{"id":81500,"date":"2024-08-26T10:23:14","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T14:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/?page_id=81500"},"modified":"2026-06-16T15:49:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T19:49:15","slug":"phd-mfa-direct-deposit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/admissions\/phd-mfa\/fellowship-aid\/frequently-asked-questions\/phd-mfa-direct-deposit\/","title":{"rendered":"PhD & MFA: Direct Deposit & Refunds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Attention<\/span>: Some of the MyBU Student screens and online forms may be unavailable on smart phones.\u00a0 We highly recommend using a non-mobile device to access websites.\u00a0 If you encounter any issues with your web browser, please try using a different web browser.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Service stipends <\/strong>(teaching\/research fellowships) are issued as a salary by the University’s Payroll <\/strong>office.\u00a0 We recommend that you set up\u00a0 direct deposit<\/strong> to have the funds transferred to your personal bank account.\u00a0 Students who do not have direct deposit authorized will receive a physical check<\/strong> at their home address (domestic students) or local address (international students).<\/p>\n

Non-service stipends<\/strong> (dean’s\/dissertation\/training fellowships) credit to the student’s MyBU Student<\/a><\/strong> account (on your MyBU Student page, click on Financials, then Student Account Details)<\/span>.\u00a0 Students who have a valid Nelnet Refund Profile<\/em><\/strong> will receive an electronic refund<\/strong> to their personal bank account approximately two to three days later.\u00a0 Students who do not have a valid Nelnet Refund Profile<\/em> will receive a physical check<\/strong> at their home address (domestic students) or local address (international students).<\/p>\n

No physical payroll or refund checks are sent from a location at Boston University.\u00a0 It is not possible<\/strong> to pick up a check anywhere on campus. <\/span>Checks are issued by a bank located outside the Boston area.\u00a0 Physical paychecks that have been lost or stolen or that have not been cashed within 120 days of issue may be stopped\/reissued<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Reissued checks will be mailed to you at the address currently on file.\u00a0 <\/span>Problems with direct deposit are rare.\u00a0 However, if one should arise, please contact the <\/span>Payroll<\/strong> office immediately at <\/span>bupay@bu.edu<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 The correction process may take up to two weeks, and the funds will be reissued as a check and mailed to the address on file.<\/span><\/p>\n

Important reminder<\/strong>: If you switch from a service fellowship to a non-service fellowship (or vice versa) at the end of a semester, please confirm your direct deposit\/refund information.\u00a0 For example, if you previously received a weekly non-service refund and are now working and notice that you did not get paid, you most likely do not have current\/valid direct deposit information on file.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Direct Deposit (service stipends)<\/h4>
<\/p>\n

Direct deposit<\/strong><\/a> is strongly encouraged for all students receiving a service stipend (ex: teaching fellowship, research fellowship).\u00a0 International students do not need a Social Security Number to set up direct deposit, but they need to have a bank account in the US.\u00a0 Eligible students may enroll by selecting Direct Deposit Authorization on the Employee Self Service<\/strong><\/a> tab in the MyBU Student Portal<\/a><\/strong>. You will need your bank\u2019s routing number and your bank account number.\u00a0 Click here<\/strong><\/a> for written step-by-step and video instructions.<\/p>\n

If you have never worked for BU before, you may need to wait until after your first pay stub is generated before you can see the Employee Self Service tab and set up direct deposit. \u00a0Should that be the case you will receive a paper check, and the check will be mailed to your local address (if you are an international student) or your home address (if you are a domestic student).\u00a0 If you did not receive your first payment, please contact the University’s Payroll<\/strong> office at bupay@bu.edu<\/strong><\/a> and include<\/strong> your BU ID<\/strong> in all written correspondence.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Refund (non-service stipends, awards, prizes)<\/h4>
<\/p>\n

Training fellowships<\/strong> (ex: dean’s fellowship, GRS dissertation fellowship, NIH\/NSF trainee fellowship, as well as miscellaneous research and travel awards) are now displayed in your MyBU Student Portal and credit to your student account.\u00a0 It is important that you update your bank information in the system by following these steps:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Log in to the MyBU Student<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0portal.<\/li>\n
  2. Select “Financials”<\/strong> from the menu.<\/li>\n
  3. Click on “Student Account Balance Due”<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  4. On that page, you will see a link for “Nelnet Payment & Payment Plans”<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  5. Clicking that link will take you to Nelnet\u2019s portal, where you can access the “Manage Refunds”<\/strong> section.<\/li>\n
  6. From there, you will be directed to the Student Choice Refund<\/strong> portal, where you can update your banking information.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Please make sure to keep this information up to date to avoid any delays in receiving your non-service stipend payment.<\/p>\n

    If you do not have a valid Nelnet refund profile, you will receive a paper check, and the check will be mailed to your local address (if you are an international student) or your home address (if you are a domestic student).<\/p>\n

    If you can see the award on your MyBU Student<\/strong><\/a> > Financials<\/strong> > View Financial Aid<\/strong> screen, but the “Expected Disbursement Date<\/strong>” has passed, and the “Disbursed<\/strong>” column shows $0, please reach out to the the GRS Financial Aid team at grsaid@bu.edu<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 Please include<\/strong> your BU ID<\/strong> in all written correspondence.\u00a0 In most cases, this is due to the student not being registered or not being certified full-time (missing a “service indicator”).\u00a0 Our team will investigate and respond to you.<\/p>\n

    If the award has disbursed, and you have questions about your Nelnet refund profile, please contact the University’s Student Financials<\/strong> office at studenta@bu.edu<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

    Refund (loans, other credits)<\/h4>
    <\/p>\n

    If you have a valid credit on your account you can request an electronic refund to Student Financials<\/strong> office via the Graduate Student Refund Request Form<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 The Student Financials<\/strong> office can be reached at studenta@bu.edu<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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