Financial Information
Financial Aid Office
Tuition and Fees
Full Time
Tuition: $16,433 per semester.
George Sherman Union Fee: $89 per semester.
LL.M. Student Activities Fee: $50 per semester.
Student Health Fee: $69 per semester.
Technology Fee: $125 per semester.
Medical Insurance: The 2005/2006 rate for both U.S. citizens and international students is $1,228 per year. Massachusetts law requires all students carrying 75 percent or more of a full-time program to have medical insurance. Students who cannot demonstrate coverage under a qualifying medical insurance plan are required to purchase the University’s student health insurance plan. Students who do not want to participate in the student medical insurance plan must complete and submit a waiver form by September 30, 2005, for the 2005/2006 academic year.
Part Time
Tuition: $2,738 per course ($1,369 per credit).
Registration Fee: $40 per semester.
LL.M. Student Activities Fee: $25 per semester.
Technology Fee: $60 per semester.
Additional Charges
Distance Education: General Physics Corporation (GP) administers the program at the distance education facility in Hartford. GP charges a fee of $325 for each course taken at the facility.
Course Load Reduction
The accounts of part-time students who reduce their course load (but remain registered) during the first five weeks of the fall or spring semester will be adjusted for the difference between the original and reduced number of courses taken.Withdrawals and Refunds
A student who wishes to withdraw or seek a leave of absence must submit signed written notification to the Graduate Tax Program office. Absence from a class does not reduce a student’s financial obligation.
For a student to receive a full refund of tuition and fees, he or she must withdraw or have a leave approved before the first day of classes. The application fee is not refundable. No fees are returned after the start of classes.
Financial Assistance
LL.M. Scholar Program
Each year Boston University School of Law designates as LL.M. Scholars a small number of LL.M. applicants who have distinguished themselves by outstanding academic and professional achievements. Each LL.M. Scholar receives in addition to this designation a generous scholarship award. All applicants for admission to each of the School of Law’s LL.M. programs are automatically considered for this distinction. No separate application is required.Frederic G. Corneel Scholarship
In 2002, a scholarship fund was established in honor of Frederic G. Corneel, a distinguished lawyer in the firm of Sullivan & Worcester, who had been an instructor in the Graduate Tax Program for over 20 years. Mr. Corneel was widely respected as a superb scholar, teacher, and practitioner and as a leader in the field of legal ethics. The income from this fund is to be used annually to provide partial scholarship awards, based on merit and financial need, to one or more full-time students enrolled in the Graduate Tax Program.
To apply for this scholarship, a prospective student planning on entering in the fall semester must complete and submit the following forms to the Graduate Tax Program no later than the preceding April 15:
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The Frederic G. Corneel Scholarship application (Available online at Financing Your Education or by contacting the Graduate Tax Program Office)
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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (Available online at FAFSA or by contacting the Graduate Tax Program Office)
Other Financial Aid
Federal and private loans are available. While there is no deadline to apply, students are encouraged to submit their loan applications at least three months before they intend to enroll. Loan applications are processed after students register for classes.
Students may not receive financial aid, including loans, scholarships, veterans’ benefits, and Boston University tuition remission, in excess of the cost of attendance. This figure is established by the University for each academic year and consists of tuition, fees, and allowances for books, transportation, and living expenses.
Students are responsible for notifying the Law Financial Aid Office immediately if they change their registration status, as it may result in a change in their loan eligibility.
Federal Direct/Stafford Loans
Boston University participates in the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program, in which students borrow from the U.S. Department of Education instead of a bank or lender. The Direct Loan program offers the same loan limits and interest rates as the Stafford Loan program. Students are eligible for Federal Direct Stafford Loans if they:
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Are U.S. citizens or permanent residents,
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Are enrolled in a degree program on at least a half-time basis (three classes per semester or 6 credits),
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Are not in default on any previous federal student loan,
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Have no convictions for sale or possession of illegal drugs, and
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Have not exceeded the lifetime aggregate borrowing limits for the Federal Stafford/Direct Loan ($65,500 subsidized loans or $73,000 unsubsidized loans).
Students may borrow up to $18,500 per academic year in Federal Direct Stafford Loans. Up to $8,500 of this amount may be a subsidized loan, for which the government will pay the interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time and during the grace period. Eligibility for subsidized loans is based on financial need. The remainder of the loan is borrowed from the unsubsidized Direct Loan. Students are responsible for the interest that accrues on the unsubsidized loan from the time the loan is disbursed; however, they are not required to make payments and may allow the interest to be capitalized immediately before repayment begins.
Federal Direct Stafford Loans are disbursed to the University and credited to the student’s account. Federal regulations require that the loans be sent in two equal disbursements. A 1.5% origination fee is deducted from each disbursement.
To apply for the Federal Direct Stafford Loans, students must submit the following forms:
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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
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Direct Loan Processing Request Form
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Master Promissory Note
The above forms may be found online at the School of Law.
Students borrowing federal loans for the first time must also complete an Entrance Counseling Session, which will inform them of the terms of the loan program and their rights and responsibilities as borrowers. The session can be completed online at FSA.
Repayment of the Federal Direct Stafford Loans begins six months after the student graduates, withdraws, begins a leave of absence, or drops below half-time status.
Private Loan Programs
Eligibility for private loans is determined by the student’s credit history. In most cases, proof of income or employment is not required. Repayment begins six or nine months after the student leaves school.
Students should apply by contacting their lenders of choice. Most lenders offer telephone or internet applications.
Students who used private loans to support their J.D. degrees are encouraged to use the same lenders for their LL.M. degrees. The private lenders described below are frequently used by Boston University School of Law students:
MEFA
The Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority (MEFA) is a state authority which uses tax-exempt bond financing to offer educational loans. Massachusetts residency is not required.
MEFA offers both variable and fixed rate loans. Use of a cosigner is optional; however, the loan fees are significantly lower with a cosigner.
Phone: 800-449-MEFA
Website: MEFA
The Access Group
The Access Group is a non-profit, educational financing organization that offers several loan programs for graduate and professional students.
Students enrolled at least half-time may borrow from the Law Access Loan program. Students enrolled less than half-time may borrow from the Comprehensive Access Loan program. A cosigner may be required for either loan program for students with low credit scores.
The Sponsored Access Loan allows parents, relatives, or others to borrow on the student’s behalf. The student need not pass a credit review and is not responsible for the repayment of the loan
Phone: 800-282-1550
Website: Access Group
Law Loans
LawLoans is a service of HEMAR Insurance Corporation of America, an educational loan insurer. The loan program is administered by SallieMae.
Based on his or her credit score, a student may be required to have a cosigner.
Phone: 800-984-0190
Website: SallieMae
Citibank
Citibank is a private lender that offers a variety of education financing options through their subsidiary, The Student Loan Corporation. For law students they offer the CitiAssist Graduate Law Loan.Phone: 800-967-2400
Website: Citibank
Financial Aid Office
Applicants for admission to the Graduate Tax Program are encouraged to contact the Law Financial Aid Office for assistance. The office is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Room 1320
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-353-3160
Fax: 617-353-0578
E-mail: bulawaid@bu.edu
Website: Financing Your Education
Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Sherborn Street
Boston, MA 02215
15 November 2005
Boston University
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