Information for Newly Admitted Master’s Students

Once registered, you can view your student account on the StudentLink under Money Matters.

All Graduate School of Arts & Sciences students are required to settle/pay their tuition and fees each semester by the payment deadline. The payment deadline for new graduate students who start in Fall 2021 is Thursday, September 16, 2021. Please submit payments to Student Accounting Services per the deadlines and procedures below.

Payment Deadlines

Payment/Settlement Procedures

For information regarding fellowships, loans, work study, external funding sources, and more, please visit our Financial Aid page.  Questions concerning aid should be directed to the Graduate School Financial Aid Office, 705 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 112, Boston, MA 02215 (Tel: 617-353-2696 or email: grsaid@bu.edu).

Tuition and fees for the 2022-2023 academic year are as follows:

FULL-TIME STUDENTS

Tuition (12 – 18 credit hours)	$30,525/semester
Student Services Fee	$192/semester
Health & Wellness Fee	$245/semester
Basic Medical Insurance	$3,054/academic year

PART-TIME STUDENTS

Tuition (2 – 11.5 credit hours)	$1,908/credit hour
Student Services Fee	$60/semester

*Medical insurance coverage extends from August 15, 2021, through August 14, 2022, for those admitted in the Fall Semester.  Coverage extends from January 1, 2022, through August 14, 2022, for those admitted for the Spring Semester.  Please note that coverage takes effect once registration has been processed.

Information on withdrawal and tuition refunds for Fall 2021 can be found through the Office of the University Registrar. This information is important if you find that you are unable to attend classes but have registered. A complete listing of the University’s tuition and fees, as well as explanations of certain fees, can also be found through the Office of the University Registrar.

The Sports Pass will automatically be charged to your Student Account if you are a full-time graduate student at Boston University. The Sports Pass will allow you admission to all home events for ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse and soccer – over 70 games and a value of over $600. For individualized information regarding your sports pass, or to cancel your sports pass, visit the Student Link and go to the Money Matters tab.

Please visit the Student Health Services site regarding Medical Insurance. This site provides important information about the BU Medical Insurance Plan, comparable insurance requirements, and waiver of the BU Medical Insurance Plan. Part-time students and dependents of full-time students may choose to enroll in the medical insurance plan offered through Boston University.

Medical insurance coverage extends from August 15, 2021, through August 14, 2022, for those admitted in the Fall Semester. Please note that coverage takes effect once registration has been processed.

You can waive BU medical insurance if you already have another provider. To waive the medical insurance, please visit Student Health Services.

Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants will receive weekly stipend payments each Friday beginning the 2nd week of classes.  Payments will be available at the Student Employment Office.  After receiving the first payment, students are strongly encouraged to set up direct deposit via the Student Link.  By federal law, all employers must verify the employment eligibility of their new employees, including student employees.  All entering graduate students who have been awarded a Teaching or Research Assistantship are required to provide documentation for payroll purposes.  You will need to present the appropriate documents to the administrative assistant in your academic department.  Documents must be verified within the first three working days of employment.  You will be asked to complete an Employment Eligibility Form (Form I-9).  If you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident, please present the documentation, in person, to the University’s International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO).

Questions concerning your fellowship should be directed to the Graduate School Financial Aid Office, 705 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 112, Boston, MA 02215 (Tel: 617-353-2696 or email: grsaid@bu.edu).

Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellows, Whitney M. Young, Jr. Fellows, and FLAS Fellows will receive monthly stipend payments on the fourth Friday of each month beginning in September.  Payments will be available at the Student Employment Office. After receiving the first payment, students are strongly encouraged to set up direct deposit via the Student Link.

Questions concerning your fellowship should be directed to the Graduate School Financial Aid Office, 705 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 112, Boston, MA 02215 (Tel: 617-353-2696 or email: grsaid@bu.edu).

Various forms of financial aid are available to support your studies in a master’s program at GRS. Financial Aid may not exceed your total Cost of Attendance. When estimating the total cost of attendance at GRS, you should consider BU medical insurance and living expenses such as housing, transportation, etc.

Students who wish to apply for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans will need to complete a FAFSA. Boston University’s Federal School Code is 002130. In addition to the FASFA, you will need to complete a Federal Direct Loan Request Form which can be found on our website. Federal loan decisions are usually made in mid-July for graduate students beginning study in September and in mid-December for those beginning in January.

If you wish to borrow credit-based loans, please begin the loan process at least 6 to 8 weeks before the first day of classes to allow for processing which includes a credit review. You can find information and a list of some credit-based lenders here. International students may also borrow credit-based loans. Information on credit-based loans available to international students can be found on the BU Financial Assistance website.

If you are currently paying student loans from a prior undergraduate or graduate degree program, you may be eligible to defer payment for the duration of your master’s degree program at BU.

If you have a student loan deferment form that needs to be completed, please contact the Registrar’s Office here at BU.

You can bring the form to their office, fax the form (617-353-1869), email a scanned copy of the form to registrar@bu.edu, or mail the form.

Office of the University Registrar
Boston University
881 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215

Please allow 1-2 business days for processing.

Please note, you must be registered for courses in order for the form to be processed.

Boston University requires COVID-19 vaccinations and COVID-19 booster shots for students, faculty, staff, and affiliates. Campus-wide vaccination and boosters are the best defense against the severe disease within our community. As we do for other required vaccinations, we will have a process for accommodating medical and religious exemptions.

Visit the COVID-19 Vaccination Information page on the Back2BU website.

• Students — How to Upload Vaccination Documentation

You are required to upload vaccination documentation to your Patient Connect. Individually identifiable health information you share with us will be confidential, and will not be shared.

Because many of our international students were vaccinated abroad with vaccines that have not been approved for use in the United States, the University accepts all vaccines being offered outside the United States, including those without World Health Organization (WHO) or US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization or approval. Please see Proof of Full COVID Vaccination Required

Upload Your Documentation

• Log in to your Patient Connect portal.
• Click the Medical Clearances menu option, then click Update in the COVID clearance row.
• Click Upload to upload an image of your COVID-19 vaccine documentation, ensuring that the administered dates are clearly visible.
• Enter each appointment date, indicate the vaccine manufacturer, and click Done.

To file an exemption request for medical or religious reasons, choose Request for COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption from the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) message options.

More information about how to use Patient Connect is available here.

For help, please email healthwayhelp@bu.edu.

Please refer to BU’s Back2BU website for the latest COVID-19 Vaccination Information.

GRS will be sending an email with instructions on accessing Boston University’s Early Access Program.  This program allows incoming students to create a BU email account and allows early access to some online services.  If you have submitted all required documents and do not receive the email for setting up access after three weeks, please contact GRS Admissions at grsmams@bu.edu.

BU provides our students with reliable resources to ensure that you find housing in Boston’s competitive housing market. Housing listings in Boston and the Greater Boston area can be found on the Off-Campus Services website.

Other helpful resources include:

Off-Campus Housing FAQs for Graduate and Professional Students

City of Boston

Get to Know Your Neighborhood

BU’s Information Services & Technology (IS&T) department can help you with all of your technology needs. Links for computing resources on campus and information on obtaining support for your personal computer can be found here.

Information Services & Technology Information

We can just about guarantee you’ll make extensive use of Boston’s rapid transit system (the MBTA, or simply, “the T”) while you are a student at BU.

Boston University is located at several stops along the Boston College branch (B Line) of the Green Line.

The MBTA’s Student Semester Pass allows students to pre-pay for their monthly “T” passes and thereby save approximately 11% off the regular monthly “T” pass price.

Schedules and Fares

The Sports Pass will automatically be charged to your Student Account if you are a full-time graduate student at Boston University. The Sports Pass will allow you admission to all home events for ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse and soccer – over 70 games and a value of over $600.

For individualized information regarding your sports pass, or to cancel your sports pass, visit the Student Link and go to the Money Matters tab.

All incoming Boston University students must complete pre-matriculation health requirements prior to your first term at Boston University. Please visit Student Health Services for important information regarding required medical forms and immunizations.

Getting a job on campus is a great way to earn money and experience while completing your graduate degree at BU. You can search for student jobs by visiting the Work tab on the StudentLink.

The Student Employment Office is the comprehensive resource for all matters related to student employment at Boston University, including information on getting paid, policies for student employees, taxes, and more.

The Department of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance offers various graduate assistantships to students enrolled in a graduate degree program at Boston University. These positions are highly coveted and allow graduate students to take advantage of discounted graduate-level classes at BU and earn a stipend while working in a fun, challenging, and rewarding environment.

Many academic departments also offer Teaching and Research Assistantship positions for graduate students. These positions vary for each department and program. You should contact your department for information about these opportunities and how to apply.

Global Programs has launched an online, non-credit, pre-arrival course designed to prepare incoming international students for the transition to BU and the American classroom. BU First Class is self-paced, delivered on the edX platform Edge, and is comprised of short videos, polls, and self-checks designed to be completed from anywhere on any device. Incoming international students will be contacted with First Class registration information on July 7.

Learn More

• Campus map
• Information about Boston University and the city of Boston
• The Educational Resource Center provides students with the services and resources for developing personal and academic skills
• Information regarding campus safety can be found at the BU Police Department’s website
• The Dept. of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (PERD) offers programs and facilities for numerous forms of physical activity
• If you plan on driving a car to classes, you should take a look at the Office of Parking Services’ website
• Boston University houses a number of libraries on campus and you’ll make use of at least one of them during your time here
• Information Services & Technology provides general-access computing and communications facilities for the entire University community
• The Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground is BU’s cultural hub that provides an array of culturally based programs, lectures, discussions, films, events, and resources for students. 
• The Geddes Language Center provides a wide range of instructional media services for students
• Student Health Services offers a number of health-related services including counseling to the University community
• The Graduate Student Organization (GSO) is a student-run advocacy group for Graduate School of Arts and Sciences students
• Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (GWISE) at Boston University is a student-run group open to all, which strives to create a community to support and promote women in science.
• Finally, information regarding Boston’s rapid transit system, the MBTA, or simply, the T, can be found on the MBTA website.

Once you are admitted to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, you are responsible for becoming familiar with the general regulations of GRS as stated in the “Policies” section of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Bulletin. You should also familiarize yourself with the more specific requirements stated in the individual section on your department, division, or program, which may go beyond or supplement the Graduate School standards.

Please contact Student Affairs for clarification of any rule or regulation in the academic bulletin.

Boston University does not permit a student to enroll simultaneously in more than one graduate program either within Boston University or at another institution unless those programs have been previously approved by the Trustees of Boston University as a combined degree program.

Please refer to the Registrar’s website for compliance requirements.

Check the Student Link to ensure you have met these requirements. Students not in compliance will be unable to register for future semesters.

You will need to make sure that all previous degrees are accurately reflected on your student record. You can verify this information by following these steps:

• From the StudentLink, select the Academics tab
• On the Academics page, select “Diploma and Graduation Information”
• From this page, you should be able to view your prior degrees for which GRS has received an official final transcript

Ten days after submitting your final transcript(s) with the degree listed as conferred or awarded, you should see it reflected on your BU transcript in the StudentLink. If you do not see it, please contact GRS for more information.

If you have not submitted your final transcript(s) in sealed envelopes from your institution as requested, please bring the transcript(s) to the GRS Office as soon as possible so that we may update your record. We are located at 705 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 112. You may also have your transcripts emailed to grs@bu.edu directly from your institution’s e-transcript service.

Please note that if you received your degree from a Chinese institution and you are unable to request that your institution send your degree certificate(s) in a sealed envelope, you will need to send the degree certificates through the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC).

All transcripts submitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences need to be in English. If your school does not provide English copies, a certified translation will be required.

International students are required to check in with the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) after arriving on campus. For information about new student orientation offered by the ISSO, please visit the ISSO website.

Should you have any problems or questions about your visa status, please contact the International Students & Scholars Office at 888 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02215 (Tel: 617-353-3565 or email: issogac@bu.edu).  You will not be allowed to register for courses unless you have been cleared for admission to the United States by the International Students & Scholars Office.

Students are reminded that, in accordance with the Code of Student Responsibilities (Appendix 15), current addresses must be on file with the University. We ask that you provide this information via the Student Link.

The home address currently on file for you may be the permanent address provided on your application for admission. Local addresses should be updated once you have located housing in the Boston area. After you matriculate, you will need to update/confirm your local address twice a year in accordance with University compliance requirements. If your name or Social Security number has changed or is incorrect, these can be updated at the Office of the University Registrar at 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Second Floor.  This information cannot be changed using the Student Link.

Your GRS department will contact incoming students during the summer to communicate times for advising and registration prior to August 1st. Please contact your program or department with any questions about registration procedures.

Please refer to our Registration page for specific instructions.

Please be aware that once you are registered for classes, you will be subject to Boston University’s withdrawal and refund schedule.

A complete academic calendar can be viewed on the Registrar’s website.

Incoming Students should upload their Terrier Card photos online, following the instructions on the Terrier Card website. The Terrier Card Office recommends that students submit their photos by Friday, August 6, in order for the cards to be printed and ready for pick up on Monday, August 23. You can pick up your Terrier Card at the GRS office during office hours starting August 23. The GRS office hours for the fall semester and address are:

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM

Address: 705 Commonwealth Ave, Suite 112, Boston, MA 02215

A student who is registered for a semester and decides not to attend must officially take a leave of absence or withdraw. Mere absence from classes does not constitute a withdrawal. A leave of absence should be taken when the student intends to return in a future semester; a withdrawal indicates a decision to permanently leave the University. Charges are canceled in accordance with the published refund schedule, based on the effective date of the withdrawal or leave of absence.

More Information