PhD & MFA: International Applicants

All applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English, typically through English proficiency test scores.  The Graduate School does not waive the English proficiency requirement in advance.  The requirement will be waived (meaning that you will not need to provide English proficiency test scores) if, at the time of the application deadline, you meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. You are a legal citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States.
   • • If you correctly list your citizenship in the application (it is a required field), there is nothing you need to do.  The requirement will be waived automatically.
       
       
2. You are a legal citizen of one of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Micronesia, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, or Zimbabwe.
   • • If you correctly list your citizenship in the application (it is a required field), there is nothing you need to do.  The requirement will be waived automatically.
       
       
3. You are a legal citizen of Cameroon or Canada and have earned your post-secondary degree from a university where English is the sole official language of instruction.
   • • You must correctly list your citizenship in the application (it is a required field).
     • Your transcript must clearly state that English is the sole language of instruction. You may also include an official letter from the institution confirming that English is the sole language of instruction and attach it to the transcript. Do not send the transcript or letter to the Graduate School to ask if the English Proficiency requirement can be waived; the Graduate School does not waive the English Language Proficiency requirement in advance. You must upload all required documents to the application and the requirement may be waived at the time of the review of the application by the program based on the available documentation included with the application.
     • An English language or English literature degree from an institution where English is not the sole language of instruction is not acceptable. A multilingual program is not acceptable; all classes must be taught in English. A “dual degree” where a student is simultaneously enrolled in an English-speaking country and another country is not acceptable. Studying as an exchange student in an English-speaking country is not acceptable.
       
       
4. You have studied in the United States (or one of the before-mentioned countries) at an accredited college or university in a degree-seeking, English-speaking program for at least two consecutive years.
   • • You must have successfully completed two consecutive years (24 months) or more in that program prior to the start date of our PhD program (September 1, 2025).
     • Your transcript must clearly state that English is the sole language of instruction. You may also include an official letter from the institution confirming that English is the sole language of instruction and attach it to the transcript. Do not send the transcript or letter to the Graduate School to ask if the English Proficiency requirement can be waived; the Graduate School does not waive the English Language Proficiency requirement in advance. You must upload all required documents to the application and the requirement may be waived at the time of the review of the application by the program based on the available documentation included with the application.
     • An English language or English literature degree from an institution where English is not the sole language of instruction is not acceptable. A multilingual program is not acceptable; all classes must be taught in English. A “dual degree” where a student is simultaneously enrolled in an English-speaking country and another country is not acceptable. Studying as an exchange student in an English-speaking country is not acceptable.
       
       
5. You have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree (incl. a one-year master’s degree) from an institution where the sole official language of instruction is English.
   • • You must have received that degree prior to the start date of our PhD program.
     • Your transcript must clearly state that English is the sole language of instruction. You may also include an official letter from the institution confirming that English is the sole language of instruction and attach it to the transcript. Do not send the transcript or letter to the Graduate School to ask if the English Proficiency requirement can be waived; the Graduate School does not waive the English Language Proficiency requirement in advance. You must upload all required documents to the application and the requirement may be waived at the time of the review of the application by the program based on the available documentation included with the application.
     • An English language or English literature degree from an institution where English is not the sole language of instruction is not acceptable. A multilingual program is not acceptable; all classes must be taught in English. A “dual degree” where a student is simultaneously enrolled in an English-speaking country and another country is not acceptable. Studying as an exchange student in an English-speaking country is not acceptable.

If you do not have passing English Proficiency Scores and/or do not meet any of the criteria for exemption, you are automatically disqualified; you cannot apply to one of our PhD or MFA programs.  You cannot appeal.

If you are exempt based on citizenship (see previous question) and correctly list your citizenship in the application (it is a required field), there is nothing you need to do.  The requirement will be waived automatically.

If you are not exempt based on citizenship, do not email the Graduate School or program to request a waiver, the Graduate School does not waive the English Language Proficiency requirement in advance.  Instead, make sure to include appropriate documentation with your application.  The English proficiency requirement may be waived at the time of the review of the application by the program based on the available documentation included with the application.

We accept the following English proficiency tests and minimum scores:

• TOEFL:  Most recent Internet-based Test (iBT) only (test center or home edition). We do not accept “MyBest Scores.”
  • 100 Overall Score (on a scale from 0-120) for test taken on or before January 20, 2026.
  • 5 Total Score (on a scale from 1-6) for test taken on or after January 21, 2026.
• IELTS Academic:  7.0 Overall Band Score.  IELTS Academic test only.  IELTS General Training, IELTS UKVI, and IELTS Online tests are not accepted.  From mid-2026, IELTS will no longer offer a paper-based test.  All IELTS tests will be delivered on computer.
• CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH QUALIFICATIONS: 185 Overall Score on B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency exams
• DUOLINGO:  130 Overall Score

If you do not have passing English Proficiency Scores and/or do not meet any of the criteria for exemption, you are automatically disqualified; you cannot apply to one of our PhD or MFA programs.  You cannot appeal.

No.  The Graduate School does not waive the English proficiency requirement in advance of the application review. Do not email the Graduate School or program asking for a waiver. The Graduate School will not review your documents ahead of the application review.  The requirement may be waived at the time of the application review based on all the available documentation and test scores included with the application.

If you do not have passing English Proficiency Scores and/or do not meet any of the criteria for exemption, you are automatically disqualified; you cannot apply to one of our PhD or MFA programs.  You cannot appeal.

TOEFL

The Graduate School must receive your official TOEFL test scores from ETS electronically.  The Graduate School does not accept test scores on paper or sent via email.

The ETS institution code is 3087 to send official TOEFL scores to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at BU.  You do not need to specify a department code when requesting test scores be sent to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. If the system requires you to enter a program code, you may enter any department code (ex: “99”).  The Graduate School will receive your scores regardless of the department code.

Please ensure the registration number, name, and birth date on your online application match the information you provided to ETS. This information allows your test scores to be matched to your application. Please note that if you select an institution code for an institution outside of BU, you will need to contact ETS and have your scores resent to institution code 3087. We will not accept a copy of any test score as a substitute for an original report.

If you did not request that your test scores be sent to GRS at institution code 3087 when you took the test, you can always order additional score reports. Visit the ETS website for more information on ordering TOEFL reports. Please remember that photocopies of test score reports are not considered official. If the information provided to ETS does not match the information on your application (alternate names, former names, transposed names, incorrect birth date, etc), please contact Applicant Support at grs-info.bu@liaisoncas.com.

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH QUALIFICATIONS

After you have completed the exam and have submitted your admissions application, please email a copy of your Cambridge English Certificate to grsphd@bu.edu with subject line “Cambridge English Qualifications,” and include your first and last name, your 10-digit admissions application ID, your Cambridge English Qualifications Candidate ID, and the name of the PhD or MFA program to which you are applying in the email.

IELTS

It is important that you schedule your IELTS test well in advance of the application deadline so your scores will be received before the application review. 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.

DUOLINGO

When you complete your Duolingo exam, please select Boston University Graduate & Professional Programs as a score recipient. After you submit your admissions application to GRS, please email a copy of your Duolingo Certificate to grsphd@bu.edu with subject line “Duolingo,” and include your first and last name, your 10-digit admissions application ID, the Duolingo exam date, and the name of the PhD or MFA program to which you are applying in the email.

Your application must be complete by the application deadline to be considered for admission.  This includes your English language scores.  Any scores received after the deadline may not be included in the review by the program.  If you have questions about when the program will start reviewing applications, please contact the program directly.

All English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, Cambridge English Qualifications, IELTS, Duolingo) are valid for two years (24 months).  For example, an applicant who submits an application on December 15, 2025, must have taken the English proficiency test after December 15, 2023.

All test scores must be submitted at the time of application.  Unfortunately, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will not be able to retrieve test scores sent from a previous application cycle.

Applicants are strongly discouraged from applying if they have not met the minimum requirements at the time of the application deadline.  Deadline extensions to retake tests will not be granted.

• A completed and signed International Student Data Form (ISDF)
• Copy of the personal information page of your current passport
• Copy of your current U.S. visa (if you have studied/are studying in the U.S.)
• Your most recent I-94 (if you have studied/are studying in the U.S.)
• Any previous I-20s (if you have studied/are studying in the U.S.)
• Financial support documentation (Admission Offer Letter, Sponsorship Certification, and/or 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. Please refer to your admission offer letter. If your annual stipend exceeds the total for Room and Board, Books and Supplies, and Incidentals listed on the International Students and Scholars (ISSO) Estimate of Expenses page, and you are not bringing any dependents with you, your Admission Offer Letter should suffice. If you are bringing dependents with you, and your admission offer lists a 12-month stipend, please refer to the 12-month column of the Estimate of Expenses page; if you admission offer lists less than a 12-month stipend, please refer to the 9-month column of the Estimate of Expenses page.  Please note the minimum amount listed may be increased by up to 5% each academic year.

Immigration regulations prohibit most international students from accepting any employment except University appointments during their study in the United States. Additional information can be found on the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) website. If you have questions, please contact our office at grs@bu.edu (please include your name and BU ID).  Once all required documents have been received and reviewed by the Graduate School, they will be forwarded to the University’s International Students and Scholar’s Office (ISSO) for processing.

No.  You do not need to submit your international documents and financial documentation when you apply for admission.  If you are offered admission and you accept the offer, you will receive an email prompting you to submit the required documents and form at that time.

All international applicants who are offered admission and accept their offer are then required to submit the completed and signed International Student Data Form (ISDF) 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.

Although you may have until April 15 to inform us of your decision to enroll at Boston University, we are unable to process your I-20 documentation until you formally accept our offer of admission. We encourage you to submit your international student visa documents and accept your offer, especially if you are outside of the United States, so you can begin your student visa application as early as possible.  Please note that U.S. consulates will not issue student visa more than 120 days in advance of your study start date.  International students on new student visas cannot enter the U.S. earlier than 30 days prior to the start date shown on their I-20.  All students must arrive on campus no later than the first day of fall classes.  Students unable to arrive on campus on time may request a deferral of their application to the next fall.

No.  None of the PhD programs offered by Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS) require a tuition deposit. The MFA in Creative Writing and the MFA in Playwriting programs do also not require a tuition deposit.

All full-time PhD degree students and MFA degree students in Creative Writing and Playwriting 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 and upload your admission offer letter listing your fellowship support as your financial document.  If you are bringing any dependents, please refer to the “What are the estimated costs that have to be covered?” FAQ below.

Unfortunately, financial aid for all other students 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 “Financial Sponsorship Letter” or “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.

The Graduate School will review your documents for completeness and contact you if something is missing.  If your file is complete, it will be forwarded to the University’s International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). Processing of international documents may not begin until the University announces the new tuition rates for the upcoming academic year, which typically happens in early to mid-March.

All students will receive an email with a link to set up their BU Login (“Kerberos Account”) and BU Email (“Office 365 Outlook”).  Please set it up as soon as possible as international students will receive their I-20 at their BU email address.

If you are concerned about the status of your immigration documents, you should first contact grs@bu.edu (please include your name and BU ID). If your materials were sent to the ISSO more than a week from the day you contacted our office, you may contact ISSO’s Assistant Director for Admissions & Student Support Services at 617-353-3565 or issogac@bu.edu to check the status of your immigration document.