Aid for PhD Students

• Dean’s Fellowships
• Martin Luther King Jr. Fellowship
• Whitney M. Young Jr. Fellowship
• Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship
• Trainee Fellowships
• Various prestigious departmental fellowships.

Non-service fellowships provide a stipend and scholarship for exceptional students to focus primarily on their degree coursework with no departmental research or teaching responsibilities. Students awarded non-service fellowships are required to enroll in a full load of academic courses as determined by the department.

Stipend Amount	$13,659/semester (effective Sept 1, 2024)*
Payment Period	Fall: $3,414.75/month, September-December Spring: $3,414.75/month, January-April Summer (9-month fellowship): one payment of $5,000 in May Summer (12-month fellowship): $3,414.75/month, May-August
Payment Structure	Stipend is paid monthly, on the 4th Friday of the month.

*International students may have 14% withheld in taxes.  Refer to our Tax FAQs.

A Teaching Fellowship provides a stipend and a full scholarship and an opportunity for graduate students to gain classroom experience under the close supervision of the faculty members who have the formal responsibility for the courses to which the teaching fellows are assigned. Your obligation in this fellowship would include instructional duties assigned by your department. Instructional and other duties total approximately 20 hours per week.

Stipend Amount	$13,659/semester (effective Sept 1, 2024)*
Payment Period	Fall: $803.47/week, September-December (17 weeks) Spring: $758.83/week, January-April (18 weeks) Summer: $803.47/week, May-August (17 weeks)
Payment Structure	Stipend is paid weekly, on Fridays.

*Service stipends are considered earned income for tax purposes and the University will withhold and report the earnings per IRS guidelines. Refer to our Tax FAQs.

Doctoral Research Fellowships provide a stipend and scholarship for exceptionally qualified students in return for research work done for the department. Your obligation in this fellowship will include research duties assigned by your department that total no more than 20 hours per week.

Stipend Amount	$13,659/semester (effective Sept 1, 2024)*
Payment Period	Fall: $803.47/week, September-December (17 weeks) Spring: $758.83/week, January-April (18 weeks) Summer: $803.47/week, May-August (17 weeks)
Payment Structure	Stipend is paid weekly, on Fridays.

*Service stipends are considered earned income for tax purposes and the University will withhold and report the earnings per IRS guidelines. Refer to our Tax FAQs.

The Fellowship: The Campagna-Kerven Graduate Fellowship, endowed by a bequest from Madame Susanne Campagna, provides a fellowship to a PhD student in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences whose doctoral dissertation deals substantially with an aspect of modern Turkey. This includes Turkish culture, society, politics or economics in the 20th or 21st century. The Fellowship includes a non-service stipend of $34,147.50 which is paid from August through May (10 monthly payments), health coverage at the basic level, and all necessary fees.

Eligibility: The fellowship is open to PhD students in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences who are defining or preparing their dissertation. Preference will be given to students who have passed all qualifying exams and are either preparing their dissertation prospectus or have had their prospectus approved by the faculty of their program. The dissertation must focus, at least in part, on some aspect of modern Turkey which is defined as the Republic of Turkey or the Turkish people and culture in the 20th or 21st century. A student awarded the fellowship may not hold another fellowship simultaneously.

Applications: Applications consist of a two-page description of the dissertation project together with a letter of support from the student’s supervisor/first reader that comments on the significance and feasibility of the project.

Deadline:  Applications for the 2024-2025 fellowship should be submitted via the InfoReady portal by 11:59 PM ET April 19, 2024. Letters of Support will be due by April 22, 2024. Selection will be made by a committee of GRS faculty by early May.

InfoReady Link: https://bu.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/1936221 

The Fellowship:  The Henry S. Newman Graduate Student Fellowship, endowed by Mr. Newman in honor of his daughter Dori Newman (CAS ’69), provides a fellowship to a PhD student in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences whose dissertation focuses on some aspect of immigration to America.  Mr. Newman immigrated to America following World War II after having survived two years in a concentration camp.  The Fellowship includes a non-service stipend of $34,147.50 which is paid from August through May (10 monthly payments), health insurance coverage at the basic level, and all necessary fees.

Eligibility:  The Fellowship is open to PhD students in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences who are preparing their dissertation.  Students must have passed all qualifying exams and had their dissertation prospectus approved by the faculty of their program.  The dissertation must focus on some aspect of immigration to America.  A student awarded the fellowship may not hold another fellowship simultaneously.

Applications:  Applications consist of a two-page description of the dissertation project together with a letter of support from the student’s supervisor/first reader that outlines the significance and feasibility of the project.

Deadline:  Applications for the 2024-2025 fellowship should be submitted via the InfoReady Portal  by 11:59 April 19, 2024.  Letters of Support will be due by April 22, 2024. Selection will be made by a committee of GRS faculty in early May.

InfoReady Link: https://bu.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/1935194 

The GRAF I cycle is now closed. Students can view their applications on InfoReady: https://bu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1919096 

GRAF II Cycle applications are now being accepted via InfoReady: https://bu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1921844 until 11:59 PM on February 5, 2024.

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences has established a fellowship program, the Graduate Research Abroad Fellowship (GRAF), to support foreign-based research by doctoral students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences whose field-based or archival research requires an extended period of residence in another country or countries.  

GRAF awards may not be used for foreign-based study or training such as acquiring language skills, equipment, personal expenses not related to the GRAF proposal, or for attending professional conferences. GRAF awards are non-service and are in addition to a student’s 5 year funding package. They cannot be used during a semester where the student receives a teaching or research fellowship.

There are two kinds of Graduate Research Abroad Fellowships:

• The Short-term GRAF supports travel and living costs during a period of study abroad up to, but not exceeding, 3 full months. For trips taken during the academic year when students will normally be supported by another fellowship, up to $4,000 in travel costs can be provided. For trips during the summer (June 1 through August 31) a fellowship can provide up to $6,000.
• The Long-term GRAF enables a student to spend an extended period (4 or more months/at least a full semester) of foreign-based field or archival research. It provides up to $16,250 to cover living, travel, and research expenses.  A Long-term GRAF also provides Continuing Study Fees and the cost of participation in the basic BU student health plan for the time the student is abroad.

Fellowships will be awarded to students nominated by their departments and recommended by a faculty committee.

Eligibility

• • Applicants should have completed their prospectus and other doctoral program requirements except the dissertation by the time the proposed project is scheduled to begin. An exception to this may be made in disciplines where travel would be necessary to complete the prospectus, however this can only apply to short-term GRAF proposals.
  • Applicants must be registered as BU GRS PhD students. For help with initiating a continuing student registration for students who will not be registering for classes, please contact your Department Administrator.
  • Applicants must not have a conflicting teaching or research fellowship. For example, if a student receives a TA fellowship in Fall 2023, then they should not be traveling during that semester. Additionally, a student should not have a research fellowship during their semester of travel.

• • Applicants must disclose other forms of funding for their research, and if they previously received a GRAF or GRUF award. This also includes pending applications to other grants or fellowships related to their GRAF project. Failure to do so will result in a disqualification for that cycle.

GRAF Cycles and Travel

GRAF I (previously Fall GRAF)

• Student InfoReady Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM November 1, 2023
• • • InfoReady Portal: https://bu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1919096 
• Departmental Acknowledgement and Letter of Reference Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM November 17, 2023
• For travel that begins on or after February 1, 2024.
• Decisions made by mid-December, 2023

GRAF II (previously Spring GRAF)

• Student InfoReady Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM February 5, 2024
  • • InfoReady Portal: https://bu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1921844
• Departmental Acknowledgement and Letter of Reference Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM February 19, 2024
• For travel that begins between June 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025
• Decisions made by early March 2024.

Application Process (GRAF I Cycle)

Phase I: Interested students will submit their application via InfoReady by 11:59 PM on November 1, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted. This will include:

1. GRAF Budget Template
2. IRB Approval (If working with human subjects)
   1. If approval is not granted before the application deadline, a copy of the email to IRB is admissible, however applicants will not be awarded funds until IRB approval is received. 
3. An unofficial transcript (A screenshot from the StudentLink is preferred)
4. A letter of recommendation from the student’s advisor (this will be due on November 17th and will be submitted via a link sent by InfoReady)
5.  Project Proposal (No more than 5 pages) which:
   1.  Describes the problem or question that the proposed research will address, links it to existing scholarship on the topic, and shows why the research will best allow for you to to answer or illuminate it. Remember that the review committee has a broad membership across disciplines.
   2. Includes a proposed timeline for the project along with travel locations.
   3. Clearly discloses all other forms of funding received or being applied to for the project. (Failure to do so can result in your award being rescinded should you be selected).
   4. A disclosure of previous GRUF or GRAF support received and why the applicant should receive additional GRAF funding.

Phase 2: Submitted applications will then be routed to the student’s home department/program and Director of Graduate Studies (or equivalent faculty member) to be considered for nomination. Departments will need to approve or deny nominations via InfoReady by 11:59 PM on November 17, 2023. They will also need to include a filled and signed copy of the GRAF DEPT Acknowledgement Form.

Phase 3: Nominated students will then be reviewed by the GRAF Committee with award decisions being made by mid-December 2023. Decisions will be sent via an InfoReady email to all applicants and their department administrators.

Departmental Phase 3 Submissions

There is no limit on the number of short term GRAF proposals that a department/program can advance to Phase 3; however, only a maximum of 3 long-term GRAF proposals per department/program will be considered.

Please note that preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received a GRAF or GRUF award.

GRAF Award Terms

In order to receive a GRAF stipend, students must be registered as BU GRS students for the semester of their project travel. 

Failure to disclose other forms of research funding can result in the loss or reduction of the GRAF award.

All students awarded GRAF will need to submit the following upon completion of their travel:

• A one page summary detailing what they accomplished and recommendations for future GRAF recipients. 
• A copy of flight receipts.

Failure to travel within a year from the award letter date will result in the GRAF being rescinded.  If an extension or adjustment is needed, please email grsaid@bu.edu 

GRAF Award Disbursement

GRAF funds will be disbursed to awardees by the Graduate School of Arts and Science upon request. Please send an email with your signed award letter, updated travel dates, and BUID to grsaid@bu.edu to request disbursement. Please note that it can take up to two weeks for funds to be disbursed, so please plan accordingly.

For any questions regarding GRAF, please contact the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Financial Aid team at grsaid@bu.edu.  Please include your BU ID in all correspondence.  

The GRUF I cycle is now closed. Students can view their applications on InfoReady: https://bu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1919241 

GRUF II cycle applications are now being accepted via InfoReady: https://bu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1921854 until 11:59 PM on February 5, 2024

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences has established a fellowship program, the Graduate Research in the United States. Fellowship (GRUF), to support research by GRS PhD and MFA students whose field-based or archival research requires travel to and a period of residence in another city/state within the United States. This fellowship is open to GRS PhD and MFA students whose research needs additional sources of funding. GRUF awards may not be used for foreign-based study or for attending professional conferences. GRUF may be used for other research or professional opportunities (such as a field school or workshop).

GRUF awards are non-service and are in addition to a student’s 5 year funding package.

There are two kinds of GRUF fellowships:

• The Short-term GRUF supports travel and living costs during a period of study outside of Massachusetts, but not exceeding, 3 full months. The award for a short-term GRUF is up to $6,000. Short-term GRUF can be used for shorter research trips.
• The Long-term GRUF enables a student to spend an extended period (4 or more months/at least a full semester) of United States-based field or archival research outside of Massachusetts. It provides up to $16,250 to cover living, travel, and research expenses.  A Long-term GRUF also covers Continuing Study Fees and the cost of participation in the basic BU student health plan for the time the student is traveling.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be registered as BU GRS PhD or MFA students. For help with initiating a continuing student registration for students who will not be registering for classes, please contact your Department Administrator.
• Applicants must not have a conflicting teaching or research fellowship. For example, if a student receives a TA fellowship in Fall 2023, then they should not be traveling during that semester. Additionally, a student should not have a conflicting research fellowship during their semester of travel.
• Applicants must disclose other forms of funding for their research, and if they previously received a GRUF or GRAF award. This also includes any pending applications for grants or fellowships related to their GRUF project. Failure to do so will result in a disqualification for that cycle.

GRUF Cycles and Travel

GRUF I

• Student InfoReady Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM November 1, 2023
  • InfoReady Portal: https://bu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1919241
• Departmental Acknowledgement and Letter of Reference Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM November 17, 2023
• For travel that begins on or after February 1, 2024.
• Decisions made by mid-December, 2023

GRUF II

• Student InfoReady Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM February 5, 2024.
  • InfoReady Portal: https://bu.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1921854
• Departmental Acknowledgement and Letter of Reference Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM February 19, 2024
• For travel that begins between June 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025
• Decisions made by early March 2024.

 

Application Process (GRUF I Cycle)

Phase I: Interested students will submit their application via InfoReady by 11:59 PM on November 1, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted. This will include:

1. GRUF Budget
2. IRB Approval (If working with human subjects)
   • If approval is not granted before the application deadline, a copy of the email to IRB is admissible, however applicants will not be awarded funds until IRB approval is received.
3. An unofficial transcript (A screenshot from the StudentLink is preferred)
4. A letter of recommendation from the student’s advisor (this will be due on November 17th and will be submitted via a link sent by InfoReady)
5. Project Proposal (No more than 5 pages) which:
   • Describes the problem or question that the proposed research will address, links it to existing scholarship on the topic, and shows why the research will best allow for you to answer or illuminate it. Remember that the review committee has a broad membership across disciplines.
   • Includes a proposed timeline for the project along with travel locations.
   • Clearly discloses all other forms of funding received or being applied to for the project. (Failure to do so can result in your award being rescinded should you be selected).
6. A disclosure of previous GRUF or GRAF support received and why the applicant should receive additional GRAF funding.

Phase 2: Submitted applications will then be routed to the student’s home department and Director of Graduate Studies to be considered for nomination. Departments will need to approve or deny nominations via InfoReady by 11:59 PM on November 17, 2023. They will also need to include a filled and signed copy of the GRUF DEPT Acknowledgement Form

Phase 3: Nominated students will then be reviewed by the GRUF Committee with award decisions being made by mid-December 2023. Decisions will be sent via an InfoReady email to all applicants and their department administrators. 

Departmental Phase 3 Submissions

There is no limit on the number of short-term GRAF proposals that a department/program can advance to Phase 3; however, only a maximum of 3 long-term GRAF proposals per department/program will be considered.

Please note that preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received a GRAF or GRUF award.

 

GRUF Award Terms

In order to receive a GRUF stipend, students must be registered as BU GRS PhD/MFA students for the semester of their project travel.

Failure to disclose other forms of research funding can result in the loss or reduction of the GRUF award.

All students awarded GRUF will need to submit the following upon completion of their travel:

• A one-page summary detailing what they accomplished and recommendations for future GRUF recipients.
• A copy of flight receipts.

Failure to travel within a year from the award letter date will result in the GRUF being rescinded. If an extension or adjustment is needed, please email grsaid@bu.edu

 

GRUF Award Disbursement

GRUF funds will be disbursed to awardees by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences upon request. Please send an email with your signed award letter, updated travel dates, and BUID to grsaid@bu.edu to request disbursement. Please note that it can take up to two weeks for funds to be disbursed, so please plan accordingly.

For any questions regarding GRUF, please contact the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Financial Aid team at grsaid@bu.edu.  Please include your BU ID in all correspondence.  

Twice a year, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Organization (GSO) accepts applications for travel grants. The GSO offers two types of awards:

• Presentation travel grants: For students planning on directly participating in a conference or research forum by presenting a paper or poster, participating in a discussion panel, or chairing a discussion or paper session.
• Research travel grants: For students planning to visit an archive, attend a training workshop, or use a research facility.

For instructions, application, and more details please visit the GSO website.

For information regarding your stipend payments, please visit our Stipends FAQ page.

For information regarding your stipend and taxes, please visit our Tax Information FAQ page.

For a breakdown of the tuition and fees for an academic year at Boston University as a student in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences as well as an estimated cost of attendance, please visit our Cost of Attendance (COA) page.

Your PhD funding includes a qualified tuition scholarship as defined in 26 USC Section 117(a) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; it is contingent upon you maintaining Good Academic Conduct, maintaining Good Academic Standing, and making Satisfactory Academic Progress; it is not contingent upon your appointment as a teaching or research fellow and is not taxable to you as the recipient.

Your fellowship covers the cost of tuition for up to 18 credits per semester, as long as they are required by your degree or are necessary for your research (with approval from your DGS and advisor).  It does not cover the cost of courses that are not required (ex: Physical Education (PDP) course).  The tuition for 11 or less credits is calculated on a per credit rate; whereas the cost for 12-18 credits is a flat fee. For example:

• If a student enrolls in 14 credits that are degree requirements, then adds 1 to 4 credits that do not count towards their degree (ex: a Physical Education (PDP) course), and the total credits does not exceed 18, the additional 1 to 4 credits will not generate an additional tuition charge.
• If this student (who has 14 credits of degree requirements plus 1 to 4 credits that do not count towards their degree) decides to drop a 4-credit degree requirement, this leaves only 10 credits of degree requirements and only this 10 credits will be covered by scholarship.  In this case, the student will be responsible for the payment of the additional 1 to 4 credits (ex: a PDP course). Please keep this in mind when adding and dropping any of your courses.

Each semester, once you have registered, you will need to make sure your student account is “settled” by the semester’s payment deadline.  Please log in to the MyBU Student Portal and click on the “Money Matters” tab to view your charges & credits once you have finalized your spring registration.

You may have receive an automated email (“e-bill”) from Student Accounting Services (SAS).  SAS sends out automated email notifications to all undergraduate and graduate students (and may apply late fees) as most students at Boston University are not in a fully funded PhD program and are therefore responsible for payment.  While GRS PhD students should never ignore emails from SAS, as there could be a legitimate reason for the balance (Physical Education (PDP) course, sports pass, convenience points, MBTA pass, something that is not covered), they do not need to worry about any late fees if all we had to do is adjust their scholarship.

GRS generally applies the same amount of scholarship to the fall and spring semesters assuming the student will continue to enroll in the same number of credits in both semesters.  Once the initial scholarship has been applied, we wait until the end of the spring semester’s add/drop period (mid-October/late February) to manually reconcile everyone’s registration and scholarship.  The majority of our PhD and MFA students will continuously add and drop classes over a six-month period which is the reason why our office waits until the end of the add/drop period before we start reconciling any scholarships.  You may email us at grsaid@bu.edu as soon as you have finalized your course selection for the semester so that we can adjust your scholarship right away.   Please include your BU ID when emailing our office.

If you have questions about your student account, your scholarship, stipend, or insurance credit, please contact GRS Financial Aid at grsaid@bu.edu (and include your BU ID).  Please note that Student Accounting Services, the Payroll Office, Student Employment, and the Registrar do not have any information regarding students’ funding or fellowship.  Please contact GRS Financial Aid instead.

Payment Deadlines

Payment/Settlement Procedures

Students who enroll full-time (or are certified full-time) are automatically enrolled in the Sports Pass each year.  The Sports Pass is not a membership to the University’s FitRec Center (that’s already included in your Health & Wellness Fee and it is covered by your fellowship).  The Sports Pass costs $140 per year and it allows you admission to all home events at the Agganis Arena.  The cost of the Sports Pass is not covered by your fellowship.  For individualized information regarding your Sports Pass, or to cancel your sports pass prior to September 1, visit the MyBU Student Portal and go the Money Matters tab.  To cancel your Sports Pass after September 1, please bring your BU ID card to the Agganis Arena Ticketing Office to ensure your Sports Pass has not been used.  For additional questions regarding the Sports Pass and the charge on your account, please contact the Agganis Arena Ticket Office at 617-353-4628.

As part of your fellowship award, the University will cover the cost of your individual participation in the Boston University Basic Student Health Insurance Plan ($3,280 in AY23-24). Students who opt to purchase the Boston University Student PLUS Plan ($4,403 in AY23-24) will be responsible for payment of the difference in the premium amount ($1,123 in AY23-24) by the payment deadline for the Fall semester. Please refer to Student Health Services for more information. The University will not cover any health insurance costs for dependents. Family coverage is available at an additional cost to the student.

Health insurance coverage extends from August 15, 2023 through August 14, 2024 for students who are enrolled in the Fall semester 2023. Please note that coverage takes effect once fall registration has been processed or on August 15, whichever is later.

Students who are required to have health insurance are automatically enrolled in the Boston University Basic Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).

Who is required to have health insurance?

Under the laws of Massachusetts, the following students are required to participate in a qualifying health insurance plan:

• Students certified as full-time
• Students who are registered for 75% or more of a full-time course load (nine or more credit hours for most schools)
• International students (students who are not U.S. citizens and who do not have approved refugee or permanent resident status)

Part-time students are not automatically enrolled but can request to be enrolled. If a student wishes to waive the insurance, a health insurance waiver form must be submitted. For more information about insurance coverage and deadlines for enrollment/waivers, please consult Student Health Services.

Graduate students receive an insurance credit of half the cost ($1,640 in fall 2023/$1,640 in spring 2024) in each semester that they receive a stipend of at least $5,000 (refer to insurance credit info for service stipends and non-service stipends). Students who do not receive a stipend of at least $5,000 in both fall and spring may be responsible for the payment of any remaining balance by the payment deadline. Students who graduate in January or who go part-time in spring can enroll in fall only coverage before December 31; in this case, the coverage will end on December 31 but they will not have to pay the full annual premium.

For questions about your insurance credit, please email GRS Financial Aid at grsaid@bu.edu (and include your BU ID).  For questions about enrollment in student health insurance, please contact the Student Health Insurance Team at insmed@bu.edu.

Students have the option to purchase Dental Care through the University, which is not included in the fellowship award.

Boston University requires PhD students and MFA students with fellowship support to be present on campus unless their research or fieldwork requires them to be elsewhere. This requirement is in place to ensure that students can focus on their full-time studies and regularly engage with faculty members. Those pursuing a PhD or MFA with fellowship support from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences must live in the Boston region during the semester(s) in which they receive GRS support, and they are expected to participate in departmental and University activities. Students who leave the Boston region outside of required research or fieldwork during their first five years may forfeit their guaranteed fellowship funding. We understand that students may have personal reasons to leave the area, but such arrangements often violate policies and laws that prohibit payments. Students beyond their fifth year of study who leave the Boston region will not be eligible for fellowship, unless required to be elsewhere for their research or fieldwork.  All teaching fellows must be in residence.

The purpose of fully supporting our graduate students is to allow them to engage wholly in their scholarly work and to devote the attention necessary to complete their studies in a timely fashion. We expect that you will not be employed outside of Boston University during semesters in which you receive GRS support. The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences policy limits the amount of additional work that may be assigned to graduate students in any semester when they are appointed to a Teaching, Graduate Research, or Non-Service Fellowship. For this reason, we expect students to devote no more than 20 hours per week to their assigned fellowship activity.  For this same reason, students are not eligible to hold a Resident Assistant (RA) position, a Graduate Resident Assistant (GRA) position, or a Graduate Housing Assistant (GHA) position with Residence Life. While we occasionally permit PhD & MFA students to hold additional assignments, this is an exception and requires advisor and administrative approval (refer to Student Work Hours for Employment at Boston University Policy). Under this policy, such fully funded students may be employed as graders or other similar positions for additional payment only under the following conditions:

1. The assignment provides the student with an opportunity for professional growth in teaching and/or in expert knowledge of course topics or research; and
2. The assignment does not exceed five (5) hours/week averaged over the semester; and
3. The payment is set up as a weekly salary.

The University’s policy is that all PhD students receiving stipend support are entitled to paid vacation time.  Please refer to the University’s Policies page.  International students who want to travel internationally should contact Boston University’s International Students and Scholar’s Office (ISSO) to make sure they are able to leave and return to the U.S. without any issues.

All students at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences are expected to maintain high standards of academic honesty. It is each student’s responsibility to be aware of the content of the GRS Academic Conduct Code, which can be found on the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences website.

Please note: The GRS Academic Conduct Code is distinct from Good Academic Standing (Master’s, PhD) requirements and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Please see the relevant Bulletin pages for additional information about those policies.

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences requires graduate students to maintain Good Academic Standing in order to remain enrolled in their graduate program and/or to retain GRS scholarship and/or fellowship support. The GRS criteria for Good Academic Standing are as follows:

• Have no more than two failing or W grades.
• Meet all milestones of the degree, such as comprehensive exams, qualifying exams, and dissertation prospectus, on the schedule specified by the program.
• Meet all milestones of the degree with sufficient quality of work as specified by the program.
• Satisfactorily fulfill all service fellowship obligations, as specified by the program.

Please note: Good Academic Standing is distinct from Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and the GRS Academic Conduct Code. Please see the relevant Bulletin pages for additional information about those policies.

Fellowships will continue for the duration of the five-year commitment if the student is making satisfactory academic progress each year, confirmed by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

The GRS minimum standard for Satisfactory Academic Progress is:

• Maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher
• Have no more than 2 failing grades (lower than B- or an incomplete grade older than 12 months) and/or W grades
• Pass all milestones of degree, such as comprehensive exams, qualifying exams and dissertation prospectus, on the schedule specified by the program
• Pass all milestones on the degree with sufficient quality of work as specified by the program
• Satisfactorily fulfill their service fellowship obligations as specified by the program