Application & Requirements

A nonrefundable application fee is required at the time of submission:

• $95 for degree program applications

• $25 for non-degree certificate applications

You will be prompted to pay by credit card before submitting your application. Please note that your application cannot be submitted without payment.

If you would like to request a fee waiver, please complete the Application Fee Waiver form.

• Do not have U.S. citizenship status
• Have not previously received a degree from an institution in which the primary language of instruction was English
  • If you attended a University outside the US/Canada, please send an official letter from your institution confirming English instruction.

Duolingo English Test

Boston University will evaluate scores from the Duolingo English Test, an online English proficiency test students can take on demand. Select “Boston University Graduate & Professional programs” as a score recipient.

• The minimum Duolingo score: 130 

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

You are responsible for ensuring that the testing agency can send us your official score report.

• The minimum IELTS score for all programs is 7.0 overall.

Submit all IELTS scores to us electronically. To send us your scores, navigate to the IELTS website and request that your official scores be release to “Boston University Graduate & Professional Programs.”

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Our institution code for the TOEFL is 3087; we do not use a departmental code. It’s your responsibility to ensure that ETS can send us an official score report. Note: ETS will report scores up to two years after the test date. BU Wheelock accepts TOEFL MyBest scores. Please submit these scores directly to the application system.

• • The minimum overall TOEFL or MyBest score for all programs is 100

Note: BU Wheelock does not offer conditional admissions under any circumstances.

For the new TOFEL iBT score reports starting in January 2026, students are required to have a total/overall score of 5.0 or higher.

Letters of recommendation should come from instructors, direct supervisors, or others you believe are in a position to appraise your skills and ability accurately. There is a space on the online application for applicants to submit the email addresses of their recommenders. Recommenders will receive an email with further instructions.

Recommenders must use an institutional email (business or academic institution) that can be verified. Our office may reach out to recommenders or the applicant for further verification if recommenders do not use an institutional email address.

For All Graduate Programs (except those listed below):
Please submit a detailed statement (approximately two double-spaced pages) that outlines your qualifications for the program and how it aligns with your professional goals. Your statement should:

• Highlight your academic and professional background

• Explain your motivation for pursuing this program at BU Wheelock

• Identify the specific skills, knowledge, and experiences you hope to gain

For Applicants to the PhD in Counseling Psychology & Applied Human Development:
Submit a statement (up to three double-spaced pages) describing your motivation to pursue a PhD and the research questions or topics you hope to explore. Your statement should also:

• Reference BU Wheelock faculty and research projects that align with your interests

• Identify a faculty advisor (from either specialization) whose work closely fits your research goals and mention them by name

• Explain how your interests align with the program’s focus areas

For Applicants to the PhD in Educational Studies:
Submit a statement (up to three double-spaced pages) that outlines your research background, field of study, and motivation for pursuing a PhD. Your statement should:

• Describe specific research questions or topics you wish to explore

• Reference BU Wheelock faculty and research initiatives relevant to your goals

• Discuss how your interests align with current faculty work, while acknowledging that research interests may evolve throughout the program

For Applicants to the EdD in Higher Education:
Write a statement that identifies a current problem facing higher education. In your response, please:

• Analyze the causes or contributing factors of this issue

• Describe how you would begin to address the problem

• Discuss the broader impact or opportunities that could result from solving it

Transcripts for Your Application

As part of your application, upload transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable and sufficient for application review. Applicants may choose to submit official transcripts during the application process; however, official transcripts must be submitted using approved methods outlined in this document.

Acceptable unofficial transcripts include:

• An official transcript that has been opened and scanned
• A degree progress report
• An electronic transcript screenshot

If your transcript includes transfer or study abroad credits and grades for those credits do not appear on the transcript, you must also provide transcripts from those institutions. All institutions attended must be reported on your application.

If Admitted: Official Final Transcripts are Required Before Starting Your Program

If you are admitted, you must submit the required official final transcript(s) before beginning your degree program.

Official transcripts must be submitted using one of the approved methods outlined in this document. Transcripts submitted in any other format or through an unapproved method will not be considered official.

A final transcript is a transcript that includes your degree conferred and the date your degree was awarded.

Transcript requirements after admission are as follows:

• All programs except CAGS and Executive EdD programs: Submit your official final bachelor’s degree transcript.
• CAGS and Executive EdD programs: Submit your official final bachelor’s degree transcript and official final master’s degree transcript.
• Boston University graduates: You do not need to submit an official transcript for any degree previously earned at Boston University. Your BU academic record and degree information will be verified internally.

International Transcripts

Applicants who have studied outside the United States or Canada must upload transcripts from all international institutions attended as part of their application.

All international transcripts must be translated into English. A grading scale must also be included with international transcripts.

If admitted, international students must submit official final transcripts according to the requirements outlined above before beginning their degree program.

For applicants to the PhD in Educational Studies (optional)
Identify key arguments on a current educational or social issue in your field. Include your analysis and conclusions and cite references that inform your understanding. This essay may be a new work or a previously written essay. There is no specific length requirement for this essay.

If you matriculate at BU Wheelock, we will ask you to provide official transcripts to confirm that you completed your bachelor’s degree in the weeks leading up to your first semester of graduate study.

Below are the requirements for applicants to BU Wheelock’s Graduate Certificates:

1. Transcript(s)
2. 1 Letter of Recommendation
3.  1 250-500 word (1 page) statement:  Describe your academic and professional goals, any experience relevant to this program, and why you want to pursue this graduate certificate program.
4. Resume
5. English Proficiency (if applicable)

Applicants to the PhD in Counseling Psychology & Applied Human Development, the PhD in Educational Studies, and the EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies must have a bachelor’s degree or be on track to complete a bachelor’s degree when they apply.

Applicants to the Executive EdD in Higher Education Leadership must have a master’s degree to apply.

If you matriculate at BU Wheelock, we will ask you to provide official transcripts in the weeks leading up to your first semester.

Additionally, applicants must be admitted to each school separately. Admission to one school or program does not guarantee admission to the other school or program. You may use the similar application materials when applying to both schools.

MAT Applicants
If you apply to any of the BU Wheelock Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree programs, you should have an academic background in the subject area you plan to pursue. If you don’t have a degree in your subject of choice, you will be asked to complete prerequisite coursework before applying to the MAT. For more information about the qualifying undergraduate degrees and coursework that would fulfill this requirement, visit your program’s web page.

MS in Child Life & Family-Centered Care
Applicants to this program must complete at least 100 volunteer or practicum hours under a certified Child Life Specialist in a pediatric healthcare child life program. At least 50 of these hours should be completed by the time you apply. Applicants should submit a verification letter with their graduate application. This letter should include a signature from your supervising practitioner and the number of volunteer hours you’ve completed. We strongly recommend that you successfully complete a child development course.

EdM in Deaf Education
Applicants to the Master of Education in Deaf Education are required to take the following coursework either before admission to BU or while enrolled in the degree program. Contact the program office by emailing deafstdy@bu.edu to discuss summer course scheduling for the following prerequisites:

• WED LS 565 Introduction to Language and Linguistics
• WED LS 566 Language Acquisition
• WED DE 581 American Sign Language I
• WED DE 582 American Sign Language II