Master’s Summer Registration

Summer 2025 Calendar

Course Registration

Certain courses taken during the Summer Term at Boston University may be credited toward the Master’s degree if prior approval is obtained from the candidate’s department/program. Students can take up to two courses for a total of 10 credits during each summer session.

Students registering for standard summer term courses should follow the instructions detailed on the Summer Term website.

Students enrolled in coursework during the summer and who want to be exempt from FICA taxes have two enrollment options:

1. Students must enroll for a minimum of 6 credits over both Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms, details found here.
2. Students can request certified full-time registration via an email to grsrec@bu.edu describing the independent work pertinent to the completion of their degree requirements being completed during the summer months.

Continuing Student Status Registration

GRS MA and MS students may register as full-time or part-time students during the summer.  Students not registering for summer courses but who complete a degree requirement such as a language or comprehensive examination or submit their thesis must register as continuing students for one Summer Term and pay the Continuing Student Fee.

Students can register for full-time or part-time status by filling out the Summer Continuing Study and Certified Full-Time Status Form and submitting it to the GRS Office. There are two types of summer registration statuses in GRS, which are detailed below:

• Full-Time Status, Continuing Study and Certified Full-Time: Students who are engaged in full-time progress towards the degree. Full-time employees of the University and those with other full-time outside employment are not eligible for this status.
• Part-Time Status, Continuing Study: Students who are not registering for course credits but are otherwise engaged in part-time progress towards the degree.

Students enrolling in regular coursework but who also wish to be certified full-time can do so by filling out the Summer Continuing Study and Certified Full-Time Status Form and submitting it to the GRS Office. Certified Full-Time Status is for students enrolled for less than 12 credits, but are otherwise engaged in full-time progress towards the degree.

MA and MS students may not apply for what was formerly referred to as Summer Research Status. If there is a situation that warrants an MA or MS student to register for such a status, the Director of Graduate Studies should write an email to grsrec@bu.edu explaining the need for the registration. The request will then be reviewed by the Dean.