International Application Requirements

Term	Application Deadline	Start Date
Spring 2027	December 15, 2026 (domestic & online applicants) October 15, 2026 (international on-campus applicants)	January 12, 2027 (online courses) January 19, 2027 (on campus courses)
Summer 2027	April 1, 2027 (domestic & online applicants) February 15, 2027 (international on-campus applicants)	May 4, 2027 (online courses) May 18, 2027 (on campus courses)
Fall 2027	August 1, 2027 (domestic & online applicants) June 1, 2027 (international on-campus applicants)	September 2, 2027 (on campus courses) September 7, 2027 (online courses)

In addition to completing an Application for Graduate Admission, international applicants must submit proof of English proficiency by submitting official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test. Recommended scores are listed below. Official scores are valid for review for up to two years.

The language proficiency requirement will be waived for the following applicants:

• Those whose native language is English.
• Those who have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university where the primary language of instruction is English. This may include applicants who are part of a 2+2 dual-degree program in which coursework is taught entirely in English.
• Those who have, or will have, worked for at least two years in a full-time, post-bachelor’s degree position in the United States.

The admissions committee may request documentation that clearly states the language of instruction from previous institutions if not clearly stated on the transcript(s). Additionally, the committee reserves the right to request an English proficiency exam score upon review of all submitted application documents.

TOEFL Requirements

Our recommended overall internet-based TOEFL score is 84, or 4.5 within the new scoring system taking effect January 2026. We also accept the TOEFL Essentials exam with a recommended score of 9. The ETS TOEFL institution code for all Boston University graduate programs is 3087.

IELTS Requirements

Our recommended overall IELTS band score is 6.5.

To share your IELTS scores with MET, please take both the following steps:

1. Self-report your IELTS scores in the “Standardized Tests” section of the application. When prompted, be sure to include your IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) number (15–18 digits) located in the bottom right-hand corner of your score report. This must be listed for your official scores to be matched to your application.
2. Then, navigate to the IELTS website and request that your official scores be released to “Boston University Graduate Programs.”

Duolingo Requirements

Our recommended overall score for the Duolingo English Test is 115.

Applicants submitting Duolingo scores must send the following information to metapp@bu.edu, using “DUOLINGO Test Result” as the email subject line:

1. First and last name
2. Date of birth
3. Date of Duolingo English Test

Duolingo English Test results are made available 48 hours after the completion of an exam and may take 2–3 business days to process in our office.

You will be required to submit transcripts from each university attended. Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded to your application.

Transcript evaluations are generally not required if your transcript is issued in English and includes course grades, semester grades, and a cumulative GPA. If an additional evaluation is required for your application or you choose to submit one, the Admissions Committee recommends using a .

The following three organizations can submit official evaluations electronically directly to MET:

• The Evaluation Company (formerly Spantran) – Following this link for The Evaluation Company will bring you to a BU MET specific application, which comes with a small discount for our students.
• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
• World Education Services

If you have questions about transcript evaluations, please contact the Admissions staff for your program of interest.

• A current resume/CV.
• Short answer question:
  How does your chosen program algin with your professional goals?
• Letters of recommendation are not required except for the following programs, which require one letter only:
  • MA in Gastronomy
  • MS in City Planning
  • MS in Urban Affairs

Upon being admitted to Metropolitan College, you will receive guidance through the student visa application process from the MET admissions team. To apply for a student visa, you must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from Boston University. There are two types of certificates: the Form I-20 (for those seeking an F-1 visa) and the Form DS-2019 (for those seeking a J-1 visa). Obtaining a certificate is the first step toward securing your student visa, as you will need the certificate to schedule your visa appointment at a US consulate in your home country.

For a comprehensive overview of this process, please watch the video tutorial Applying for a US Visa.

While you are watching the tutorial, we encourage you to review this PDF of the presentation, which contains active hyperlinks to all web pages referenced throughout the video. If you have visa-related questions, please contact us at metvisa@bu.edu.

Form I-20 Request Deadlines

As visa processing can take several months, incoming students requiring a student visa should submit all required immigration documentation to MET as early as possible and no later than the deadlines indicated below.

• If you are not currently studying in the US and need to apply for a student visa, you should submit documents at least three months prior to each start term, and no later than:
  • July 1 (fall)
  • November 15 (spring)
  • March 15 (summer)
• If you are currently studying in the US on an F-1 visa and plan to transfer your SEVIS record*, you should submit documents at least two months prior to each start term, and no later than:
  • August 1 (fall)
  • December 15 (spring)
  • April 15 (summer)

  *Your SEVIS record associated with your prior institution must be transferred to BU during your 60-day grace period following your prior program’s completion.

Students who do not meet these deadlines will be required to defer their admission offer to a future entry term by completing an Enrollment Status Change Request Form.

Both Massachusetts state and federal law require all international students to enroll in a health insurance plan that meets strict minimum requirements. All Boston University students are automatically enrolled each year in the Boston University Student Medical Insurance Plan administered by Aetna Student Health.

If you do not wish to participate in the Boston University Medical Insurance Plan, you must annually file a Medical Insurance Waiver of Enrollment. For more information, visit Student Accounting Services’ medical insurance page.

All international applicants who are offered admission and accept their offer are then required to submit the completed International Applicant Coversheet or International Student Data Form with required passport/visa documentation. Applicants offered admission will be immediately notified by email and given instructions on how to submit this documentation.

Yes. Qualifying graduate applicants may apply for a fee waiver. This includes prospective students who attend a Boston University Metropolitan College admissions webinar or event.

Yes. All master’s degree applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships. The admissions committee will nominate admitted students to receive this award, based on the strength of each applicant’s academic qualifications and professional experiences. Scholarship recipients will be notified of their award with their admissions decision.

Yes, all submitted transcripts must be in English. If you are submitting a transcript that is not in English, you must submit a certified evaluation of the transcript and degrees awarded (more information below).

The WES/ECE evaluation is not a required component of the application, except for transcripts that are not in English (see question above). If you have attended an institution that is not located within the United States, we request that you upload your unofficial transcript in the appropriate section of your application. The admissions office may contact you at the time of review if a WES/ECE evaluation is necessary.

For information on required financial documentation requirements, visit the University’s International Students & Scholars Office website. As noted on their site, all declarations of financial support must:

1. Reflect the minimum amount of support in US dollars.
2. Specify funding for study at Boston University (not another college or university).
3. Include a date and be no older than one year from the intended date of enrollment.
4. Indicate the period of time for which the support will be provided.
5. Be written in English.
6. Reflect funds that are readily available for tuition payments (i.e., checking or savings accounts). Certain investment accounts such as stocks, salary documents, or property holdings do not reflect available funds and will not be accepted.

It is recommended that prospective students request three sets of financial documents: one to submit to Boston University, one to provide the US Embassy or Consulate to which they will apply for the visa, and one to retain for their records (and to present at the US Port of Entry if requested).

The International Students & Scholars Office provides estimated expenses for international students on the Charles River Campus that should be sufficient for one year of attendance at Boston University. Please be aware that this estimate is updated on a yearly basis. If the estimate posted on the website is for a previous academic year, you should expect an increase and submit financial support documents accordingly.