All applicants must submit an official test result of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as required by the department to which you are applying. Check departmental requirements for the GRE and the GRE Subject Test on the Application Requirements and Deadlines page.  The MAT is not an acceptable substitute (with the exception of the Sociology/Social Work PhD program which does accept the MAT score report). For more information about GRE testing dates and score reporting, please visit the ETS website.

Official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required of all international applicants.  This requirement is waived only if you have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university in any of the following countries prior to enrollment in the GRS: the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland.  Studying in the medium of English in a country other than the ones previously listed or studying as an exchange student in an English-speaking country without completing a degree program is not sufficient to waive the English proficiency requirement.

In addition to the TOEFL, the IELTS is also accepted as proof of English proficiency. The band score of 6.5 is suggested for admission to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences; however, those seeking teaching fellowships should submit results of at least 7.0.

When you are ordering your score reports from ETS, please use institution code 3087 for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

You do not need to specify a department code when requesting test scores be sent to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Boston University now receives score reports electronically.  Please ensure that the registration number, name, birth date, and social security number (if applicable) on your online application match the information you provided to ETS.  This information allows your test scores to be matched to you as an applicant even if you accidentally select an institution code within BU other than 3087.  Please note that if you select an institution code for an institution outside of BU (ex: code 3083 for Boston College), you will need to contact ETS and have your scores resent to institution code 3087.   We will not accept a copy of any test score as a substitute for an original report.

If the information provided to ETS does not match the information on your application (alternate names, former names, transposed names, incorrect birthdates, etc), please contact the Admissions Office at grs@bu.edu after you have submitted your application.  Include your registration number(s) in your email along with your BU ID number.

If you did not request that your test scores be sent to GRS at institution code 3087 when you took the test, you can always order additional score reports.  Visit the ETS website for more information on ordering GRE or TOEFL reports.  Please remember that photocopies of test score reports are not considered official.

Yes, we do accept the IELTS and the minimum score required of international applicants is 6.5. Please visit the IELTS website for more information regarding testing dates and score reports.

The GRE program will not send official score reports for tests taken more than five years previously. Some departments prefer GRE scores that are less than two years old (please contact your department for more information). The TOEFL program will not send official score reports for tests taken more than two years previously.

All applications are held on file for one year. If you submitted your test results with an application within the past year, we can retrieve them from your file. You must submit a written request either by email or via mail, specifying which materials you would like pulled out of your previous file. Please remember that all submitted materials become the property of GRS and will not be returned to the applicant. They can only be taken out of your previous file if you intend to use the materials in an application to GRS.

Official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required of all international applicants.  This requirement is waived only if you have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university in any of the following countries prior to enrollment in the GRS: the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland.  Studying in the medium of English in a country other than the ones previously listed or studying as an exchange student in an English-speaking country without completing a degree program is not sufficient to waive the English proficiency requirement.

Unless otherwise indicated by the department/program to which you are applying, the minimum score requirement is:

• paper-based test: 550
• internet-based test
  • Reading section – 21
  • Listening section – 18
  • Speaking section – 23
  • Writing section – 22

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements of English proficiency are not eligible for admission.