Graduate Information
We welcome your application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS)! All applications and supporting documents will be submitted through our convenient online application:
Online Application
PhD & MFA applications for Fall 2024 opened on September 1, 2023 and will close at 11:59pm (23h59) Boston Time (Eastern Time Zone, UTC – 05:00) on the day listed as the program’s deadline.
Please note that you cannot apply to more than one GRS program and that PhD & MFA applicants can only apply to the fall semester.
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.
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 below.
Admissions FAQs International Applicants
PhD Fellowship Aid MFA Fellowship Aid
GRS Statement on Holistic Admissions
The admissions committee of each of our graduate programs will be looking, as always, at the entire transcript and the cumulative GPA in their evaluation as well as test scores (if applicable), recommendations, and personal statements, as required by specific programs. We encourage applicants to include special circumstances as well as achievements that may not be apparent due to modified grading policies in their personal statements. This policy has been adopted to ensure that applicants are not evaluated differently by admissions committee due to the varied impact of COVID-19 on individuals and/or due to the specific grading policies of their colleges/universities.
PhD & MFA Programs No Longer Requiring the GRE
American Studies |
not required |
Anthropology |
not required |
History of Art & Architecture |
not required |
Astronomy |
optional |
Bioinformatics |
not required |
Biology |
not required |
Biostatistics |
not required |
Chemistry |
not required |
Classical Studies |
not required |
Computer Science |
not required for Fall 2024 |
Creative Writing |
not required |
Earth & Environment |
not required |
English |
not required |
French Language & Literature |
not required |
Hispanic Language & Literatures |
not required |
History |
not required |
Linguistics |
not required |
Literary Translation |
not required |
Mathematics |
not required |
MCBB |
not required |
Philosophy |
not required |
Physics |
optional for Fall 2024 |
Playwriting |
not required |
Political Science |
optional |
Psychology |
optional |
Religion |
not required |
Sociology |
not required |
Statistics |
not required |
As part of our holistic approach to admissions, many of our PhD programs no longer require the GRE General Test, while others have suspended the requirement for applicants. For those who continue to use it, they do so as part of their holistic review. While GRE scores may be an essential component of the application for some programs, they are only one of many factors that contribute to your review as an applicant. Our programs consider the personal statement, letters of recommendation, GPA, and other supporting materials, when assessing an applicant’s academic potential and ability. Please see the list below for details on programs that do not require the GRE.
Our PhD & MFA Programs
American & New England Studies
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations (at least two from faculty members)
- Scholarly writing sample
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal statement
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Anthropology
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Personal statement
- Resume/CV
- Writing sample
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Astronomy
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Official GRE General Test score report (optional)
- Official GRE Physics Subject Test score report (optional)
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Bioinformatics
Students who wish to apply for the PhD in Bioinformatics must apply through the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences (CDS) admissions portal.
For questions, please contact the Bioinformatics program directly at bioinfo@bu.edu or the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences (CDS) at cds-admissions@bu.edu.
Biology
Programs offered:
Areas of Interest:
- Marine Biology
- Cell & Molecular Biology
- Ecology, Behavior & Evolution
- Neurobiology
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Biostatistics
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Personal statement
- CV/Resume
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Chemistry
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations (personal letter in addition to questionnaire is strongly recommended)
- Personal statement
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Classical Studies
Programs offered:
- PhD in Classical Studies
- MA in Classical Studies dual with PhD in Philosophy
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Personal statement
- Scholarly writing sample
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Students who wish to apply to the MA in Classical Studies dual with PhD in Philosophy should visit the program website for information on how to apply.
Program Website
Program Email
Computer Science
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Personal statement
- Official GRE General Test score report (is not mandatory for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle)
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Creative Writing
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Two recommendations
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
- Creative writing sample
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Earth & Environment
Programs offered:
- PhD in Earth & Environment
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Economics
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations (PhD)
- Personal statement
- Official GRE General Test score report
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
English
Programs offered:
- PhD in English & American Literature
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
- Official GRE General Test score report (optional)
- Scholarly writing sample (page limit of 15-25 pages)
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
History
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
- Foreign language(s) proficiency (please list the languages in which you are fluent)
- Writing sample
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
History of Art & Architecture
Programs offered:
- PhD in History of Art & Architecture
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
- Writing Sample
- Personal Background Statement (optional)
- Listing of related coursework and foreign language proficiency (For required background in coursework and for foreign language proficiency, please see the Graduate Program Handbook)
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Linguistics
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations
- Curriculum Vitae
- Writing Sample
- Personal statement
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Literary Translation
Programs offered:
- MFA in Literary Translation
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Personal statement (please describe your level of proficiency in the language you wish to translate from, your experience in literary translation and what you hope to gain from the MFA)
- Sample of critical writing in English (8-12 double-spaced pages)
- Translation sample (10-12 double-spaced pages) accompanied by the relevant passage of the original text
- Official GRE scores are not required
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Mathematics & Statistics
Programs offered:
- PhD in Mathematics
- PhD in Statistics
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations
- Personal statement
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry
Programs offered:
- PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations
- Personal statement with detailed research interests included
- Curriculum Vitae
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
The Division of Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) also offers PhD programs in Biochemistry as well as a PhD program in Cell and Molecular Biology. Please visit the GMS website for more information.
Program Website
Program Email
Philosophy
Programs offered:
- PhD in Philosophy
- MA in Classical Studies dual with PhD in Philosophy
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations
- Personal statement
- Scholarly writing sample (10-20 pages)
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
- PhD in Philosophy: February 1, 2024*
- Dual MA in Classics & PhD in Philosophy: January 15, 2024
* The application will be undergoing maintenance from Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 7 AM ET through Monday, January 22, 2024 at 7 AM ET. During this time, the application will be unavailable. Please plan accordingly.
Program Website
Program Email
Physics
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations
- Official GRE General Test score report (optional for Fall 2024; it is strongly recommended that applicants interested in theoretical research and international applicants submit their GRE scores with their applications if circumstances allow)
- GRE Subject Test in Physics (optional for Fall 2024; it is strongly recommended that applicants interested in theoretical research and international applicants submit their GRE scores with their applications if circumstances allow)
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Website
Playwriting
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Two academic recommendations
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
- Minimum of one original full-length play or two one-act plays
- Ability to read or speak a foreign language (requirement may be fulfilled while in the program; see Program Director for more information)
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Please note the Playwriting program accepts applicants every two years only, on even years (2024, 2026, etc).
Program Website
Program Email
Political Science
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations
- Official GRE General Test score report (optional)
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
- Writing Sample
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Psychological and Brain Sciences
Programs offered:
- PhD in Psychological & Brain Sciences (PBS) in one of three graduate programs of study:
- Brain Behavior & Cognition (BBC)
- Developmental Science (DS)
- Clinical Psychology (CP)
Please remember to indicate the program of study to which you are applying by answering the relevant question in the application.
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations
- Official GRE score report (optional for BBC & DS; applicants to CP should visit the program website for additional information)
- Official GRE Subject Test (optional)
- Personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
Applicant Interviews:
- Applicants who are selected as final candidates will be invited by the Psychology department to a virtual or in-person interview in January 2024.
- For questions about the interview process, please contact the Psychology department directly at psych@bu.edu.
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Graduate Program in Religion
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three recommendations
- Personal statement
- Academic writing sample
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Romance Studies
Programs offered:
- PhD in French Language & Literature
- PhD in Hispanic Language & Literatures
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations
- Personal statement
- Summary of related coursework
- Writing sample
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email
Sociology
Programs offered:
Application Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Three academic recommendations
- Personal statement
- CV/Resume
- Academic writing sample
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Program Website
Program Email