*** The Admissions, Financial Aid, Records, and Graduate Affairs offices of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS) will be closed from 1pm on December 19, 2025, until 9am on January 5, 2026. If you try to contact our office during this time, we will respond to you after we reopen on January 5, 2026. ***
The application, application fee, and application materials must be received in the GRS Admissions Office by the application deadline. Please note that all documents should be submitted online through the online application. Please do not send additional paper copies of any materials submitted online to the Graduate Admissions Office.
Please note that all materials and documents, including transcripts and reference letters, submitted as part of an application for admission become the property of Boston University and cannot be returned.
Online Application Contact GRS
Domestic Applicants (U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents)
- Application
- $95 Application fee
- Uploaded Transcripts. On the application, upload an unofficial copy of your transcript for each institution you have attended. Do not email or mail official transcripts directly to our office. You will be required to submit official transcripts only if you are admitted and accept our offer of admission.
- Three official letters of recommendation. Recommendations should be submitted through the online recommendation system. Photocopies and other facsimiles, such as scanned/emailed or faxed documents will not be considered official.
- Official GRE General scores, sent to BU by ETS using institution code 3087. Many departments do not require GRE scores; refer to the list on this page for details. Applicants applying to MFA programs are not required to submit GRE scores.
- Personal Statement
- Resume or CV (highly recommended, not required)
- Writing Sample. A writing sample is required by some but not all departments. Check your department’s requirements at Application Requirements and Deadlines.
International Applicants
- Application
- $95 Application fee
- Uploaded Transcripts. On the application, upload an unofficial copy of your transcript for each institution you have attended. Do not email or mail official transcripts directly to our office. You will be required to submit official transcripts only if you are admitted and accept our offer of admission.
- Three official letters of recommendation. Recommendations should be submitted through the online recommendation system. Photocopies and other facsimiles, such as scanned/emailed or faxed documents will not be considered official.
- Official GRE General scores, sent to BU by ETS using institution code 3087. Many departments do not require GRE scores; refer to the list on this page for details. Applicants applying to MFA programs are not required to submit GRE scores.
- Official English proficiency test scores
- Personal Statement
- Resume or CV (highly recommended, not required)
- Writing Sample. A writing sample is required by some but not all departments. Check your department’s requirements at Application Requirements and Deadlines.
- International Student Documents if you are offered admission