs until repayment of the loan. The latter begins 9 months after the student has left school or enrollment falls below half-time. Perkins funds are allocated to students with the greatest need as demonstrated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students can be awarded a maximum of $6,000 per academic year, with an aggregate limit of $40,000. Interested applicants should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15 for the Fall Semester, and by October 1 for the Spring Semester.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan is a credit-based loan available to students who are enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) per semester in a graduate or professional program leading to a master’s or doctoral degree. The student must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, must not have an outstanding balance from a prior period of enrollment, and must be making satisfactory academic progress. The interest rate is fixed at 7.9%. Before deciding on an amount to borrow, students should first consider the Federal Direct Stafford Loan. Additional information on the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan and an application form are available at the Financial Assistance Office website.

Other Private Credit-Based Loans

Private loans are available for domestic students, international students with a domestic credit-worthy co-borrower, and non-degree students. Additional information and loan comparisons may be found on the Financial Assistance Office website. Questions regarding the various forms of financial assistance available to graduate students in the College of Engineering at Boston University may be directed to the Manager of Financial Aid, 48 Cummington St., Room 206, Boston, MA 02215; telephone 617-353-9760 or email at enggradask@bu.edu.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215

9 December 2008
Boston University
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