The Application Process

The general deadline for applying for the fall semester is January 15 and for the spring semester it is October 15. Please be aware that many departments have earlier deadlines than the January 15 or October 15 date. A complete listing of departmental deadlines can be found at the Application Deadlines page. Most departments adhere strictly to the application deadline so it is in your best interest to submit not only your application but all supporting documents well before the posted application deadline. The application deadlines can be found on the “Program Information” tab.

It is in the applicant’s best interest to upload all supporting documents well before the deadline. All applications must be complete by the deadline; any application materials received after the deadline may not be reviewed by the department.

Applications may be submitted through the convenient online system. When creating your account, please be sure to use a permanent, non-school related email address. You will be contacted through the email address you use to create the account, and correspondence may occur after access to a school-related email account is disabled.

If you are requesting either your official GRE or TOEFL score report from ETS, the GRS institution code is 3087.  There is no need for a department code.

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.  Please note that if you select an institution code for an institution outside of BU, 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 Applicant Support.

Most departments adhere strictly to the application deadline.  In order to apply after the deadline, you will need to contact your prospective department and receive written permission via email to apply.  This email correspondence must be forwarded to the GRS Admissions Office, and instructions on how to apply will be given to the applicant at that time.

Each department/program has an admissions review committee. The schedule for reviewing applications is set by the review committee at the department. The Admissions Office cannot tell you when you will receive an admissions decision. If you are looking for information regarding the status of your application after it has been forwarded to the department, please contact the department administrator directly. For department information, click here.