{"id":1715,"date":"2020-07-30T16:14:52","date_gmt":"2020-07-30T20:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/?page_id=1715"},"modified":"2025-10-23T09:52:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T13:52:51","slug":"graduate-application","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/admissions\/international-students\/graduate-application\/","title":{"rendered":"International Graduate Student Application"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"jump-links\" style=\"margin-bottom: 50px;\"><a href=\"#engrequirements\" class=\"button small\">English Proficiency Requirements<\/a><a href=\"#transcripts\" class=\"button small\">Transcripts<\/a><a href=\"#visa\" class=\"button small\">Obtaining a Visa<\/a><\/div>\n<p>In addition to the application requirements outlined on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/admissions\/apply-now\/\">Apply Now<\/a> page, international students should review the English-language proficiency and international transcript requirements outlined below.<\/p>\n<p>Graduate Admissions Committees meet on an ongoing basis, and admission decisions are made after a full evaluation of each candidate\u2019s application and supporting materials. Admission is normally granted for September, January, and May of each year.<\/p>\n<p>After being offered admission to a program, you will be asked to submit an international student data form and proof that you can fund all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/getting-started\/documents-procedures\/requiredfinancialdocumentation\/expenses-crc\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tuition, fees, books, and living expenses<\/a> for the duration of your studies.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important note regarding visas:<\/strong> Metropolitan College sponsors visas for graduate students in master&#8217;s degree and select graduate certificate programs for full-time on-campus study. The College does not sponsor visas for undergraduate programs (bachelor&#8217;s degree or non-degree).<\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pursuing Your Graduate Degree at BU: An International Destination\" width=\"100%\" height=\"415\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dmIu_VzeG6c?&#038;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2>Start Your Application<\/h2>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none; background-color: #005088; padding: 10px 30px; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; transition: 0.2s ease; border-radius: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/admissions\/apply-now-graduate\/\">Apply Now<\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you are planning to study at Boston University\u2019s Metropolitan College (MET) on an F-1 visa, you will need to maintain full-time status (at least 12 units). Those studying online do not qualify for visa sponsorship.<\/p>\n<p>Admitted international applicants who require a student visa should review the section below, &#8220;<a href=\"#visa\">Obtaining a Visa<\/a>,&#8221; which highlights important documentation requirements and deadlines.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" id=\"engrequirements\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">English Proficiency Requirements<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><br \/>\nIn addition to completing an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/admissions\/apply-now\/\">Application for Graduate Admission<\/a>, international applicants must submit proof of English proficiency by submitting official results of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ets.org\/toefl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ielts.org\/en-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">International English Language Testing System (IELTS)<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/englishtest.duolingo.com\/applicants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Duolingo English Test<\/a>. Recommended scores are listed below. Official scores are valid for review for up to two years.<\/p>\n<p>The language proficiency requirement will be waived for the following applicants: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Those whose native language is English.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Those who have, or will have, worked for at least two years in a full-time, post-bachelor&#8217;s degree position in the United States.\n<\/ul>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h4>TOEFL Requirements<\/h4>\n<p>Our recommended overall internet-based TOEFL score is <strong>84<\/strong>, or <strong>4.5<\/strong> within the new scoring system taking effect January 2026. We also accept the TOEFL Essentials exam with a recommended score of <strong>9<\/strong>. The ETS TOEFL institution code for all Boston University graduate programs is <strong>3087<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h4>IELTS Requirements<\/h4>\n<p>Our recommended overall IELTS band score is <strong>6.5<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>To share your IELTS scores with MET, please take both the following steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Self-report your IELTS scores in the \u201cStandardized Tests\u201d section of the application. When prompted, be sure to include your IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) number (15\u201318 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.<\/li>\n<li>Then, navigate to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ielts.org\/for-test-takers\/results\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">IELTS website<\/a> and request that your official scores be released to &#8220;<strong>Boston University Graduate Programs<\/strong>.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4>Duolingo Requirements<\/h4>\n<p>Our recommended overall score for the Duolingo English Test is <strong>115<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Applicants submitting Duolingo scores must send the following information to <a href=\"mailto:metapp@bu.edu?subject=DUOLINGO Test Result\">metapp@bu.edu<\/a>, using \u201cDUOLINGO Test Result\u201d as the email subject line:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>First and last name<\/li>\n<li>Date of birth<\/li>\n<li>Date of Duolingo English Test<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Duolingo English Test results are made available 48 hours after the completion of an exam and may take 2\u20133 business days to process in our office.<br \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" id=\"transcripts\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Transcripts<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><br \/>\nThe Admissions Committee recommends an official evaluation of all international transcripts from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naces.org\/members\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NACES member evaluation organization<\/a>. The three organizations below will all submit official evaluations electronically to Boston University Metropolitan College:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/spanside.secure.force.com\/SpantranApplication?Id=c0647582-ce02-48f8-b7b7-9e52a55df49e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spantran<\/a> \u2013 Following this link for Spantran will bring you to a BU MET specific application, which comes with a small discount for our students.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ece.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wes.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">World Education Services<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you have questions about transcript evaluations, please contact the Admissions staff for your program of interest.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" id=\"visa\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Obtaining a Visa<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><br \/>\nUpon 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.<\/p>\n<p>For a comprehensive overview of this process, please watch the video tutorial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DQ6lhHZgeGY\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Applying for a US Visa<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While you are watching the tutorial, we encourage you to review this <a href=\"https:\/\/bu.edu\/met\/visa\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">PDF of the presentation<\/a>, which contains active hyperlinks to all web pages referenced throughout the video. If you have visa-related questions, please contact us at <a href=\"mailto:metvisa@bu.edu\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">metvisa@bu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>Form I-20 Request Deadlines<\/h4>\n<p>As visa processing can take several months, incoming students requiring a student visa should submit all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/getting-started\/documents-procedures\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">required immigration documentation<\/a> to MET as <strong>early as possible and no later than the deadlines indicated below<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you are <strong>not currently studying in the US<\/strong> and need to apply for a student visa, you should submit documents at least three months prior to each start term, and <strong>no later than<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>July 1 (fall)<\/li>\n<li>November 15 (spring)<\/li>\n<li>March 15 (summer)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>If you <strong>are currently studying in the US on an F-1 visa<\/strong> and plan to transfer your SEVIS record*, you should submit documents at least two months prior to each start term, and <strong>no later than<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>August 1 (fall)<\/li>\n<li>December 15 (spring)<\/li>\n<li>April 15 (summer)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>*Your SEVIS record associated with your prior institution must be transferred to BU during your 60-day grace period following your prior program\u2019s completion.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><\/em>Students who do not meet these deadlines will be required to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/admissions\/course-registration\/registration-changes\/\">defer their admission offer<\/a> to a future entry term by completing an <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLScDTKrRK9jHPu2b9m-DokHetpboxumFdbX-QyzNQHeQRaknGw\/viewform\">Enrollment Status Change Request Form<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Medical Insurance<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><br \/>\nBoth 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentaccountingservices\/resources\/medical-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Boston University Student Medical Insurance Plan<\/a> administered by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aetnastudenthealth.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aetna Student Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you do not wish to participate in the Boston University Medical Insurance Plan, you must annually file a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentaccountingservices\/resources\/medical-insurance\/waiver-of-enrollment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Medical Insurance Waiver of Enrollment<\/a>. For more information, visit Student Accounting Services\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/studentaccountingservices\/resources\/medical-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">medical insurance<\/a> page.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<h4>Must I submit the International Student Data Form and the required financial documentation with my application?<\/h4>\n<p>All international applicants who are <strong>offered admission and accept their offer<\/strong> are then required to submit the completed International Applicant Coversheet or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/files\/2024\/03\/ISSO-ISDF-updated-3-22-24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">International Student Data Form<\/a> with required passport\/visa documentation. Applicants offered admission will be immediately notified by email and given instructions on how to submit this documentation.<\/p>\n<h4>Can I apply for an application fee waiver?<\/h4>\n<p>Yes. <a href=\"https:\/\/bostonu.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_cO07fedsksS1Nf8\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Qualifying graduate applicants<\/a> may apply for a fee waiver. This includes prospective students who attend a Boston University Metropolitan College <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/events\/?topic=8372\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">admissions webinar or event<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<h4>Can I be considered for merit scholarships?<\/h4>\n<p>Yes. All master\u2019s 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\u2019s academic qualifications and professional experiences. Scholarship recipients will be notified of their award with their admissions decision.<\/p>\n<h4>Does my transcript have to be in English?<\/h4>\n<p>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).<\/p>\n<h4>Do I need to obtain a WES\/ECE evaluation?<\/h4>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h4>What forms of financial support are acceptable?<\/h4>\n<p>For information on required financial documentation requirements, visit the University\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">International Students &amp; Scholars Office website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As noted on their site, all declarations of financial support must:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Reflect the minimum amount of support in US dollars.<\/li>\n<li>Specify funding for study at Boston University (not another college or university).<\/li>\n<li>Include a date and be no older than one year from the intended date of enrollment.<\/li>\n<li>Indicate the period of time for which the support will be provided.<\/li>\n<li>Be written in English.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>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).<\/p>\n<h4>How much are the estimated costs that have to be covered by financial support?<\/h4>\n<p>The International Students &amp; Scholars Office provides <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/getting-started\/documents-procedures\/requiredfinancialdocumentation\/expenses-crc\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">estimated expenses for international students<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>English Proficiency RequirementsTranscriptsObtaining a Visa In addition to the application requirements outlined on our Apply Now page, international students should review the English-language proficiency and international transcript requirements outlined below. Graduate Admissions Committees meet on an ongoing basis, and admission decisions are made after a full evaluation of each candidate\u2019s application and supporting materials. Admission [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16254,"featured_media":0,"parent":87,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1715"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16254"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1715"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96791,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1715\/revisions\/96791"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/87"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}