Information for Admitted Students

Once registered, you can view your student account on the MyBU Student Portal 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 2022 is Monday, September 19, 2022. Please submit payments to Student Accounting Services per the deadlines and procedures below.

Payment Deadlines

Payment/Settlement Procedures

For information regarding fellowships, loans, 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/year*

PART-TIME STUDENTS
Tuition (2 – 11.5 credit hours) — $1,908/credit hour
Student Services Fee — $60/semester

*Rate for 2021-2022; the rate for 2022-2023 is to be determined. Medical insurance coverage extends from August 15, 2022 through August 14, 2023 for those admitted in the Fall Semester. Coverage extends from January 1, 2023 through August 14, 2023 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 with 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 be found with the Registrar.

To waive the medical insurance, please visit Student Health Services.

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

Health insurance coverage extends from August 15, 2022 through August 14, 2023 for those admitted in the Fall Semester. Coverage extends from January 1, 2023 through August 14, 2023 for those admitted for the Spring Semester. Please note that coverage takes effect once registration has been processed.

To waive the medical insurance, please visit Student Health Services.

Teaching Fellows or Doctoral Research Fellows 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 MyBU Student Portal. 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 Fellowship or Doctoral Research Fellowship 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).

Dean’s Fellows, Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellows, Whitney M. Young, Jr. Fellows, FLAS Fellows, and training grant recipients 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 MyBU Student Portal.

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).

Information regarding your stipend and taxes can be found here.

For students who wish to apply for federal student loans, you will need to do two things to begin the process.  First, complete a FAFSA. Boston University’s Federal School Code is 002130. In addition to the FASFA, you will need to complete a Federal Unsubsidized Loan Request Form which can be found on our website or by contacting the Graduate School Financial Aid Office at 705 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 112, Boston, MA 02215 (Tel: 617-353-2696 or email: grsaid@bu.edu). 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.

For students who 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. Since these loans are credit based it is strongly suggested that each applicant be aware of his/her credit history. Adverse credit may mean a negative decision for your loan application.

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

You can either go in person to their office, fax (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 Commonweath Ave
Boston, MA 02215

Please allow 1-2 business days for processing.

Please note, you will need to be registered in order for the form to be processed.

Each student, admitted to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, is responsible for becoming familiar with the general regulations of the Graduate School as stated in the “Policies” section of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Bulletin and with the more specific requirements stated in the individual section on each department, division, or program which may go beyond, or supplement, the Graduate School standards.

If necessary, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences staff is available to interpret or clarify any rule or regulation.

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 MyBU Student Portal 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 MyBU Student Portal, select the Academics tab
• On the Academics page, select “Diploma and Graduation Information”
• From this page, you should be able to view our previous degrees

Please note that due to the pandemic, the Graduate School is experiencing slight processing delays.  Generally 10 to 15 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 MyBU Student Portal (under the Academics tab, then Diploma and Graduation Information.  If you do not see it, please contact the Graduate School for more information.

If you have not submitted your final transcript(s) in sealed envelopes from your institution as requested in your admission letter, please bring the transcript(s) to the Graduate School Office as soon as possible so that we may update your record. We are located at 705 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 112.  Our temporary hours are Monday – Friday, 10am to noon and 1pm to 4pm.

Please note that if you received your degree from a Chinese institution, and you are not able to request your institution send the degree certificates in a sealed envelope, you will need to send the degree certificates through the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC).

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, check their 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) before coming to the Graduate School. You will not be allowed to register unless you have been cleared for admission 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 MyBU Student Portal.

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 the 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.

Registration for new students will take place with your academic department of admission who will send notification to you regarding the dates and times of advising and registration. Most departments will register students during the two weeks prior to the start of the semester. Incoming GRS students are not allowed to register before meeting with department staff. Registration instructions will be provided by the department.  If you do not receive information regarding dates of advising and departmental orientation sessions from your department prior to August 1, please contact your department directly.

Please refer to our Registration page for specific instructions.

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

Incoming Students should upload their Terrier Card photos following the instructions on the Terrier Card website. The Terrier Card Office recommends that students submit their photos by Friday, August 5, in order for the cards to be printed and ready for pick at the PhD & MFA orientation on September 2.

Students who upload their photos on August 6 – August 19 can pick up their Terrier Card at the GRS office starting September 8.  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

Students who upload their photos after August 19 will need to pick up their cards at the Terrier Card Office after September 15 and will be notified by Housing when their ID cards are ready.

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

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 grs@bu.edu.

For information about graduate housing, please visit the Boston University Housing website.

For information regarding Boston and its neighborhoods, please visit Boston University’s Graduate Education website.

The Office of Rental Property has a listing of available Boston University apartments. For information regarding additional apartments available on the Charles River Campus, please call them at 617-353-4101. Off-campus housing information can be found on the Off-Campus Services website.

 

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.

Schedules and fares

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

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. Please note that the Sports Pass is not covered by your fellowship.

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

All entering Boston University students have pre-matriculation health requirements that must be completed prior to your first term at Boston University. Please visit the Student Health Services for important information regarding required medical forms and immunizations.

— 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 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.