Graduate Information
In an effort to reduce financial barriers to attending graduate school, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS) offers application fee waivers. Information for student applying to GRS doctoral and MFA programs can be found below. Information on fee waivers for students applying to all other GRS master’s programs can be found here.
If you are inquiring about an application fee waiver for a program not offered by GRS, please reach out to the respective schools directly, for example:
Application Fee Waiver Eligibility
You must be applying to a PhD or MFA program within Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS). Non-degree seeking applicants are not eligible.
US citizens or US permanent residents may be granted fee waivers on the basis of one of the following:
- Participation in a special program, event, or fellowship
- Being a first generation applicant
- Being a female applicant to a program in which women are significantly underrepresented
- Documented financial hardship
Non-US Citizens are eligible to apply for a fee waiver based on:
- Sponsorship by outside organization
Special Program, Event, or Fellowship
The Graduate School is pleased to offer application fee waivers on the basis of participation in the following qualified programs, events, fellowships, or other eligible statuses. You will need to provide documentation of your participation/affiliation and also dates of participation with your request.
- Americorps (current participant or recent alumni, within the last two years)
- Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)
- Gates Millennium Scholars Program
- National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science (GEM)
- Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT)
- Laureates & Leaders Program
- McNair Scholars Program
- National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE)
- Peace Corps (current participant or recent alumni, within the last two years)
- Project 1000
- Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE)
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
- Teach for America (current participant or recent alumni, within the last two years)
- Veterans with Honorable Discharge or Active Duty in U.S. Armed Forces
A special program not listed above may still qualify for an application fee waiver provided that the program meets all of the following criteria:
- Mission explicitly aligns with the Graduate School’s Statement on Diversity
- Demonstrates a clear directive for students to enter a doctoral or research program
- Is represented or has chapters at more than one U.S. college or university campus
First Generation Applicant
Included in this group are first-generation students (where neither parents nor grandparents have obtained a four-year degree).
You will need to provide a CV, a personal statement, and unofficial transcript.
Female and female-identified applicant to a program in which women are significantly underrepresented
Included in this group are female and female-identified individuals and persons assigned female at birth (AFAB) applicants to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs (Chemistry, Computer and Information Technology Science, Engineering, Geosciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics, and Astronomy), and Economics.
You will need to provide a CV, a personal statement, and unofficial transcript.
Documented Financial Hardship
Applicants with documented financial hardship may be eligible for a fee waiver. To evaluate your request, you will be required to provide one of the following forms of documentation, along with a statement (100-250 words) explaining your situation:
- An official statement of need, which includes your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), from a financial aid officer at your current institution, or
- A copy of your FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR), with your Social Security Number obscured, or
- An official verification of current participation in a government low-income aid program, Unemployment, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Welfare, Medicaid, etc., or
- A copy of waiver granted by ETS for GRE fee within the past year
Do not send copies of tax returns or bank statements.
Outside Organizations
If you are applying through an outside fellowship organization, you may be eligible to have your application fee waived. The organization’s representatives are required to enter their direct contact information as part of the application. You will need to provide documentation of your participation with your request.
Eligible outside organizations include:
- Amid East
- DAAD-German American Exchange
- DAF – Danish American Fulbright Commission
- Fulbright
- IGERT – Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship
- LASPAU – Academic and Professional Programs for the Americas
How to Request an Application Fee Waiver
Please follow the instructions below to submit an application fee waiver request. All requests must be received at least three (3) business days prior to the application deadline.
Step 1
Begin your PhD or MFA online application. You will be assigned a 10 digit application ID (CAS ID). It will be listed in the upper right corner of your application.
Step 2
Send an email to grs@bu.edu with “Application Fee Waiver” on subject line. In email text, include:
- Your name (last, first) as it appears on your application
- Your application CAS ID
- Program name
- Program start (semester & year)
- A 100-250 word statement if you apply based on financial hardship
- All required documentation as attachment(s)
Step 3
You will receive an email notification within 3-5 business days when your fee waiver is reviewed. You must wait to receive this confirmation and follow the instructions within the email in order to submit your application. Do not submit your application with a payment, as paid application fees cannot be refunded. If you are not granted a fee waiver, you will need to pay the application fee when you submit your application.
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