International students seeking admission to Boston University School of Social Work must hold a bachelor’s degree and have practical experience in social work, if at all possible.
International students are eligible to apply to all of the graduate programs at BUSSW. Please note that BUSSW is only able to offer visa sponsorship (F-1 visa) for students enrolling in our full-time Charles River Campus MSW Program or PhD program. If you are currently, or plan to be, in the US in a different visa category, you may be eligible to take courses at BUSSW, depending on your immigration status. Please contact busswad@bu.edu for more information.
Additional Requirements for International Students
English Language Proficiency
Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must have strong English language skills in order to meet the admission requirements for our program. Applicants who obtained a degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction are able to use their degree as proof of English language proficiency. Applicants who have not obtained a degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction may demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting standardized test scores.
Please note: If you become a permanent resident or U.S. citizen by the time you start or complete your application, you are not required to submit standardized test scores.
Standardized Test Scores
International applicants must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test, unless English is their native language, or they earned their undergraduate and/or graduate degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction (proof of instruction in English must be provided).
For the TOEFL, a minimum score of 577 is required on the paper-based test. On the Internet-based TOEFL test a minimum score of 100 is required with a minimum score requirement of 25 in each of the four subsections of the exam: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
For the IELTS, a minimum score of 7.0 is required on each of the four subsections as well as an overall band score of 7.0 or higher.
For the Duolingo English Test, a minimum score of 115 is required with a minimum score requirement of 115 in each of the four subsections of the exam: literacy, comprehension, conversation, production.
Submitting Your Scores
You may arrange for ETS to forward official TOEFL test results to institution code 3087 (there is no departmental code).
To send IELTS scores, please email the Test Report Form number to busswad@bu.edu so we can match your scores to your application.
Official Duolingo English Test scores can be shared by sending the URL for your official scores in an email to busswad@bu.edu.
Degree Translation and Evaluation
All foreign transcripts that are not from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction must be translated and evaluated by a reputable credential evaluation service (there may be a cost for this service). If your institution does not provide a grade point average (GPA) on the American 4.0 scale, the transcript evaluation should include an American GPA equivalent. We require that you submit official transcripts as well as the full evaluation in order to consider your application complete. Please note that transcript evaluation can take a significant amount of time. We advise that you begin this process at least one month in advance of the application deadline to ensure the timely receipt of all transcripts. We do not require that you work with a specific agency. A full list of approved credentials evaluation services can be found here.
International Student Enrollment Process
International Student Enrollment Process
Admitted international students are required to submit additional materials to support the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) in preparing their student visas including:
- International Student Data Form (must be signed and dated)
- Passport copy (and copies of any previous immigration documents you may have)
- Financial documentation to demonstrate your ability to cover all costs of being a student at BU; documents may include bank statements, a letter of sponsorship or support, or the Sponsorship Certification Form provided by the Boston University ISSO
Once an applicant receives an offer of admission, instructions for submitting supplemental materials will follow. For more information about required documents, please visit the ISSO website.