Application for Admission
Admissions Information
Admissions Timetable
Financial Assistance Information
The Application
International Applicants
Students with Disabilities
Admissions Information Sessions
Personal Interviews
Submitting Your Application
Dual Degree Applicants
Non-Degree Registration/ Special Student Status
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS—Graduate Education Programs
Graduate Admissions Office
Boston University School of Education
Two Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-353-4237
Fax: 617-353-8937
E-mail: sedgrad@bu.edu
Admissions Information
Boston University School of Education welcomes master’s applications from qualified individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from an accredited college or university. Applicants to the Doctor of Education or Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) should hold a master’s degree. College seniors should apply only after the fall grades from their senior year are posted on their transcript.
In reviewing graduate applications, School of Education faculty consider your demonstrated scholastic ability and educational preparation, your professional and volunteer experience, and congruence between the faculty’s areas of expertise and your academic interest.
Admissions decisions are made by the faculty of the program and department to which a student applies. Faculty review applications once they are complete, including standardized test scores. Admissions decisions usually take four to six weeks. Decisions are sent to applicants in writing.
Admissions Timetable
If you plan to be a full-time student in September, you are strongly encouraged to apply by February 15 so you may be considered in the first scholarship review. EdD applicants are encouraged to apply by January 15. Faculty continue to review applications year-round, though the review process is longer over the summer and winter semester breaks. If you are applying to a program that includes a school placement, please apply by May 1 for September admission.
International students who plan to study on a student visa should submit a complete admissions application by May 1 for September admission or by October 1 for January admission.
Once admitted, you may defer admission for up to one year. Please request a deferment in writing through the Graduate Admissions Office.
Many programs enroll new students to begin in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Some programs offer courses in sequence and are designed around a summer or September start date. Once admitted, please consult with your academic advisor to plan your course of study.
Financial Assistance Information
Boston University School of Education offers more than $3.5 million in scholarship assistance to graduate students each year and administers loans and work-study funds. Staff members are available to work with prospective graduate students as they plan for graduate study.
Applicants interested in financial assistance should indicate their interest on page 6 of the SED Application. In addition, applicants should complete the Graduate Application for Financial Assistance. U.S. citizens and permanent residents should also complete the FAFSA application at www.fafsa.ed.gov. See the Graduate Finanical Assistance section of this site for complete details.
All applicants who indicate interest in financial aid on the Graduate Application for Admission and submit a Graduate Application for Financial Assistance will be considered for financial assistance. For priority consideration for all forms of financial assistance including scholarships, master’s and CAGS applicants should submit a complete application by February 15 and EdD applicants should submit a complete application by January 15.
Applicants applying for January admission should submit the Graduate Application for Financial Assistance no later than November 1. Please note, Spring semester funding is limited.
The Application
The graduate application and financial assistance application for Boston University School of Education and additional information can be found at the School of Education's How to Apply Page.
A complete admissions application includes:
- Application forms (submitted by mail or online)
- Official transcripts from all universities attended
- Two or more official letters of reference
- Standardized test scores (GRE, MAT, or TOEFL)
- Statement of Qualifications and Objectives
- Analytical Essay (EdD applicants only)
- Non-refundable application fee of $70
Applicants are also encouraged to submit a résumé.
International applicants must also submit the International Student Data Form and financial documents for visa processing.
Note: All application materials and supporting documents submitted to Boston University School of Education become the property of the School. We cannot return material to an applicant or forward any material to a third party outside the School.
International Applicants
International applicants should submit the complete admissions application, as well as an International Student Data Form. If you will need an F-1 student visa, you should submit an original bank statement and a signed letter from your sponsor if the bank account is not in your name. Because of the time needed to apply for a visa in your home country, you should apply by May 1 for September admission and October 1 for January admission. International students are welcome to apply for School of Education scholarships, which have a February 15 priority deadline. Please submit the Graduate Application for Financial Assistance on page 19 at the time you apply for admission.
Most international applicants are required to submit an official TOEFL score. Please see the admission tests section on page 4. This can be found at the School of Education's How to Apply Page.
Students with Disabilities
The School of Education at Boston University is committed to equal access for students with disabilities and welcomes applications from qualified students with disabilities. Applicants who believe that a disability significantly influenced their GPA, standardized test scores, or other credentials are invited to include information regarding their disability in the personal statement or optional essay. It is not mandatory that you provide this information; however, if you choose to do so, it will be kept confidential.
The Boston University Disability Services office will assist admitted graduate students with documented disabilities who require accommodations. The Boston University Disability Services office can be reached at 617-353-3658 V/TTY or access@bu.edu and more information about their services can be viewed at www.bu.edu/disability.
Admissions Information Sessions
Admissions staff and faculty host a series of on-campus information sessions during the fall and spring months. Please check the School of Education website at www.bu.edu/sed for the current schedule.
Personal Interviews
Interviews are not required of graduate applicants. If you will be visiting Boston, you are welcome to visit our Graduate Admissions Office or to make an appointment with faculty from your program of interest. Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office with any questions, or for faculty contact information, at 617-353-4237 or sedgrad@bu.edu.
Submitting Your Application
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an online application, which allows for quicker application processing time. To submit an online application, please visit the School of Education website at www.bu.edu/sed. As an alternative, applicants may submit a paper application by using the enclosed application in the graduate viewbook.
Applications are only reviewed by faculty members when complete. To expedite the application processing time, applicants are encouraged to submit all mailed materials to the Graduate Admissions Office in one envelope.
Letters of reference may be submitted online or by mail. Letters of reference submitted by mail and official transcripts should be mailed directly to the applicant and included with all other materials to be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office. Letters of reference submitted by mail and official transcripts must be submitted in the original sealed and signed envelopes. Applicants may have transcripts submitted directly to the Graduate Admissions Office from a school registrar if the school registrar will not release official transcripts directly to applicants.
Testing services must send official scores directly to the Graduate Admissions Office. The reporting code for the GRE and TOEFL is 3066. The reporting code for the Miller Analogies Test is 2352. There is no department code.
Admissions credentials will be retained for one year.
Application Procedure
Faculty review applications only once complete. Mailed application materials should be sent to:
Boston University School of Education
Graduate Admissions Office
Two Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215
You will be notified when your application is complete and under review. The review process usually takes 4–6 weeks. Admissions decisions are sent to applicants in writing.
Dual Degree Applicants
The School of Education and School of Social Work offer a dual degree MSW/EdM in Special Education. In addition, the Schools offer an MSW/EdD in Special Education.
Dual degree applicants must apply to and be accepted by each School. Typically, applicants apply and enroll at one School and then apply to the other School after completing one semester. The applicant must submit a full application to the second School but may ask their Student Records Office to forward copies of credentials to the Graduate Admissions Office at the second School.
Non-Degree Registration/ Special Student Status
Many Boston University School of Education courses are open to non-degree students. Please contact the School of Education Student Records Office at 617-353-4235 or sedstu@bu.edu for registration and schedule information. Up to 8 credits taken as a non-degree student may be transferred into a master’s program. Doctoral students may transfer up to 20 credits.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS
Graduate Education Programs
Please submit a completed application form, on paper or online, and the appropriate credentials as specified below.
Writing Samples
Statement of Qualifications and ObjectivesPlease submit a one-to-two-page statement describing your qualifications and the objectives of your professional career.
Analytical Essay (Doctoral applicants only)In addition to the Statement of Qualifications and Objectives, please submit an analytical essay of 500–700 words identifying key arguments on a current educational or social issue pertinent to your field. Include your analysis and conclusions. Cite references that inform your understanding.
Letters of Reference
Please submit two letters of reference. Letters of reference should come from individuals with whom you have studied and/or under whose immediate supervision you have worked in a professional capacity, or others whom you believe to be in a position to offer pertinent appraisal of your skills and ability. Submitting more than two letters of reference is allowed, but not required.
If you plan to submit an online application, your reference providers have the option to submit reference letters online or by mail. To initiate the online reference process, applicants should complete the ‘Recommenders’ section of the online application. If your reference provider prefers to submit a paper letter of reference, please complete the applicant section of the Letter of Reference form and send the form with a return envelope to your reference provider. Your reference provider should complete the form, seal the form in the return envelope, and sign his/her name across the envelope seal. Please submit the sealed envelope along with your other application materials to the Graduate Admissions Office.
Placement folders may be used as a substitute for letters of reference. Please direct your school to forward your placement folder to the Graduate Admissions Office.
Offical Transcripts
Please submit official transcripts for all colleges or universities attended. Official transcripts must be submitted in sealed envelopes. With your request for a transcript, submit a self-addressed envelope to the school registrar. The school registrar should enclose the transcript in the envelope, seal the envelope, and sign his/her name across the envelope seal. Please submit the sealed envelope(s) along with your other application materials to the Graduate Admissions Office.
Applicants may have transcripts submitted directly to the Graduate Admissions Office from a school registrar if the school registrar will not release official transcripts directly to applicants.
If you are a college senior, please request your transcript only after your fall grades have been posted—typically in January of your senior year.
International applicants whose transcripts are not in English should submit the original transcript and an official English translation. International applicants may also need to submit an official credential evaluation.
Admission Tests
Applicants must submit official score reports for all required admissions tests.
Master’s and CAGS Programs: Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). International applicants whose native language is not English and who have not received a university degree from an institution where the primary language of instruction is English must take the TOEFL exam instead of the GRE or MAT.
Doctoral Programs: Applicants must take the GRE or MAT. International applicants whose native language is not English and who have not received a university degree from an institution where the primary language of instruction is English must also take the TOEFL exam.
Information on the GRE is available at www.gre.org. Boston University School of Education is code 3066. We do not use a department code.
Information on the MAT is available at www.milleranalogies.com. Boston University School of Education code is 2352.
Information on the TOEFL is available at www.toefl.org. Boston University School of Education is code 3066. We do not use a department code. Most School of Education graduate programs require a minimum TOEFL score of 80 internet-based, 213 computer-based, or 550 paper-based. The TESOL program requires a minimum TOEFL score of 100 internet-based, 250 computer-based, or 600 paper-based.
Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215
7 October 2009
Boston University
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