{"id":27045,"date":"2020-06-07T20:42:10","date_gmt":"2020-06-08T00:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/?page_id=27045"},"modified":"2025-01-09T09:48:50","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T14:48:50","slug":"apply-for-a-phd","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/admissions\/apply-for-a-phd\/","title":{"rendered":"Apply for a PhD"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/bu-grs.liaisoncas.com\/applicant-ux\/#\/login\">Apply for a PhD<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Follow this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/grad\/why-bu\/phd-program-profiles\/economics\/\">link<\/a> to see data on acceptance rates, demographics of our PhD students, and career outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>A score above the 90th percentile on the GRE-Quantitative section provides strong\u00a0evidence of PhD-level ability; this\u00a0indicator is neither necessary nor sufficient for admission, however, as the candidate\u2019s full dossier is taken into account.<\/p>\n<h3>GRE Requirement<\/h3>\n<p><em>The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required<strong>.<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>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 &amp; Sciences is 3087. You do not need to specify a Department Code when requesting test scores be sent to the Graduate School of Arts &amp; Sciences.<\/p>\n<h3><span>English Proficiency Language Requirement<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>All international applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English, typically through <span>English proficiency scores.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Accepted standardized tests include Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), TOEFL<\/span><span> iBT Home Edition, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Cambridge English Qualifications, and Duolingo. Please note, t<\/span><span>he TOEFL ITP exam will not be accepted as proof of English proficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Minimum English proficiency <span>tes<\/span>ting requirements:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ets.org\/toefl\/test-takers\/ibt\/about.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TOEFL<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>100<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>Overall Score. (25 recommended in each section). Most recent Internet-based Test (iBT) only (test center or home edition). We do not accept \u201cMyBest Scores.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ielts.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">IELTS<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>7.0<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>Overall Band Score<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridgeenglish.org\/exams-and-tests\/qualifications\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH QUALIFICATIONS<\/strong><\/a>:<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>185<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>Overall Score on B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency exams<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.duolingo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>DUOLINGO<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>130<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>Overall Score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more information, please click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/admissions\/phd-mfa\/international-students\/\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Graduate School<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>does not waive<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>the English proficiency requirement in advance.\u00a0 The requirement<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>will be waived<span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>at the time of the<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>application review<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>if you meet at least<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>one<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>of the following criteria:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.<\/li>\n<li>You are a citizen of one of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua &amp; 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.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>You have\u00a0studied in the United States (or one of the before-mentioned countries) at an accredited college or university for at least\u00a0<strong>two\u00a0years<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>You have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution where the<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>official language of instruction<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This waiver\u00a0<span>does not apply to students who have earned or are earning undergraduate or graduate degrees<\/span>\u00a0from an institution in a country listed above while enrolled in a \u201cdual degree\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p>Applicants are urged to take the English Proficiency test at the earliest possible date.<\/p>\n<p>For more information regarding the English Proficiency tests, please click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/admissions\/phd-mfa\/international-students\/\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">English Language Test Scores Validity Period<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span>The\u00a0<strong>Cambridge English Qualifications\u00a0<\/strong>test does not expire.\u00a0 All\u00a0<strong>other\u00a0<\/strong>English proficiency tes<\/span><span>t scores (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) are valid for\u00a0<\/span><strong>two years.\u00a0 <\/strong>For more information, please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/admissions\/phd-mfa\/international-students\/\">the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences English Language Testing Proficiency page.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/bu-grs.liaisoncas.com\/applicant-ux\/#\/login\">Apply<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><span>All applications must be submitted and received by the <a href=\"https:\/\/bu-grs.liaisoncas.com\">Graduate School of Arts &amp; Sciences<\/a> by <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>January 7th.<\/strong> <\/span>\u00a0Letters of recommendation, official TOEFL and GRE scores may follow after this deadline, and will be considered until January 15th.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Please note that we will <strong>not<\/strong> review or evaluate incomplete applications, and we will <strong>not<\/strong> review or evaluate applications for candidates who did not pay the application fee. <strong>Applications must include all components<\/strong>. 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. <strong>There are no exceptions to these policies.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/admissions\/phd-mfa\/apply\/application-checklist\/\"><span>Materials to Submit<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>Please do not send any application materials directly to the Economics Department.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Application form and application fee<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bu-grs.liaisoncas.com\/applicant-ux\/#\/login\">Apply online<\/a> at the (GRS) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/admissions\/\">Graduate School of Arts &amp; Sciences<\/a> website. Please use the online application. The online application system requires a payment in the amount of $95 dollars payable by credit card. The Department of Economics does not waive application fees.\u00a0 However, GRS offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/admissions\/phd-mfa\/apply\/fee-waiver\/\">application fee waivers<\/a> based on different criteria for both US and Non-US applicants.\u00a0Note that our PhD program counts as \u201ca STEM program in which women are significantly underrepresented\u201d as described on the waiver criteria page. Please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/admissions\/phd-mfa\/apply\/fee-waiver\/\">this link<\/a> for further information.<\/p>\n<p>2\u20133 months before application deadline:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Contact recommenders; inform them that recommendations should be submitted weeks before deadline<\/li>\n<li>Contact ETS and request an official copy of your GRE results (English language testing reports for international students)<\/li>\n<li>Contact all previous colleges\/universities and request official transcripts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>2\u20133 weeks before application deadline:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Complete application and prepare to submit before deadline<\/li>\n<li>Contact any recommender who has not submitted a recommendation and request he\/she do so before the deadline.\u00a0 We will be accepting letters of recommendation until January 15h for this admission cycle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Official transcripts<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>Official transcripts are not required as part of the application. All applicants are required to upload <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">unofficial transcripts<\/span> directly to the online application. Transcripts that are sent directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences can not be added to your application.<\/p>\n<p>If you are admitted, you will be required to send in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">official transcripts<\/span> to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences from all colleges attended prior to matriculation in the Fall.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Three letters of recommendation<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>We require a minimum of 3 original letters of recommendation. We generally prefer academic letters; however, professional letters of recommendation are acceptable in the case of an applicant who has been away from student status for more than 2 years. Academic recommendation letters should be written by university instructors who have taught the applicant in 1 or more classes, or have another basis for knowing well the applicant\u2019s academic aptitude.<\/p>\n<p>Recommenders must submit an online recommendation. An email request will automatically be sent to your recommenders once you have saved an online recommendation. Please advise your recommender to look for this email in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk-mail folder, as emails do occasionally get filtered out.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Test scores<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>Standardized test scores (GRE and English Testing Scores Reports) should be sent to BU directly from ETS.<\/p>\n<p>The ETS Institutional Code for the Graduate School of Arts &amp;\u00a0Sciences is 3087.\u00a0You do not need to add a department code.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Personal statement\/statement of purpose<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>Applicants to every degree program offered by the Graduate School of Arts &amp; Sciences are\u00a0required to submit a Personal Statement\/Statement of Purpose of not fewer\u00a0than 200 words. This statement must describe your qualifications and the\u00a0objectives of your intended educational program at the Department of\u00a0Economics. Additionally, applicants may submit a resume or CV with the personal statement. Writing samples are not required.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Additional forms required for international applicants only<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Only if\u00a0you are recommended for admission:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you are an international student recommended for admission, you\u00a0will be notified by the Graduate School of Arts &amp;\u00a0Sciences Admissions office to submit the following documents for student visa\u00a0processing. You cannot be officially admitted until GRS receives and processes these documents.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A completed, signed <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/files\/2014\/08\/Fillable-ISDF-version-12-2014.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">International Student Data Form<\/a> or International Applicant Coversheet (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/link\/bin\/uiscgi_graduate_application.pl\/uismpl?ThisCollege=grs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">available with the online application<\/a>). Please note that this form cannot be emailed or faxed.<\/li>\n<li>A copy of the personal information page of your current passport.<\/li>\n<li>Copies of all current visas, if applicable.<\/li>\n<li>Financial support documentation (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/files\/pdf\/Sponsor-Cert-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sponsorship Certification Form<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/getting-started\/documents-procedures\/requiredfinancialdocumentation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bank Statement<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>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 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/getting-started\/documents-procedures\/requiredfinancialdocumentation\/expenses-crc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">International Students &amp;\u00a0Scholars website<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Submit this documentation promptly to ensure\u00a0sufficient time to process the student visa. <\/strong>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\u00a0to 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Please do not send any materials directly to the Economics Department.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Forms should be sent via email at grs@bu.edu or postal mail to:<\/p>\n<p>Graduate School of Arts &amp;\u00a0Sciences<br \/>\nAdmissions Office<br \/>\nBoston University<br \/>\n705 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 112<br \/>\nBoston, MA 02215 USA<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>All application inquiries should be directed to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/prospective-students\/graduate-admissions\/\">Graduate School of Arts &amp;\u00a0Sciences<\/a> at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:grs@bu.edu\">grs@bu.edu<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0617-353-2696. A complete GRS Application Checklist can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/admissions\/phd-mfa\/apply\/application-checklist\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>Deadline<\/h4>\n<p><span>To be considered for the Economics doctoral program, all applications must be submitted and received by the Graduate School of Arts &amp; Sciences by<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong> January 7th.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Letters of recommendation and official GRE scores may follow after this deadline, and will be considered until January 15.\u00a0 The first round of admission decisions is made by March 1st.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Questions? Visit our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/admissions\/apply-for-a-phd\/phd-admissions-faqs\/\">PhD Admissions FAQs<\/a> and the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/admissions\/phd-mfa\/apply\/frequently-asked-questions\/\"> Graduate School of Arts and Sciences FAQs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Please be in touch if you have any questions or concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15047,"featured_media":0,"parent":26996,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27045"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15047"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27045"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27045\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36272,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27045\/revisions\/36272"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}