Applying to the PhD

How to Apply & Deadlines

The Anthropology Department at BU offers two graduate programs: an M.A. in Public Anthropology and a Ph.D. in Anthropology. For more information about the academics of these two programs, please click the following links:

• Masters in Public Anthropology
• PhD in Anthropology

Applications for both programs should be completed through the Webadmit online application form via the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS).

The Boston University School of Medicine offers an M.A. in Medical Anthropology and an M.S. in Forensic Anthropology. All inquiries regarding these programs should be directed to the GMS admissions office.

What Test Scores and GPA requirements do you require?

As part of our holistic approach to admissions, we no longer require the GRE General Test.  The admissions committee fully recognizes that there are many components to your application, and that GRE scores have a limited scope of predictive power in the evaluation of a candidate for their long-term success as a student. However, if you feel that your scores will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them to be considered as part of the admissions committee holistic review.

For information about TOEFL or IELTS  scores and minimum requirements listed: here

What do you look for in the Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose?

The applicant’s Statement of Purpose should be concise and very explicit about the applicant’s interests and anthropological goals. These statements are read carefully and are taken very seriously.

We look for a focused area of research interest—both topic and geographic area. We are not looking for something as specific as a dissertation topic, but we need to know how well your research interests match our strengths. Consider the following questions: what education/experience led you to your current interest, what you plan to do upon completion of the degree, which professor(s) would you seek out as advisors, and what about our department interests you?

You should upload the Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose and Writing Sample directly to the ApplicantPortal. Your uploaded document should be no more than 5 pages and should be in a Western European or other English-language setting. Whichever way the statement is submitted, it should contain on every page the following identifying information: your name, BU ID or CAS ID # (which is available after you create an account and begin your application), and the department and degree program (e.g. Anthropology PhD program) to which you are applying.

Do you require a writing sample?

Additionally, if the applicant wishes, they may submit a sample of their written work. There is no specific expected format or length. The writing sample will be used by faculty to assess your readiness for doctoral study, so consider texts that show your research capacity.

How do you properly submit transcripts?

All letters of recommendation and transcripts should be submitted directly through the online application system.  For information on letters of recommendation and transcripts, please visit the GRS website https://www.bu.edu/cas/admissions/phd-mfa/apply/frequently-asked-questions/transcripts-letters-of-recommendation-and-statement-of-purpose/ to learn more.

Should I send anything directly to the Department of Anthropology?

Boston University prefers that all application materials be submitted digitally through the online application portal when possible.  If circumstances arise that make this impossible, please contact the Graduate School Admissions Office at grs@bu.edu for assistance.

Can I apply for a fee waiver?

In an effort to reduce financial barriers to attending graduate school, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS) offers application fee waivers.  For additional information on eligibility, review PhD & MFA Application Fee Waiver and then contact our Director of Graduate Studies with the required materials. Please contact the Graduate School Admissions Office at grs@bu.edu for assistance.

By what date should I receive the admissions decision?

The Admissions Committee of the Department of Anthropology usually makes its decisions for the Ph.D. program by late-February and early April for the M.A.P.A. program. The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences will send you an email, directing you to a secure website where you can view the decision. If you wish, you may email or call the department at anthro@bu.edu or 617-353-2195.

Is there a language requirement?

Yes. The Department of Anthropology is a four-field department that includes course offerings in Sociocultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Anthropological Archaeology, and Linguistic Anthropology. Our goal is to produce students who are equipped to move through the world as colleagues, research collaborators, and global citizens sensitive to and respectful of the world’s cultural diversity. This requires respect for other languages and related world views that can only be acquired through language study. For this reason, all PhD students in Anthropology must meet the Departmental requirement of demonstrating competence in a language other than English.

For most students this language requirement will be met by 4 semesters or the equivalent of undergraduate study of a foreign language with a passing grade.

Other means of meeting the language requirement include, but are not limited to:

• Attendance at a school or university where the language of instruction is not the student’s native language
• Participation in an intensive language program in the US or abroad at the intermediate level
• Living for an extended period of time in a foreign language environment
• Growing up bilingual or multilingual
• Being a native speaker of a language other than English
• An SAT language exam score of 560 or above

What about a Field or Research Language?

For those students whose research project involves a field or research language, additional language study may be necessary. Students are expected to work closely with their advisors in the first semester of their program to develop a plan for acquiring the proficiency necessary to carry out their intended research. The student’s primary advisor will take responsibility for monitoring the student’s progress towards achieving the required proficiency in their field or research language.  Note that many grants and fellowships require evidence of adequate competency in a field or research language.  In addition, language competency may be a focal point of the prospectus defense in the assessment of whether the student is prepared to undertake their proposed research.

How can I get the English Language requirement waived?

The English Language requirement is a GRS requirement, rather than departmental, so the waiver is up to GRS. There’s a whole section on it on the GRS International Student application page – https://www.bu.edu/cas/admissions/phd-mfa/international-students/

This requirement is waived if you meet one of the following criteria: 

• You are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or a citizen of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. 
• You have studied in the United States (or one of the above countries) at an accredited college or university for at least TWO (2) years. The University must be located in the countries listed above. 
• You have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution where the official language of instruction is English. If your transcript does not clearly state that the language of instruction is English, then please upload supporting documentation on institutional letterhead along with your transcript.

What are the Department Statistics for graduates of this program?

Please check out our Ph.D. Placements | Anthropology (bu.edu) to see the career pathways of our recent graduates.

What can I do to improve my chances of admission?

Plan ahead and research the department. The best thing you can do is plan in advance to present a complete, good quality application. This means doing a little research on our faculty and thinking about how well your research interests match our department areas of expertise. Start well in advance contacting current and previous institutions about submitting transcripts. We cannot consider your application without them. Think about who you will ask to write letters of recommendation for you. Try to get at least two of the letters from academic sources (e.g., a current or former professor). Finally, use the resources available on our website (especially the Application Checklist) to keep track of the supplemental materials required to complete your application.

In submitting your application, a clear, concise Statement of Purpose outlining your professional, intellectual, and research interests and career goals and how they connect to the professional and intellectual commitments of the Anthropology is crucial. Take time in preparing this statement and try to include some assessment of how your interests connect to the interests of the faculty.

Do I need a degree in Anthropology to enter your program?

No, but you do need a background in a relatable field of study but it does not need to be a degree in Anthropology specifically.

Do I need a Master’s degree to enter your program?

No; those who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or with equivalent international education may apply.

If I currently have a Master’s degree, can I apply it towards your program?

You may apply to the PhD program if you have both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. If admitted, you may transfer up to 4 courses from your Master’s degree with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and application committee.

Will you accept supplemental materials that arrive after the application deadline?

The most competitive applications are those that have all of their materials in by the deadline. If you anticipate that some of your materials may be late, please contact our office as soon as possible.

What happens if my application materials are late?

It is in the applicant’s best interest to upload all supporting documents well before the deadline. We cannot guarantee that any materials received after the deadline will be reviewed by the department; your application may be reviewed as incomplete.

I am an international student. What special requirements and procedures should I be aware of?

As an international student, there may be special requirements and procedures of which you should be aware. We encourage you to review the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences page for International Admissions.

What is the average length of the program?

While the length of the program varies based on the individual student’s research, the average length of time to complete the Ph.D. is six to seven years and three semesters for M.A.P.A students.

The PhD Program Profile in Anthropology  showcases a brief description of the program, and five-year (or more) trend data on: applications and offers, selectivity, entering cohort size, sex and ethnicity demographics, attrition rate, cumulative completion rate, median time to degree, and five- and ten-year out graduate employment outcomes.

What is your policy on deferring admission?

If you have applied to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) but have not yet received a decision and your plans have changed, you may not request a deferral of your application.  You may instead withdraw your application and reapply for a future semester by sending an email to grs@bu.edu.

If you have been offered admission to GRS, but wish to start at a later date:

• You may request a deferral of your application for up to one full year from your original application term (i.e. from fall 2023 to fall 2024).
• You may only request a deferral for the same program to which you originally applied. If you wish to enter a different program, you must complete a new application.
• A request for deferral is not a guarantee of re-admission, but rather a request that your original application be evaluated for admission for a future semester.  Please be aware that your program may not approve your deferral or may not accept applicants for particular terms.
• The deadline for submission of the Deferral Request Form is August 15 for fall term applicants and December 15 for spring term applicants.  Deferral requests will not be considered after these dates.

What kind of funding do you offer?

Each year, Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS) offers incoming domestic and international Ph.D. students a Dean’s Fellowship, which include full tuition, a living stipend, and health insurance for five years (10 semesters) along with a summer stipend for all newly admitted & enrolled students. For more information on financial aid for doctoral students, visit the GRS page on fellowship aid.

No financial aid is available through the University for students enrolled in the M.A.P.A. program. For information on federal and private educational loans, please visit the GRS page on aid for M.A. students. International students are urged to apply for support to their governments or international agencies.

Are International students eligible for financial aid?

All incoming Ph.D. students are offered Dean’s Fellowships, which include full tuition, a living stipend, and health insurance for five years (10 semesters).  However, no financial aid is available through the University for international students enrolled in the M.A.P.A. program. International students are urged to apply for support to their governments or international agencies.

We would also like to call your attention to the ever-changing guidelines for obtaining a United States student visa. For more information, visit www.bu.edu/isso/.

Does BU offer housing for graduate students enrolled in the University?

BU offers limited graduate student housing, right on the main campus in a newly built apartment complex. The building is purely graduate housing and has over 200 studios and 11 one-bedroom apartments. Prices range from $1400 to $1800. There is more information about BU graduate housing at the Rental Property Management website. Students can contact the Office of Rental Property Management at 617-353-4101, or the Office of Off-Campus Services at 617-353-3523 or oocs@bu.edu, for assistance finding off-campus housing.