PhD & MFA: Application & Deadlines

Graduate Information

We welcome your PhD or MFA application to Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS)!

Arts & Sciences is Boston University’s largest academic division, the heart of a world-class research university. Our faculty in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) are among the world’s most respected professors, researchers, and professionals in their disciplines. Our alumni are leading innovation and research and making an impact in their fields. Our campus is Boston, a city vibrant with history, culture, and diversity, and teeming with potential for connections and careers.

Important Admissions Update

Admission for fall 2026 has concluded. We anticipate opening our fall 2027 PhD & MFA applications in September or October 2026. We do not yet know which programs will be accepting applications, please check back in September 2026. If you have any questions about the program (required application materials, writing samples, test scores, class sizes, research opportunities, career outcomes, decision timelines, etc.) that is not already answered below (or in our Admissions FAQs) , please contact the program directly instead of the graduate school’s central admissions office. The program contact information can be found below.

Does GRS offer my PhD or MFA program?

Admissions Basics

Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) through our online application.
You must use your full legal name as it appears on official government documents (passport, birth certificate, or social security card, etc.) when filling out university applications, documents, and corresponding with the our office.
We strongly advise that you familiarize yourself with our PhD & MFA: Frequently Asked Questions before contacting our admissions staff.
Applications close at 11:59pm (23:59) Boston Time (Eastern Time Zone, UTC – 05:00) on the day listed as the program’s application deadline (refer to the list of programs at the bottom of this page). Example: if the deadline is listed as December 15, then the application will close on December 15 when it is 11:59pm in Boston. If you are currently located in a time zone west of Boston (i.e. UTC – 06:00 to UTC – 11:00), you must submit your application one to six hours before midnight your time. Please do not wait until the very last second to submit your application. We do not grant extensions. Please plan ahead.
You cannot apply to more than one GRS program, and you cannot apply to both a GRS PhD and a GRS Master’s degree. We recommend that you contact the program directly if you are unsure about applying to the Master’s or the PhD degree. PhD & MFA applicants can only apply to the fall semester.
You can apply to a program offered by GRS and program(s) offered by the other 16 Boston University schools and colleges. Each graduate school has their separate application.
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 your previous school disabled your school email account.
Letters of recommendation are received separately. You don’t need to wait for them to submit your application. Your recommenders will submit their letters separately.
All documents (transcripts, personal statement, CV/resume, writing sample, if applicable, etc.) have to be submitted through the online application before the application closes. Documents that are sent or emailed directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by you, your institution, or a third party (ex: Parchment) cannot be added to your application. You cannot add or email updated documents (personal statement, resume/CV, etc.) or transcripts (showing fall grades) after you submit your application.
All documents, official electronic test scores, and recommendations letters must be received by the deadline; otherwise, they may not be considered by the program’s application review committee. Please allow for 5-10 business days for electronic scores (GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) to be matched to your application.
All credentials, including transcripts and recommendation letters, submitted in support of an application become property of Boston University. Neither originals nor copies may be returned.
After you submit your application, it will be reviewed by the program’s admission committee. The response time varies by program. Most programs make admission decisions in late February to early March. If you have questions about the timeline, please contact the program directly. You do not need to sign back in to your application after you submit it; there is no additional information that can be found in the application, you cannot track the progress of the review in the application. Once a decision has been made, you will receive an email informing you of the outcome.
If you are a PhD or MFA applicant to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS) and have a program-related question, please contact the program directly at the email address listed under each program (refer to the list of programs at the bottom of this page).

Application Checklist

Admissions FAQs

International Applicants

Statement on Holistic Admissions

Fellowship Aid

Online Application

GRS PhD & MFA programs, deadlines, and requirements

The following PhD & MFA programs are offered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS). For Master’s degree programs, please visit the Master’s admission website. For all other graduate programs, please visit the University’s Graduate Education website.

PhD & MFA: Application & Deadlines

We welcome your PhD or MFA application to Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS)!

Important Admissions Update

Does GRS offer my PhD or MFA program?

Boston University Graduate Admissions

Boston University Undergraduate Admissions

Boston University Graduate Financial Aid

Boston University Undergraduate Financial Aid

Admissions Basics

International Applicants

Statement on Holistic Admissions

Fellowship Aid

GRS PhD & MFA programs, deadlines, and requirements

American Studies (PhD)

Anthropology (PhD)

Astronomy (PhD)

Biology (PhD)

Biostatistics (PhD)

Chemistry (PhD)

Classical Studies (PhD)

Computer Science (PhD)

Creative Writing (MFA)

Earth & Environment (PhD)

Economics (PhD)

English & American Literature (PhD)

French Language & Literature (PhD)

Hispanic Language & Literatures (PhD)

History (PhD)

History of Art & Architecture (PhD)

Linguistics (PhD)

Literary Translation (MFA)

Mathematics (PhD)

Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry (PhD)

Philosophy (PhD)

Physics (PhD)

Playwriting (MFA)

Political Science (PhD)

Psychological & Brain Sciences (PhD)

Religion (PhD)

Sociology (PhD)

Statistics (PhD)