It is in the applicant’s best interest to submit, with the application, the financial documentation required of all international students. If an applicant sends the financial documentation after the application deadline or after he/she receives word that the application has been recommended for admission, this could cause serious delays in the admission process as well as the visa documentation process.
There is no application or petition for a fee waiver. The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences does not waive the application fee under any circumstance.
Yes, all transcripts submitted to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences must be in English. If you are submitting an official transcript that is not in English, you must submit a certified English translation of the transcript and degrees awarded.
Unfortunately, applications for financial aid far exceed our capability to direct resources to support many highly qualified students. Therefore, it is in the applicant’s best interest to submit, with the application, the required financial documentation. This will prevent delays in visa processing, if you are offered admission.
We accept checking or savings bank account statements, bank loan statements, scholarship award letters (not based on admission to degree program), or support letters from the government or independent organization. The financial documents must be in English and clearly state your name or, if applicable, your sponsor's name. The currency on all financial documentation must be in U.S. dollars. If you are being sponsored, then a bank statement must be accompanied by a legalized letter of sponsorship. Photocopies of any financial documentation are not acceptable. The International Students & Scholars Office has detailed information regarding financial support documentation on their website: www.bu.edu/isso/students/prospective/admissions
A legalized letter of support is an original letter, written and signed by your sponsor(s), stating their relationship to you and that they are willing to support you for the upcoming academic year at Boston University with a specified amount of money (which must be sufficient to cover the estimated expenses as determined by the International Students & Scholars Office). It does not have to be notarized or signed by a lawyer. The submitted letter must be an original letter, not a photocopy, and must be signed and dated within the past year.
The International Students & Scholars Office provides an estimate of expenses that should be sufficient for one year of attendance at Boston University. The most recent estimate is posted at the following website: www.bu.edu/isso/students/prospective/admissions/Expenses.html. Please be aware that this estimate is updated on a yearly basis. If the estimate posted on the website is for a previous academic year, you should expect an increase and submit financial support documents accordingly.
On page 1 of the International Student Data Form, you are asked to indicate how you will be funded during your studies at Boston University. If you have no financial support and will rely solely on financial assistance from the department, please write a brief statement on the bottom of page 1 outlining why you have not included financial documentation with the form.
Undergraduate AdmissionsAdmission to Arts & Sciences is managed through BU’s main Admissions Office.
Graduate AdmissionsLearn more about qualifications and the admissions process.
Intra-University TransferTransferring from another BU school or college to the College of Arts & Sciences