Online MBA Admissions

Application Form

We require one letter of recommendation for the Online MBA, though you can submit up to two. You can add in your recommender’s information via the “References” tab on the online application. Once entered into the system, the person(s) listed will receive detailed instructions on how to submit their letter. Please note: we prefer you use someone who knows you in a professional capacity.

Feel free to contact us with any questions along the way. We want the admissions process to be as simple and transparent as possible. Reach out to the Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Office at (617) 353-2670 or omba@bu.edu. 

Kira Talent Assessment

We know that you are more than what’s on paper. During the online application process, all Online MBA candidates are invited to answer 3 Kira Talent Video Questions, which allow us to get to know you on a more personal level. You can access the Kira Talent platform here. When you register, you must use the same email address that you used to create your admission application account. Upon creating your account with Kira Talent, you can begin your video assessment. You’ll need to use an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone. You’ll have 30 seconds to prepare, and then 60 seconds to record your answers. You can practice an unlimited number of times with Kira Talent’s example questions, but once you start the formal video assessment, you are only allowed one opportunity to record. This allows the committee to see your candid responses. We want your video recording process to be as easy as possible. As such, we encourage you to dress in business casual attire – no need for a suit. The Admissions Committee will then evaluate your responses to learn more about your experiences and to see how you think on your feet. We recommend trying out a few of the sample Kira questions prior to recording your formal video essay. This is not a required application component, but we highly encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity.

Written Essay

In order to get to know you on a more personal level, applicants to the Online MBA program are required to complete one written essay during the application process. Your written essay should be no more than 750 words, and should explain to the admissions committee why you’d like to earn your degree from the Questrom School of Business specifically. It should also address why you have selected the program you are applying to and how that program will help you achieve your post-graduate goals.

Within the “Documents Upload” tab of the online application, you will scroll down to “Essay” and click “Choose File” to upload your written essay.

Additional Statement (Optional)

If you have additional information to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee, you may address it in an optional essay of no more than 250 words. Acceptable topics for the optional essay include, but are not limited to, gaps in post-college work experience, choice of recommenders, and concerns about academic/test performance. If you plan to retake any admissions tests (GMAT or GRE; TOEFL, IELTS or PTE), please provide the date of your scheduled test here. To upload an additional statement, please scroll to the “Essay” section and click “Choose File” to upload your additional statement.

Undergraduate Degrees & Transcript Information

We require transcripts from any institution where you have completed 12 or more credits, including study abroad. We will accept unofficial copies of transcripts for the evaluation of your application, though any copies should include your name, the University name, degree confer date, course names, and grades for each course taken. 

We require that applicants hold a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited US institution or its international equivalent. If you have earned a three-year degree that is the equivalent of a four-year degree in the US, it will be accepted in the admissions process. For example, if you earned a three-year degree in India, your degree will qualify you to be considered for admission. Regardless of program length, if you are uncertain whether your undergraduate degree meets our qualifications, please contact omba@bu.edu before starting the application process. 

Students admitted to our graduate degree programs must provide proof of an earned bachelor’s degree or equivalent international credential. Boston University does not require official transcripts with the submission of an application. Should a student decide to enroll at Boston University Questrom School of Business, official transcripts from each of your previous universities must be submitted and verified prior to the point of matriculation. 

Optional GMAT or GRE

The GMAT or GRE is not required for admission to the Online MBA. However, the Online MBA is a rigorous program that requires quantitative aptitude, and the admissions committee will look for evidence of this in your application via previous coursework. If you feel that you do not have sufficient evidence in your previous coursework to demonstrate this aptitude, you may want to consider submitting a GMAT or GRE score to enhance your application.

If you would like to submit GMAT or GRE results, please navigate to the “Document Upload:” tab, scroll down to the GMAT/GRE section and indicate if you have or will be taking the test. Since this is an optional requirement, you can also enter “I am not planning to take either test” on this tab.

Work Experience & Resume

You should submit a current resume that outlines all work experience, with months and years of employment. Your resume should show all employment history from the completion of your undergraduate degree, including any jobs that may not be considered relevant to your present career. We will calculate all full-time, post-graduate work experience from your undergraduate degree confer date and remove any gaps of unemployment. It’s important that we have an accurate sense of your months/years of employment for reporting purposes.

Within the online application you will also be asked to fill out a work experience section. For Online MBA students, we recognize this could be quite a bit of work. Please feel free to only include your current or most recent employment. We will look to your resume for the rest of the details on your work history.

Letter of Recommendation

We require one letter of recommendation for the Online MBA. Within the application (program materials, recommender section) you will enter your recommender information. Once entered into the system, the person(s) listed will receive detailed instructions on how to submit their letter. They can either use the Common Letter of Recommendation or upload a standard letter they have written. We prefer you use someone who knows you in a professional capacity. 

Please note, your letter of recommendation must come via the online system or directly from the recommender themselves to OMBAappdocs@bu.edu. We cannot accept letters of recommendation directly from applicants. 

At Questrom, work experience isn’t just about the number of years someone has been working —it’s about the depth and impact of those experiences. That’s why the Online MBA program has been designed specifically for mid-career professionals who have made significant contributions in their careers and are ready to take their impact to the next level.

Successful applicants to the Online MBA typically have at least six years of full-time, post graduate experience, with the average being closer to 12 years. We highly value work experience in our admissions process because real-world challenges drive meaningful professional growth, leadership, and problem-solving skills. When students bring these experiences into our virtual classroom, it creates a truly dynamic and engaging learning environment.

Hear directly from our Senior Director of Admission on the importance of work experience for the Online MBA.

The Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Office keeps all records on file for one year. We welcome your re-application.

Each re-applicant is required to submit a new application form and fee ($125); an essay discussing updates or changes since the time of the previous application, as well as reasons for re-applying; an updated resume and official university-level transcripts (if the re-applicant has taken new coursework since the time of their first application). A new letter of recommendation is not required. Please email omba@bu.edu for more instructions.

English Language Proficiency

Candidates who have earned or will have completed at least two years of a bachelor’s or master’s degree at an institution in which the language of instruction was solely based in English are eligible for an automatic English proficiency waiver. Additionally, candidates who have or will have worked for at least two years in a full-time, post-bachelor’s degree position in country where English is the primary language such as the US, UK, or Canada are eligible for an automatic waiver. If you do not meet this criteria but would like to be considered for a waiver, you can submit a written request highlighting your proficiency in the English language to mailto:omba@bu.edu, prior to the submission of your application. The admissions committee will consider these requests on a case by case basis. If you do not meet our automatic waiver requirements, you can upload a copy of your score report in the “Document Upload” tab. If you are submitting test results with your application, please be advised that tests are valid for two years.

We are currently accepting Duolingo scores in addition to TOEFL and IELTS. To access the Duolingo test, go to https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants.  Select Boston University Graduate & Professional Programs as a score recipient, and email ombaappdocs@bu.edu with your name and the date you have taken the Duolingo test.

• TOEFL: BU’s TOEFL code is 3087. A minimum score of 90 on the iBT is recommended. For tests scored on the new “1-6” scale introduced on January 21, 2026, a minimum total score of 4.5 is recommended.
• IELTS: A student must score a minimum of 6.5 across each band.
• PTE: As more candidates submit the PTE, we are developing updated standards for our requirements. As new information becomes available, it will be posted here.
• Duolingo: A minimum score of 120 in each subscore is recommended.

We are happy to waive the application fee for those who attend select admissions events and off-site fairs. Details will be sent to attendees after the event has concluded. If you attended an event, you should have already received an email with your access code. Please email questromadmissions@bu.edu if you did not receive your access code so we can assist you.

In addition, we will waive the application fee for BU employees as well as veterans and those currently serving in the US military. We will also waive the fee for those who are members or alumni of the following programs: AmeriCorps, Education Pioneers, City Year Corps, The Peace Corps, and Teach for America. If you believe you qualify based on one of the listed affiliation categories, please email questromadmissions@bu.edu with more information, so we can assist you.

Please note, we are unable to offer application refunds.