How to Apply
**This program is not accepting applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please reach out to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at grsphd@bu.edu with any questions**
Applicants to the graduate program should use the online application, which is available on the Graduate School site.
In keeping with the policy of BU’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the Department of Political Science practices holistic admission, considering all components of a Ph.D. application for every applicant. We are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively affected some applicants’ Spring 2020 grades, and others may have opted for a modified grading option (e.g., pass/fail). We will evaluate applications with these circumstances in mind. Applicants are encouraged to explain any unusual personal circumstances either in their personal statement or in a separate document uploaded with the application.
Applicants are expected to hold a B.A., preferably in political science or in a related discipline such as economics, philosophy, sociology, international relations or history. Depending on their qualifications, applicants from other disciplines will also be considered.
Application Requirements
We require applicants to submit the following:
- Online Application Form
- All relevant transcripts – unofficial copies (official transcripts are only needed for students who have accepted an admission offer)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement outlining plans for graduate study
- Academic writing sample
- A $95 application fee must be paid in order for your application to be considered complete. This fee is non-refundable. Information on fee waivers for MA and PhD applicants is available on the Graduate School website. Please do not submit the application until you have received a decision regarding your fee waiver application.
GRE scores are optional for admission into the program. (our ETS code is 3087; we do not have a minimum GRE score for admission)
International students whose native language is not English should refer to the English Proficiency Requirement instituted by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Because English-language proficiency is crucial for success in our program, we do require a minimum TOEFL score of 100 (600 for the paper-based test) or an IELTS score of 8. The English-language proficiency requirement is waived only if the applicant has received or expects to receive an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university in any of the following countries prior to enrollment in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland.
Applicants should apply online and all supplementary materials should be uploaded with the application. Please do not direct materials to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences or to the Department of Political Science.
We recommend all applicant submit their transcripts, recommendations, and test scores prior to submitting the online application to ensure all documents are received before the deadline.
It is your responsibility to contact the Department of Political Science to determine if your application is complete.
Financial Assistance
All applicants accepted for the PhD program will receive full funding for 5 years. This includes tuition and University related fees. Aid is restricted to students in the PhD program. The department strives to support every student in good standing as fully as possible. PhD students entering in Fall 2023 will receive summer stipends in addition to service or non-service fellowships in the academic year. Students in their fifth year with an approved Dissertation Prospectus qualify for a non-service fellowship to support full-time work towards their dissertation.
