Apply for a PhD

Our graduate admissions process is highly selective. However, in keeping with our international character, we recognize that students from different backgrounds demonstrate high potential in a variety of ways.

Any well-qualified individual with a baccalaureate degree from a recognized college or university (or with equivalent education) may apply for admission to graduate Economics programs.

Follow this link to see data on acceptance rates, demographics of our PhD students, and career outcomes.

Students applying for entry into our STEM designated PhD program are normally expected to have passed some advanced undergraduate or graduate courses or seminars in economic theory, and to have had extensive training in mathematics, statistics, and econometrics, as well as a working knowledge of computer programming.

A score above the 90th percentile on the GRE-Quantitative section provides strong evidence of PhD-level ability; this indicator is neither necessary nor sufficient for admission, however, as the candidate’s full dossier is taken into account.

GRE Requirement

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required.

Applicants must take the GRE General Test at least one month before the application deadline. The GRE Subject Tests are not required. The GRE is a major component in the admission decision. We do not accept the GMAT. Although GRE scores are valid for five years, we prefer to receive scores no older than two years old, if possible. Please note, however, that we do not reject or in any way penalize an applicant for submitting GRE scores up to five years old. The ETS Institution Code for the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences is 3087. You do not need to specify a Department Code when requesting test scores be sent to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

English Proficiency Language Requirement

All international applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English, typically through English proficiency scores.

Accepted standardized tests include Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), TOEFL iBT Home Edition, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Cambridge English Qualifications, and Duolingo. Please note, the TOEFL ITP exam will not be accepted as proof of English proficiency.

Minimum English proficiency testing requirements:

TOEFL: 100 Overall Score (25 recommended in each section). Internet-based Test (iBT) only. We do not accept “MyBest Scores.”
IELTS: 7.0 Overall Band Score
CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH QUALIFICATIONS: 185 Overall Score on B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency exams
DUOLINGO: 130 Overall Score

For more information, please click here.

The Graduate School does not waive the English proficiency requirement in advance. The requirement will be waived at the time of the application review if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

You are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
You are a 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, 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, Zimbabwe.
You are a citizen of Cameroon or Canada and your post-secondary degree is from a university in which English is the language of instruction.
You have studied in the United States (or one of the before-mentioned countries) at an accredited college or university for at least two years.
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.

Applicants are urged to take the English Proficiency test at the earliest possible date.

For more information regarding the English Proficiency tests, please click here.

English Language Test Scores Validity Period

Apply

All applications must be submitted and received by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences by January 7th. Letters of recommendation, official TOEFL and GRE scores may follow after this deadline, and will be considered until January 15th.

Please note that we will not review or evaluate incomplete applications, and we will not review or evaluate applications for candidates who did not pay the application fee. Applications must include all components. No component will be waived for any applicant. Such applications will be withdrawn and no admission decision will be made. We do not do pre-evaluations by email. Additionally, we do not accept late applications. There are no exceptions to these policies.

Materials to Submit

Please do not send any application materials directly to the Economics Department.

Application form and application fee

Official transcripts

Three letters of recommendation

Test scores

Personal statement/statement of purpose

Additional forms required for international applicants only

Only if you are recommended for admission:

If you are an international student recommended for admission, you will be notified by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Admissions office to submit the following documents for student visa processing. You cannot be officially admitted until GRS receives and processes these documents.

A completed, signed International Student Data Form or International Applicant Coversheet (available with the online application). Please note that this form cannot be emailed or faxed.
A copy of the personal information page of your current passport.
Copies of all current visas, if applicable.
Financial support documentation (Sponsorship Certification Form 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 1 full year at Boston University. The estimate of expenses can be found on the International Students & Scholars website. 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 the first year of study in the United States.

Submit this documentation promptly to ensure sufficient time to process the student visa. It is strongly recommended that you send this documentation via express mail (DHL, FedEx, etc.) to the GRS Admissions office, as visa processing sometimes requires 2 months or more. It is not the policy of Boston University to send visa documents via express mail. Be sure to submit all required documentation for your visa as soon as reasonably possible so there is sufficient time for your visa documents to reach you through the regular mail. Once GRS processes these documents and notifies you that you have been officially admitted, they will let you know how you can request your visa documents be sent by express mail, but you must pay the cost of postage.

Please do not send any materials directly to the Economics Department.

Forms should be sent via email at grs@bu.edu or postal mail to:

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Admissions Office
Boston University
705 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 112
Boston, MA 02215 USA

All application inquiries should be directed to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at grs@bu.edu or 617-353-2696. A complete GRS Application Checklist can be found here.

Deadline

To be considered for the Economics doctoral program, all applications must be submitted and received by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences by January 7th. Letters of recommendation and official GRE scores may follow after this deadline, and will be considered until January 15. The first round of admission decisions is made by March 1st.

Questions? Visit our PhD Admissions FAQs and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences FAQs

Please be in touch if you have any questions or concerns.