Applying to the BBC Program

General application information can be found on the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences’ (GRS) website. The Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences now accepts online applications only. Please note that you must enter the program name (BBC) under specialization in the online application.

NOTE: GREs are optional for applications for Fall 2024 admission to the BBC program.

The BBC program is highly competitive. We receive an average of approximately 100 applications per year, and accept a handful of those applicants. The Boston University program works on a mentorship model. This means that incoming students are admitted with the expectation that they will primarily work with a specific faculty member (or small group of faculty members). Students are admitted on the basis of a holistic evaluation of how their abilities, skills, and interests align with the faculty who are accepting students in the upcoming year. Prospective students are encouraged to contact prospective mentors about whether they are accepting students. Current faculty members of the BBC program are listed here.

You should locate and carefully read their published materials and website profile and assess whether you have experience in their area of study. Successful applicants typically have actual working experience in research in a closely related field. You should indicate which mentors you have qualifications to work with, and therefore you would like to consider your application, in your personal statement.

We are, of course, very interested in all qualified applications, and our students cannot be described as fitting into any particular mold. We are extremely interested in applications from students from all ethnic/racial backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and nationalities. We hope this information will help you in the challenging process of selecting programs and submitting applications, and we hope your process will prove successful and satisfying.