Scholarships for Graduate Students
BU College of Fine Arts offers merit scholarships based on the strength of each candidate’s artistic promise and program needs. Financial need is not a factor. As there is no separate application process for scholarship consideration, all graduate students (both domestic and international) admitted to an on-campus program are automatically considered for scholarships.
- Available for domestic and international candidates.
- ALL candidates who submit applications for admission are automatically considered for CFA Graduate Merit scholarships.
- No additional essays or applications are required; decisions are made based on the application for admission.
- Candidates awarded scholarships will be notified as part of the admissions notification.
Scholarships are calculated based on full-time registration. Scholarships are not available to part-time students. Full-time students who drop to part-time status are not eligible for scholarship aid (see more in Tuition & Fees).
Students receiving scholarships are expected to make satisfactory academic progress, as defined by their school and program. The academic status of every student is reviewed at the end of each semester. Failure to make satisfactory progress and remain in good standing can result in academic probation or dismissal. Any student not meeting the satisfactory progress requirements will forfeit their scholarship. For detailed information, please select your school below.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION BY SCHOOL
Music
Scholarships are used towards tuition and applied music fee charges only; you are still responsible for paying for health insurance (if you do not waive it) and required university fees. Any percentage of scholarship you have been offered will continue for two years for MM and PD candidates, 2.5 years for MM in Music Ed with Licensure, three years for DMA candidates as long as you enroll as a full-time student, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, and perform artistically in a manner consistent with the expectations of the faculty.
For performance students receiving a merit scholarship, we base your scholarship calculation on a combination of tuition charges and the full year applied music fee. For students who are not charged the applied music fee (those in the composition, choral or orchestral conducting, music education, music theory, and musicology departments), your scholarship calculation is based on the tuition charges alone.
Theatre
MFA scholarships in the School of Theatre cover the full cost of tuition over the duration of the program.
Please be aware that any scholarship offered may only be used towards tuition charges. You will still be responsible for paying for health insurance (if you do not waive it) and required university fees. Any percentage of scholarship you have been offered will continue for three years for Master’s candidates as long as you enroll as a full-time student, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, and perform artistically in a manner consistent with the expectations of the faculty.
Scholarships are not available to Artisan Certificate students. Financial aid available to those students is limited to Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and/or private loans.
Visual Arts
Please note that any scholarship offered may only be used towards tuition charges. You will still be responsible for paying for health insurance (if you do not waive it) and required university fees.
Any percentage of scholarship you have been offered will continue for two years for Master’s candidates and one year for MA (4+1) students as long as you enroll as a full-time student, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and perform artistically in a manner consistent with the expectations of the faculty. Scholarships are not available to part-time students.
COMMITMENT REQUIREMENTS BY SCHOOL AND PROGRAM
Music
Master of Music, Artist Diploma, Performance Diploma students: 2-year commitment
Doctor of Musical Arts students: 3-year commitment
Theatre
MFA students: 2-year commitment
Artisan Certificate students: 2-year commitment
Visual Arts
MFA students: 2-year commitment
Certificate in Graphic Design students: 1-year commitment
CFA GRADUATE FUNDING APPEALS
CFA GRADUATE FUNDING APPEALS
In most cases, the scholarship offer made with your admission to our graduate programs is the highest scholarship award the College of Fine Arts can support. However, in some rare cases, we can offer assistance through emergency one time only grants. To fill out a request and read more about timelines and frequently asked questions click on the box below.
If you have any questions about your CFA Merit scholarship, please get in touch with your school directly. Contact information can be found below:
- School of Music (SOM) cfamusic@bu.edu
- School of Visual Arts (SVA) jcaccamo@bu.edu
- School of Theatre (SOT) mlupulio@bu.edu
CFA Graduate Funding Appeal Form
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
There may be other sources of financial assistance to consider, such as:
Tuition Remission/Reimbursement
We suggest you check with your current employer to see if they offer any reimbursement for coursework taken towards a graduate degree.
Private Scholarships
If you are interested in searching for private scholarships or grants that may apply to your situation, we recommend using a private scholarship search engine to explore possibilities.
Boston Public Schools Partnership
Sharing a mutual vision of improving professional growth and development opportunities for art and music administrators and educators, Boston University College of Fine Arts (CFA) and Boston Public Schools (BPS) have partnered to offer BPS employees a discounted tuition rate scholarship towards a master’s degree in art or music education at BU College of Fine Arts.
BPS employees are now eligible to receive the BPS Scholarship offered by CFA, amounting to 33% of the then-current tuition rate when they apply and are admitted to one of the following master’s programs starting in Fall 2023: Master of Arts in Art Education (on-campus), Master of Arts in Art Education (online), Master of Music in Music Education (on-campus), and Master of Music in Music Education (online).
Read more here.
Students must remain employed by BPS for their program to continue receiving the scholarship. BU CFA offers a MA in Art Education (that does not lead to initial licensure) both on-campus and online. The MA in Art Education that leads to licensure is only available on-campus.
The non-licensure MA in Art Education program is offered online and on campus, with 32 credits. Tuition is charged per credit at both day and evening rates and can be found here.
- Non-licensure programs can be done full-time (4-8 credits online, 7-11.5 credits on campus per semester) or part-time (4 credits online, less than seven credits on campus per semester).
- Licensure programs are offered on campus only, require full-time enrollment of 7-11.5 credits per semester.
- Email artaid@bu.edu to determine eligibility for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
