Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Services and Policy Research Application Requirements.

A GRE score is not required for application to BU School of Public Health and will not be considered if submitted.

International applicants must submit an English language proficiency exam. Applicants may submit the TOEFL or IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS exams are considered valid for two (2) years from the date the exam was administered.

English is the language of instruction at Boston University. You must be able to understand rapid, idiomatic English and express yourself clearly in speech and writing.

English Proficiency Exams

International students whose native language is not English must provide official results of the Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Only official TOEFL and IELTS score reports will be accepted and must be submitted using the appropriate reporting code through SOPHAS. Photocopies of test scores or unofficial records will not be accepted

Boston University School of Public Health does not accept Duolingo English Test results.

Test and Required Minimum Score

• TOEFL ibt: 100 or higher
• TOEFL pbt: 600 or higher
• IELTS – Academic Exam Only: 7.0 (total band score)

Applicants may submit the TOEFL or IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS exams are considered valid for two (2) years from the date the exam was administered. Applicants with invalid scores or who do not meet the required minimum score will not be considered for admission.

Waivers

• If an international applicant’s WES ICAP evaluation states that English was the language of instruction for a completed degree, the TOEFL/IELTS requirement will be waived automatically by SPH Admissions.

• SPH Admissions will automatically waive the TOEFL/IELTS requirement for International applicants who have earned a previous degree in any of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Micronesia, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, or Zimbabwe.
  • One (1) year of study in a bachelor’s degree in the US or in any of the countries above does not qualify. The majority of the bachelor’s degree program (at least 2+ years) must be completed in one of the countries above to be considered for this waiver.

• SPH Admissions will automatically waive the TOEFL/IELTS requirement for International applicants who are citizens of Cameroon or Canada and have earned your post-secondary degree from a university in Cameroon or Canada in which English is the language of instruction.

• If you do not meet either of the criteria above but believe the TOEFL/IELTS requirement should be waived for you, please submit the following to SPH Admissions:
  • A completed TOEFL and IELTS Waiver Request Form.
  • Official supporting documentation demonstrating English proficiency sent directly from the university or institution on official letterhead. We cannot accept supporting documentation directly from applicants.

Reporting codes for TOEFL and IELTS

• TOEFL
  Institution Code: 5688*
  Dept. Code: Any
  www.ets.org

• IELTS
  Please have a score report submitted through SOPHAS.

Applicants must have official transcripts for all registered coursework submitted from each institution directly to SOPHAS using their Official Transcript Request Form. This documentation must be sent from the registrar or designated school records official directly to SOPHAS. Official transcripts will not be accepted from the applicant. Photocopies of official transcripts or unofficial records will not be accepted. International transcripts, including study abroad transcripts, may have additional requirements. International applicants should submit a WES ICAP evaluation.

If you are currently in a degree program, you are required to submit a current official transcript showing all completed coursework and all work in progress. If you are accepted for admission, a final official transcript after degree conferral must be submitted directly to Boston University prior to matriculation.

SPH reserves the right to reevaluate your application for admission upon receipt of the final official transcript.

SPH requires three letters of recommendation as documentation of academic skills and interest for the application to be considered complete. The committee will be especially interested in references from former undergraduate or recent graduate program professors and former supervisors of health- or research-related employment. SOPHAS provides an electronic submission process for all letters of recommendation.

Applicants must provide evidence of their preparedness, interest, and elementary understanding of the health services and policy research field in the form of a concise personal statement. This statement should include the following elements:

• Reason for studying health services and policy research
• Desired area of study within the department
• Anticipated value of health services and policy research training at Boston University to the candidate’s personal career plans
• Relevance of prior education and experience to pursuing this degree

A current curriculum vitae or résumé is required. This document should be uploaded directly to your SOPHAS application.