Admission

All administrative rules and regulations printed in the current bulletin of the School of Theology are applicable to admission procedures. The applicant is responsible for submitting, or having submitted, all of the necessary credentials, documents, and data. All materials must be addressed to the School of Theology Admissions Office, 745 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215. Decisions on application for admission cannot be made until all materials have been received. Applications for admission should be completed as far before the date of intended enrollment as possible. Questions can be directed to the Admissions Office, 617-353-3036 or sthadmis@bu.edu.

All applications must be submitted with a nonrefundable $70 application fee. Applicants should read the following application requirements carefully and check each degree program description in this bulletin for additional information on admission. Please see the School of Theology website for more details, or to apply online.

Doctor of Theology applications must be complete by January 15 for fall admission and October 1 for spring admission.

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Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, and Master of Theological Studies

Applicants must submit the following:

1. a completed Application Form with $70 application fee.
2. official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate academic records.
3. letters of reference from a pastor (or ecclesiastical superior) and three college professors. A reference letter from a work supervisor may be submitted for one college professor’s letter. If you have been out of college for a number of years, you may substitute work supervisors, colleagues, or other appropriate persons for college professors.
4. a personal statement, clearly and concisely written. For the Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Music programs, this statement must describe (a) persons, experiences, and other influences which have inspired your move toward a Christian vocation; (b) your concept of the character, purpose, and possibilities of the Christian ministry; (c) your sense of commitment to the Christian faith and vocation (include any present uncertainties); (d) your specific interests in the proposed degree program; and (e) your understanding of personal spiritual formation and development. For the Master of Theological Studies program, this statement must describe (a) your specific purpose in seeking the degree; (b) your identification of personal and professional goals; (c) the areas in which you seek competence and the kinds of learning experiences needed to achieve such competence; and (d) your understanding of personal spiritual formation and development.
5. official test results of the Graduate Record Examination General Test, taken during the past five years (for non-international applicants only).
6. Master of Sacred Music applicants are required to audition; contact the Admissions Office for details.

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Master of Sacred Theology and Doctor of Theology

Applicants must submit the following:

1. a completed Application Form with $70 application fee.
2. official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate academic records.
3. letters of reference from an ecclesiastical superior, two former seminary professors, and a professional peer.
4. a personal statement, clearly and concisely written, which describes (a) persons, experiences, and other influences which have inspired your move toward a Christian vocation; (b) your concept of the character, purpose, and possibilities of the Christian ministry; (c) your sense of commitment to the Christian faith and vocation (include any present uncertainties); and (d) your specific interests in the proposed degree program. Doctor of Theology applicants must include a request for both a major and a minor discipline (see the Degree Programs section of this website), with a description of what you wish to study in each discipline and how you see the relationship between the two.
5. official results of either the Miller Analogies Test or the Graduate Record Examination General Test, taken during the past five years (for non-international students only).
6. Doctor of Theology applicants must submit a sample of their scholarly writing (not to exceed 30 pages).

Doctor of Ministry

1. Applicants must submit the following:
2. a completed Application Form with the $70 application fee.
3. official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate academic records.
4. letters of reference from an ecclesiastical superior, former seminary professor, professional peer, and lay person.
5. a personal statement, clearly and concisely written, which (a) describes your specific purpose in seeking the degree; (b) sets forth your concept of ministry; (c) identifies your academic, personal, and professional goals; and (d) includes an assessment of your own spiritual formation or development.
6. official results from either the Miller Analogies Test or the Graduate Record Examination General Test, taken during the past five years (for non-international applicants only).
7. a recent sample of scholarly writing, such as a research paper either from a previous graduate degree program if within the past five years, or on a topic relevant to ministry in the church (five to ten pages).
8. a personal interview with the Director of Admissions, or a designated faculty member or, for persons living a considerable distance from Boston, with a person selected by the School.
9. information or documentation of professional competence in addition to that listed above may be sought in determining the readiness of the applicant for participation in the degree program.
10. a proposed Plan of Study with a supporting Rationale that outlines the reasons a particular Plan will help students bring together their experiences with additional academic studies to create a fresh synthesis of theory and practice.

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MA/PhD in Theology or Religion

Those who wish to enter programs in theology or religion leading to the MA or PhD degree, rather than the professional programs in theology and ministry, should apply directly to the Boston University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for admission to the Division of Religious and Theological Studies (DRTS). For applications, write to Boston University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 705 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. A brief description of these programs is included in the Degree Programs section of this website.

Special Students

Those who wish to take foundational courses in preparation for diaconal ministry and others who wish to take theology courses without applying for candidacy in a degree program must submit the following application materials:

1. a completed Application Form.
2. official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate academic records.
3. an explanation of the proposed study plan indicating courses desired.

International Students

Boston University School of Theology welcomes students from many countries outside the United States into its degree programs. The participation of international students enriches the educational experience of all students. International applicants should carefully review the information in this special section before submitting documentation.

Admission to Degree Programs

All degree programs at Boston University School of Theology are open to international students.

Applicants must match exactly the name on their School of  Theology application with the name on their passport. Failure to match the names exactly will result in delayed or denied student visas. If the applicant does not have a passport prior to applying they must match their passport application name with the name they provided on their School of  Theology application.

Students must provide the application credentials required for the degree program described above. International students need not submit a Graduate Records Examination Score for master’s-level programs, but must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language Score (TOEFL).

Admission to the School of Theology for international students is completed in two parts. First, the student will be notified that he or she is “academically” admitted to the degree program, if the credentials presented merit such admission. Second, after documentation of significant financial support from personal resources, churches, or other agencies is provided by the applicant, the University’s International Student and Scholars Office will provide the student with the documents the applicant needs to secure the necessary Student Visa. The current level of financial support necessary is $35,000 U.S. for a single student.

Funding

The applicant must provide documentation of significant financial resources prior to admission to Boston University. The current level of financial support necessary is $35,000 U.S. for a single student. These methods of documentation may be personal resources or promised support from a church, denomination, grant agency, or missions organization. Documentation of this support may come in the form of a personal bank account statement, a letter from the supporting agency, or funds directly deposited into the student’s Boston University account. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to develop these resources and maintain them throughout study at Boston University.

The School of Theology makes a limited number of need-based Tuition Scholarships available to international students. Need-based scholarships provide for a reduction of the cost of tuition at a rate determined by the degree program: 70% for the MDiv degree, 55% for the MTS and MSM degrees, and 45% for the STM and ThD degrees. To continue to receive a Tuition Scholarship, International Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress as described in the “Policies and Procedures” section of this bulletin. Please note that no full-tuition scholarships or full-tuition plus living expense scholarships are available to international students.

Boston University expects payment of the semester’s tuition, fees, housing, etc., prior to the beginning of each semester. International students are advised to collect all financial resources prior to enrolling if possible.

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO)

Boston University maintains an office to support and advise all international students at 19 Deerfield Street. Students should consult ISSO concerning all visa requirements, financial requirements, and Internal Revenue Service requirements. The services provided by ISSO are described in the “Resources and Services of Boston University” section of this bulletin.

TOEFL

All students, for whom English is not a first language, must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score taken within the last five years. The minimum TOEFL score for master’s-level degrees (MDiv, MTS, MSM) is 570 (PBT), 230 (CBT), 89 (iBT). Applicants for advanced degrees (STM, DMin, and ThD) must have considerably higher scores than the minimum. When sending your scores to Boston University School of Theology, use Institution Code 3233 and Department Code 99.

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Center for English Language Orientation Programs (CELOP)

CELOP provides remedial work in English language study for students who do not meet the minimum TOEFL score, or who feel that additional work in English would be helpful prior to admission to a degree program. The services provided by CELOP are described under Resources and Services of Boston University.

English Placement Examination

All students for whom English is not a first language, and who have been admitted to Boston University with a Student Visa (F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2) must take the English Placement Examination administered by the College of Arts and Sciences during New Student Orientation prior to the initial semester of enrollment. The purpose of this exam is to further document the student’s readiness to undertake a course of study in which the language of instruction is English. The results of this examination will determine if further study in spoken and written English is necessary. Students who score high in this examination may be exempted from the English language requirement at the School of Theology.

English Language Requirement

Policies and Procedures for the competency requirement in English language for international students.

Enrollment

International students must attend a mandatory orientation workshop and process their final visa documentation with the ISSO before course registration can occur. It is generally expected that all international students will study at Boston University on a full-time basis. Part-time study is optional for students during a semester in which the student is completing preparations for comprehensive examinations or thesis. Students wishing to be certified full-time for visa purposes during a semester of examinations or thesis must request this status with the School’s Office of Registration and Financial Aid. All full-time fees will be charged to the student during this semester of full-time certified attendance.

International Student Medical Insurance

All international students are required to purchase the University’s Medical Insurance Plan. Students may elect to purchase medical insurance for a family through this plan, at a higher cost.

Housing

There are many housing opportunities for international students on the Boston University campus and in the greater Boston area. Consultation with the Director of Admissions well in advance of enrollment will assist the student in finding adequate housing.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Sherborn Street
Boston, MA 02215

30 November 2007
Boston University
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