Department of International Relations | Graduate | Prospective

The Department of International Relations is proud of the multinational composition of our student body. Although exact figures vary from year to year, international students normally comprise roughly 25% of our student body. Our international students come from across the globe, but the areas best represented are India, East Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe. The diversity of experience and background among our students contributes an important element to the classroom experience.

International Applications

Please click here to see general information on applying to the IR Department. In most respects, applications by international students are no different than applications by domestic students. International students follow the same application deadlines, submit all of the application materials a domestic student submits, and are considered for merit-based aid in the same manner as, and on an equal footing with, domestic students.

There are some important differences, however, as follows:

We prefer that international students apply for admission to the Fall Semester only. Visa processing often requires a considerable amount of time to complete. Because of the relatively brief amount of time between the Spring Semester application deadline (October 15) and the start of Spring Semester classes (mid-January), it is often difficult to complete the visa application process in time for the start of classes.
Due to US visa regulations, international students may not enroll in our programs as part-time students. They must maintain full-time student status for the entire duration of their program in order to comply with the conditions of their visa status.
International Students must submit an International Student Data Form as well as documentation of financial support in order to be offered admission. For more information on this, see the GRS Admissions website. Please be sure to submit this documentation as early as possible, in order to be sure that there is sufficient time for the student visa to be processed. Please submit this documentation with your application if at all possible - visa processing often requires two to three months.
International Applicants must demonstrate English Language proficiency. See below for more details.
International students who earned their Bachelor's degree in a three year program, such as those common in India and Pakistan, may need to complete a master's degree program in their home country before being eligible for admission to Boston University. Please contact the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Admissions Office at grs@bu.edu for more details.
International Students interested in our dual-degree IRJD or IR/MBA program should contact the Law School or the Graduate School of Management, respectively, to inquire about any special policies regarding international applicants.

English Language Proficiency

The language of instruction at Boston University is English. International students need to demonstrate proficiency in the English language in order to be admitted to our program. Applicants who are citizens of or who received a Bachelor's or higher degree from a university in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom are assumed to be fluent in English and need not submit documentation of English language skills. All other international students must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting a TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) score. A degree from an English language university located in a country other than those listed above does not exempt an applicant from the TOEFL requirement. We do not accept the IELTS or any other English language exams in lieu of the TOEFL; applicants must submit TOEFL scores.

Information about taking the TOEFL can be obtained by contacting:

TOEFL TSC Services
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
Phone: 609-951-1100
http://www.ets.org

An excellent facility with the English language is necessary in order to be successful in our program, and as a result we do have high admission standards for our applicants. We require the following minimum TOEFL scores in order to gain admission to any of our six programs:

Paper-Based Exam - 600
Computer-Based Exam - 230
Internet-Based Exam - 94

The International Relations Department does not permit conditional admissions. Applicants must obtain a sufficiently high score on the TOEFL or they will not be admitted.

International Students must also take the GRE exam (or LSAT or GMAT, if applying to the IRJD or IR/MBA programs, respectively), as per our general application requirements. The TOEFL exam is required in addition to, not in place of, the GRE.

CELOP

Students with insufficiently strong English skills who are interested in pursuing a degree at BU may wish to contact Boston University's Center for English Language and Orientation Programs (CELOP). CELOP offers English language instruction and cultural orientation programs for students at a variety of different skill levels. For more information about CELOP, see their website.

Please note that completion of an English language training program at CELOP does not guarantee admission into an International Relations degree program.

International Students and Scholars Office

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) at BU assists international students with all visa issues and related questions. Click here to go to their website.

Puerto Rico

Please note that applicants from Puerto Rico are considered to be domestic students, not international students, and should apply as domestic students. Applicants from Puerto Rico are not required to submit a TOEFL score report.

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