International Students

Proof of English proficiency is required of all applicants by submitting official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS).  TOEFL and IELTS tests are valid for 2 years. For example, a student applying for Fall 2023 must have taken the test after January 1, 2021. 

This requirement is waived if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or a citizen of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom.
• You have studied in the United States (or one of the above countries) at an accredited college or university for at least TWO (2) years. The University must be located in the countries listed above.
• You have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution where the official language of instruction is English. If your transcript does not clearly state that the language of instruction is English, then please upload supporting documentation on institutional letterhead along with your transcript.

This waiver does not apply to students who have earned or are earning undergraduate or graduate degrees from an institution in a country listed above while enrolled in a “dual degree” program with an institution in another country. Studying as an exchange student in an English-speaking country is not sufficient to waive the English proficiency requirement.

NOTE:  The TOEFL ITP exam is not accepted as proof of English language proficiency.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements of English proficiency are not eligible for admission.

To support you with an accessible way to complete the English Proficiency requirement for your application to GRS, we are allowing our international applicants to complete the online Duolingo test or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition test.

When you log in to complete the exam, please select Boston University Graduate & Professional Programs as a score recipient. Once you have completed the Duolingo exam and after you submit your admissions application, please email GRS Admissions at grs@bu.edu with Subject Line “Duolingo,” and include your first and last name, exam date, and the name of the PhD or MFA program to which you are applying.

A minimum score of 105 is required for the Duolingo test to satisfy the GRS English proficiency requirement.

Minimum TOEFL Requirements

It is important that you schedule your TOEFL test well in advance of the application deadline. The ETS should forward the official score report to the Admissions Office (institution code 3087) so that it arrives before the application deadline date.

The TOEFL Bulletin of Information and registration form can be obtained from:

• TOEFL/TSE Services website
• American embassies and consulates
• Offices of the United States Information Service (USIS)
• U.S. education commissions and foundations abroad
• Binational centers
• Certain private organizations

If you can’t obtain the documents locally, request them well in advance from TOEFL/TSE Services, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, U.S.A.; 609-771-7975.

Unless otherwise indicated by the department/program to which you are applying, the minimum score requirement is:

• paper-based test: 550
• internet-based test
  • Reading section – 21
  • Listening section – 21
  • Speaking section – 21
  • Writing section – 21

Minimum IELTS Requirements

In addition to the TOEFL, the IELTS is also accepted as proof of English proficiency. The overall band score of 7.0 is required for admission to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.  Applicants submitting IELTS scores will need to contact their testing center and request official test scores be sent electronically to Boston University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences via our e-delivery account name: Boston University Graduate Programs.  

If you are offered admission following the academic review of your application and you then accept that offer of admission, you will be notified via email to submit the following documents:

• A completed, signed International Student Data Form or International Applicant Coversheet.
• Copy of the personal information page of your current passport.
• Copies of all current visas, if applicable.
• Financial support documentation (Sponsorship Certification and Bank Statement).

You must provide a bank statement or other appropriate evidence of financial support adequate to cover travel to and from Boston and for tuition and living costs for at least one full year at Boston University. The Estimate of Expenses can be found on the International Students and Scholars Office website. Please note the minimum amount listed may be increased by up to 5% each academic year.

All international applicants who are offered admission and accept their offer are then required to submit the completed International Applicant Coversheet or International Student Data form with required passport/visa documentation. These applicants would be immediately notified by email and given instruction how to submit this documentation.

In the event applicants are offered admission without sufficient financial aid to cover the estimate of expenses for themselves and any dependents they may have, applicants must also submit appropriate financial documentation before official admission is given and the visa process can begin.

Non-US Citizens are eligible to apply for a fee waiver based on:

• Sponsorship by outside organization
• Recommendation by the department

More information can be found on this page.

Yes, all transcripts submitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences need to be in English. If your school does not provide English copies, upload your unofficial transcript(s) and certified translation(s) for each institution into a single document and upload it to the appropriate section of the online application.

The WES/ECE evaluation is not a required component of the application. If you have attended an institution that is not located within the United States, we request that you upload your unofficial transcript in the appropriate section of your application. The Graduate School may contact you at the time of review if a WES/ECE evaluation is necessary.

All full-time PhD and MFA students will be admitted with full fellowship aid. If you are admitted to a PhD or MFA program, please select the appropriate option on the International Student Data Form.

Unfortunately, financial aid for MA and MS degree applicants far exceeds our capability to support many highly qualified students. If in the event you are recommended for admission without financial aid, you would need to provide financial documentation to begin the visa process.

A legalized letter of support is an original letter, written and signed by your sponsor(s), stating their relationship to you and that they are willing to support you for the upcoming academic year at Boston University with a specified amount of money (which must be sufficient to cover the estimated expenses as determined by the International Students & Scholars Office). It does not have to be notarized or signed by a lawyer. The submitted letter must be an original letter, not a photocopy, and must be signed and dated within the past year. A Financial Sponsorship Certification Form can be used in place of a legalized letter of support.

On page one of the International Student Data Form, you are asked to indicate how you will be funded during your studies at Boston University. If you have no financial support and will rely solely on financial assistance from the department, please write a brief statement on the bottom of page one outlining why you have not included financial documentation with the form.

We invite you to browse The International Student Experience website to hear first-hand from current international graduate students about their experience at Boston University. Get answers and advice from Student Voices videos and at Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Take a look at the A Safe and Vibrant Campus for International Graduate Students video, where you will get a view of the campus and learn about the exceptional academic, cultural, and community-oriented atmosphere of BU.