New Graduate Students Resources | School of Hospitality Administration

Admitted Graduate Students: What’s Next?

Congratulations on Your Admission to BU SHA. We are delighted to welcome you to Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration (SHA). As an admitted graduate student, you are joining a dynamic and globally recognized community focused on leadership in hospitality and experience-driven industries.

This page outlines your next steps, key resources, and important information to help you successfully prepare for enrollment.

For any questions, please contact Graduate Admissions at shagrad@bu.edu or (617) 353-3261

Your Next Steps

1. Confirm Your Enrollment

2. Create Your BU Email & Account - Setting up academic advising appointment

3. Access MyBU Student Portal

4. Submit Final Official Transcript

5. Complete Health Requirements

6. Apply for Financial Aid (Eligible Students)

7. Plan Your Visit (Optional)

Tuition & Financial Aid

At BU SHA, we make sure our tuition and fees are transparent.

Minimum $14,000 scholarship for admitted students
Additional merit-based funding available
FAFSA eligibility (for domestic students)

Please note: Submitting the FAFSA is not the final step. You may also need to complete the following:

1. Entrance Counseling (Required for Graduate Study)

Even if you completed this during your undergraduate studies, you will need to complete it again for graduate school.

Access it here: https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/

Steps:

Log in with your FSA ID
Select “Start Entrance Counseling”
Choose “Graduate/Professional Students”
Complete the session (approximately 20–30 minutes)

2. Master Promissory Note (MPN)

If you have borrowed federal loans before, you may not need to complete a new MPN if your previous one is still valid.

MPNs are valid for up to 10 years
A new MPN is required if the previous one has expired or if loan conditions have changed

BU also offers Smart Money resources to support financial planning and budgeting. You can also refer to other types of aids here.

Explore Tuition & Aid

Payment Options

Student Financials team is available to answer any questions you might have regarding payment options and will do their best to ensure that your payment process is smooth and convenient.

For more information, visit their website here: Payment Options | Student Financials
Contact: studenta@bu.edu

Student Employment Opportunities

Graduate students can work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year.

Graduate Assistantships

Typically, 8 hours per week commitment
Provides professional experience and faculty/staff collaboration
Opportunities include office administrative assistant, teaching assistant, and research assistant
Allows up to 12 additional hours for other on-campus employment

Why Work While Studying?

Working on campus helps you:

build your resume
gain professional experience
develop time management skills
expand your network

Most BU students are paid weekly, helping them manage expenses effectively.

Explore Other Student Employment Opportunities

Housing for Graduate Students

Wonder what your housing situation would look like in Boston? Check out BU On-campus Housing Information

On-Campus Housing Options

Apartment-Style Residences: Pricing for apartment-style units reflects the cost of the entire unit. Students may choose to occupy the space individually or share it with another Boston University student or an external roommate. Please note that the full housing charge will be billed to the primary student’s account, and it is the student’s responsibility to coordinate any cost-sharing arrangements with additional occupants.
- Boston University provides a sample license agreement for reference.
Brownstone-Style Residences: Brownstone-style residences operate more like traditional dormitory housing. Students are assigned a private bedroom within a shared apartment that includes a communal kitchen and common living spaces. Rates are charged per individual occupant. Please note that private spaces are typically smaller in comparison to apartment-style units.
Contact Information: For additional information, please contact BU Housing Residence Assignments and Rates at 617-353-3511.

*Availability Note: Some students renew their housing agreements each year. As a result, the options displayed on the website may not reflect real-time availability and instead represent the full inventory of housing options offered by Boston University.

Explore some frequently asked questions about searching for Off-campus Housing in Boston as a BU graduate or professional student.

Connect with Incoming Students

Admitted students are invited to join our GroupMe group chat to connect with classmates prior to the start of the program. This is a great way to meet peers, ask questions, and explore potential housing or roommate opportunities.

To receive the link, please email shagrad@bu.edu

Health, Insurance & Wellness

Health Insurance (Required)

BU automatically enrolls all students legally required to have health insurance in the Aetna Student Health Insurance (SHIP) Basic plan. If you are satisfied with this coverage, no further steps are necessary and the SHIP premium will be billed to your student account.

You must take action by the Fall deadline (September 20) or Spring deadline (January 31) if you wish to:

Add dependent coverage
Add dental insurance coverage
Elect the Plus option (for students currently enrolled in Plus, only)

The Fall deadline applies to students who are eligible or automatically enrolled in Aetna SHIP during the fall semester.

The Spring deadline applies to students who are newly eligible or automatically enrolled for Aetna SHIP during the Spring semester. This includes students who were not registered for the Fall semester or who were ineligible for Aetna SHIP during the Fall semester.

If you have not enrolled in SHIP before the deadline, you may still enroll if you experienced a “qualifying life event.”

Waivers available with qualifying alternative coverage
Must meet Massachusetts state requirements

Student Health Services

BU provides comprehensive on-campus care, including:

primary care
mental health and wellness support
specialty referrals

Immunization Requirements

Boston University policy and Massachusetts law require that students have certain immunizations to protect the health of individuals and our community.

Please submit your immunization documentation one month before the start of your first semester. Students who do not submit their documentation within 7 days of starting classes will have a compliance “hold” placed on their account that prevents them from registering for classes.

Learn More About Health Requirements

Resources for Prospective International Students

International Students who are interested in joining the BU School of Hospitality Administration can turn to the BU International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) for questions about immigration, employment, and visas. BU ISSO provides professional expertise to help ensure student, scholar, and institutional compliance with federal regulations.

Contact BU ISSO

Other Helpful Resources for Accepted Graduate Students

You can learn more about housing, financial literacy, academic services, and more on our SHA Graduate Student Resource page or the BU Graduate Education page.

BU TERRIER CARD
This is the official Boston University student identification card. You can apply for your student card here.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Whether you’re advancing your career or making a transition, BU SHA provides the tools, support, and experience to help you succeed.

Apply Now

Request Information

Deferral Form

If you have been formally offered admission to one of SHA’s graduate programs and would like to defer enrollment to the following academic year. Please complete the following form. Any questions, please email shagrad@bu.edu.

SHA Graduate Admissions Deferral Request Form

Students who have been offered admission to one of SHA's graduate programs may defer their enrollment up to one year. Only students that have accepted their offer of admission are eligible to defer. If you have any questions about this form or your eligibility to defer, please email shagrad@bu.edu. Please Note: Students that have not been offered admission are not eligible for deferral.

Name(Required)

First Last

BU ID(Required)

Your BU ID is listed on your acceptance letter and can also be found in your online application portal.

Email Address(Required)

Graduate Program of Admission(Required)

Defer to Semester(Required)

Please note that Master of Management in Hospitality and Graduate Certificate in Advanced Hospitality Management candidates may defer enrollment to Spring semesters only. MS in Hospitality Real Estate and MS in Hospitality Management students may only defer to the following Fall semester due to the structure of their programs' curriculum.