How to Apply

The Master of Science in Nutrition (Clinical Concentration) + Dietetic Internship (MS+DI) program is designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and have or will be receiving a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verification Statement from an ACEND-accredited DPD program. For questions about the program or the application process, please reach out to us at sargrad@bu.edu.
Please note there are two ways to apply to the MS+DI program:
- Pre-Select Program – Boston University has been approved to open our pre-select program to all MS+DI applicants who have graduated from an ACEND-accredited DPD program. Applicants who are admitted and commit to the BU pre-select program are not eligible to apply to another supervised practice option through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS). To apply, please follow the “MS+DI: Pre-Select Application Instructions” below.
- DICAS/DI Match Program – After the pre-select application phase, prospective students can apply for any remaining openings to the MS+DI program using the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics national computer matching process through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) system and through D&D Digital. For detailed information about the DICAS computer matching process, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Dietetic Internship Match website. To apply, please follow the “MS+DI: DICAS/DI Match Application Instructions” below.
MS+DI: Pre-Select Application Instructions
The 2022-2023 Boston University application cycle is closed.
Pre-select applicants should apply online using the Boston University Application. Be sure to select “Master of Science in Nutrition/Dietetic Internship (Pre-Select)” as your program. The following items are required to be considered for admission to the program:
Transcripts
Applicants should submit unofficial transcripts by uploading them within the ‘Academic History’ section of the Boston University Application. Applicants receiving a degree from a college or university located outside of the United States must also submit a formal course-by-course evaluation of all non-US transcripts from a third-party verification organization such as World Education Services (WES) directly to Sargent College.
If you are admitted to the program and choose to enroll, you will then be asked to submit official copies of all transcripts prior to matriculation. All enrolled students must complete a baccalaureate degree at an ACEND-accredited institution prior to matriculation.
Standardized Test Scores
GRE scores are not required to apply to the program. Any GRE scores received by the program will not be considered by the admissions committee.
For international students whose first language is not English, official TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic scores are required unless you have completed a baccalaureate degree at an institution where the primary language of instruction is English. TOEFL iBT scores should be submitted electronically through ETS to BU using the institutional code 3087. IELTS Academic scores should be requested from IELTS to be released to Boston University Graduate Programs.
The minimum TOEFL iBT score for this program is 100, and the minimum IELTS Academic score is 7.
Letters of Recommendation
Three (3) letters of recommendation are required and should be completed by individuals who are familiar with your academic ability as well as your professional work experience. Letters of recommendation must be submitted online through the Boston University Application.
If you are currently a dietetics student at Boston University, in the Programs of Nutrition, one of your recommendations should be from someone other than a full time nutrition faculty member.
Dietetic Internship Selection
Within the MS+DI preselect application, you will be asked to select a Dietetic Internship track. Review our DI options
online here before applying.
Essays
In lieu of a personal statement, applicants are required to answer three short-answer essay questions. Each essay should be limited to 1500 characters (or approximately 250 words).
- Sometimes even with the best of planning, situations do not go as we had planned. Describe how you responded to a situation that didn’t go as you had expected. What lessons did you learn about yourself from this experience?
- Please describe your short- and long-term goals following completion of the Boston University MS+DI program.
- Given your life experience and/or self-identified areas for continued growth, how will Boston University’s MS+DI help you to develop as a professional in a diverse world?
If you’re applying to one of our standalone Dietetic Internship partnership programs, please note a fourth essay is required. Review the relevant
partnership webpage for further details.
Application Fee
A non-refundable BU application fee of $95 is required. Applicants will be prompted to pay by credit card prior to submitting the online application.
Interview
Once applications are received and reviewed, select candidates may be asked to participate in a brief virtual interview with a nutrition faculty member.
DPD Verification Statement
MS+DI applicants should be currently working towards their DPD Verification Statement or already have one. While the DPD Verification Statement does not need to be submitted when applying, it must be completed and sent to the Dietetic Internship Director prior to the start of the academic program.
Pre-select applicants will be notified of their admission decision before the end of January.
MS+DI: DICAS/DI Match Application Instructions
We are not participating in the DICAS/DI Match, and are no longer taking applications.
For any remaining openings to the MS+DI program not filled through the pre-select application phase, prospective students can apply through the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics national computer matching process. To apply, applicants must submit two separate applications:
Applicants must also register for the DI Matching Service through D&D Digital.
The following items are required to be considered for admission to the program. Please read carefully, as some application materials should be submitted through DICAS while other items should be submitted with your Boston University Application.
Transcripts
Please submit all official transcripts through DICAS by following these instructions. Please do NOT send your transcripts directly to BU.
All admitted students must complete a baccalaureate degree at an ACEND-accredited institution prior to matriculation.
Standardized Test Scores
GRE scores are not required to apply to the program. Any GRE scores received by the program will not be considered by the admissions committee.
For international students whose first language is not English, official TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic scores are required unless you have completed a baccalaureate degree at an institution where the primary language of instruction is English. TOEFL iBT scores should be submitted electronically through ETS to BU using the institutional code 3087. IELTS Academic scores should be requested from IELTS to be released to Boston University Graduate Programs.
The minimum TOEFL iBT score for this program is 100, and the minimum IELTS Academic score is 7.
Letters of Recommendation
Three (3) letters of recommendation are required and must be submitted through your DICAS application (NOT your Boston University Application). Recommendations should be completed by individuals who are familiar with your academic ability as well as your professional work experience.
If you are currently a dietetics student at Boston University, in the Programs of Nutrition, one of your recommendations should be from someone other than a full time nutrition faculty member.
Essays
In lieu of a personal statement, applicants are required to answer three short-answer essay questions. Each essay should be limited to 1500 characters (or approximately 250 words).
- Sometimes even with the best of planning, situations do not go as we had planned. Describe how you responded to a situation that didn’t go as you had expected. What lessons did you learn about yourself from this experience?
- Please describe your short- and long-term goals following completion of the Boston University MS+DI program.
- Given your life experience and/or self-identified areas for continued growth, how will Boston University’s MS+DI help you to develop as a professional in a diverse world?
Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee of $95 is required to submit the Boston University Application. Applicants will be prompted to pay by credit card prior to submitting the online application.
In addition, please note DICAS charges $50 for the first program you apply to and $20 for each additional program.
Interview
Once applications are received and reviewed, select candidates may be asked to participate in a brief virtual interview with a nutrition faculty member.
DPD Verification Statement
MS+DI applicants should be currently working towards their DPD Verification Statement or already have one. While the DPD Verification Statement does not need to be submitted when applying, it must be completed and sent to the Dietetic Internship Director prior to the start of the academic program.
Additional Information
- Given the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize that many colleges/universities moved to a pass/fail or credit/no credit system of grading for spring semester 2020. Please know that we will accept prerequisite coursework taken and completed during Spring 2020 in which a student received a “pass” or “credit” grade designation. We will not accept coursework for Spring 2020 coursework graded “fail” or “no credit.”
- For more information regarding state licensing requirements, please visit the State Authorization & Distance Education website.
Questions?
Please contact us at sargrad@bu.edu.