Explore the world of ideas. Earn an PhD or MFA from Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences

The academic history of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) is rich with leaders of research and thought, innovators whose impacts have changed lives. The Graduate School offers MFA programs in Creative Writing, Playwriting, and Literary Translation, and thirty PhD programs in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. In keeping with the collaborative teaching and research culture that exists across BU, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences partners in interdisciplinary graduate programs across the University in areas including molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry; bioinformatics; and neuroscience. Our programs reflects our strength as the heart of a major research university, the devotion of our faculty to teaching and mentoring, and the many advantages of our location in Boston. We invite you to explore your program of interest, along with the academic program profiles which provide details for each program.

Qualifications for PhD and MFA Admission

Those who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or with equivalent international education may apply.

• Your undergraduate program should include introductory studies in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences; completion of specified courses without credit may be required to make up any deficiency.
• You may apply to a PhD program if you have a bachelor’s degree (refer to “Am I eligible to apply” in our FAQs).
• You may not enroll simultaneously in more than one graduate program unless the programs are part of a BU-approved combined degree.
• If you have twice been rejected for admission to the same degree program, you must submit a letter of approval for application from the current director of graduate studies in the department to which you seek admission.
• International applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency
• International applicants who have been accepted into a program will need to submit all required International Student Visa Documents

If you meet these minimum qualifications, you are welcome to apply.  As a next step, please visit out our Application & Deadlines page:

PhD & MFA Application & Deadlines