How to Apply
Graduate Medical Sciences at BU School of Medicine maintains a robust annual admissions cycle. Applicants who have completed all requirements for a baccalaureate degree from a recognized college or university are invited to apply for admission into one (or up to two) of our 40 graduate programs.
The Admission’s Office in GMS, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, does not discriminate against qualified applicants to any of our over 30 different master’s or doctoral programs. Here in GMS we promote an all-inclusive and diverse environment that builds a strong, enriching and collaborative learning community.
The graduate application is now open for the 2021-2022 academic year and can be accessed by following the instructions below.
Application Process
The application fee is $95. You can review your program status or pay for your program(s) by selecting the “Manage My Programs” tab when logged into BU-GMS CAS. You will also receive email updates as you move through the process regarding submission of materials, recommendation letters, application status and decisions.
Once all of the required materials are received, your application will be thoroughly reviewed by the individual program, or a faculty committee, who will make a final recommendation to the GMS Admissions Office. Once this is completed, we will notify you of the final decision by mail and/or email. Due to privacy regulations we cannot give decisions over the phone.
While many of our programs offer rolling admissions, be sure to review our final application deadlines.
More Information: Health Insurance | Housing
Tips for PhD Interviews
Tips to Prepare for a Virtual Interview with a GMS PhD Program
You have only a short time during your interview to show us what makes you an exceptional candidate for a PhD program in BUSM Graduate Medical Sciences. Show us your passion for science, your personality and your commitment to a rigorous graduate program. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Test your technology at least 15 minutes before the interview. Tell your contact person if there are problems and you need to re-schedule. This will not impact your application review because we all know problems come up unexpectedly.
2. Choose a quiet, well-lit place and minimize distractions. Let the contact person know well in advance if this will be a challenge.
3. Be prepared; refer to notes and prepare questions in advance.
- Review your research experience and be prepared to discuss it. Be ready to answer questions about hypothesis, experimental design, what went wrong and how you dealt with it.
- Review your academic and leadership experience and be prepared to discuss them.
- Look up the faculty who will interview you and know the program. You might ask about their research interests, specific aspects of the program or university.
4. How has Covid-19 impacted you? If you couldn’t do research due to Covid-19, what did you do instead?
5. Anticipate standard interview questions. This is where you show us your strengths and interest in the doctoral program.
6. Dress professionally.
7. Practice.
8. Be yourself, comfortable and confident.
The different PhD programs in GMS will likely have different interview formats. Some may be one-on-one, in front of a panel, or a mixture of both approaches. If you’ve been invited for an interview, that means the admissions committee considers you to be a potentially qualified PhD candidate. GMS doctoral programs use a holistic review approach, taking into account the many aspects of an applicant that could make for a successful scientist. This is your time to show your strengths, interests and why this program is a good fit for you. A doctoral program takes a considerable commitment from the student and a significant financial investment from the university. So think about how you’ll discuss your motivation for pursuing a PhD degree and how it will help you toward career goals.
Best wishes and good luck!
International Applicants
See FAQs for GMS International Student Admissions
Additional Information for International Students
**Please note that processing of visa applications and entry documents into the U.S. for international students has wait times up to 6 months. Therefore, you are advised to complete your application as soon as possible.**
- Supporting Documents:
- Students must submit their unofficial transcript(s) and letters of recommendation in English to be reviewed via the applicant portal. A WES evaluation (www.wes.org) is not required but is helpful for the review process.
- Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)/IELTS/Duolingo results must be submitted by the following applicants:
- Those who received their undergraduate/graduate degrees in a non-English-speaking country even if the medium of instruction was English in the country (example: India)
- Those who may have studied as an exchange student in an English-speaking country (example: Chinese student studies as exchange student in USA)
- Those who may have enrolled in a “dual degree” program with an institution in a country other than United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland (Example: Indian student has a dual degree from a program in Singapore)
-
- Note that the TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo requirement is waived only if you have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university in the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland.
-
- The minimum score range requirement for TOEFL is 90-100, depending on the program, with a minimum of 20 in each section.
- Minimum score for DuoLingo is 105. If you take the Duolingo exam, please submit the individualized URL for your test score by emailing the admissions office (srao2019@bu.edu)
- CHANGES FOR 2021 ADMISSIONS: BU will temporarily accept the online Duolingo English proficiency exam for Fall 2021 admissions to accommodate those applicants unable to take the TOEFL/IELTS tests. More information on the test can be found here.
- Financial Documentation
- International Masters students who accept an admission offer must submit financial documents that support projected expenses via the WebadMIT applicant portal. The funds must be liquid and can be in the form of a loan from a bank or from a relative as long as a current bank statement for the relative shows the requisite bank balance. The applicant must submit a signed letter of support for their education at Boston University from the relative pledging the loan or the bank lender. If all or part of your tuition is to be billed to a sponsor, click here for information.
- Financial documentation for international PhD applicants is NOT required.
Additional Documents Required
International students will be prompted to complete a separate section of materials once they have been admitted to their program of interest and accepted the offer. Please keep in mind that processing of international documents can take as long as six months. We encourage you to apply early.
For master’s students it is suggested that if you are applying for spring admission (January start), that you submit your application no later than October 15th, and for fall admission (September start), that you submit your application no later than June 1st.
Since doctoral students are only accepted for fall admissions with earlier application deadlines, their supporting ISSO documents should be submitted in the spring once they have confirmed their commitment a GMS doctoral program.
These documents can be found here under ISSO (http://www.bu.edu/isso/) on the Documents page (http://www.bu.edu/isso/getting-started/documents-procedures/) and include International Student Data form, passport, and Immigration documents, etc.
Non-Degree Applicants
To take a course as a non-degree student, please use the following process. The non-degree application is for an individual with an accredited bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent who do not wish to enter a degree program but wish to take a course(s). Except under unusual circumstances, non-degree students may transfer no more than 8 credits for a master’s degree program or 16 credits for a PhD degree program. In order to transfer credits toward a degree, course grades received must be a “B” or higher.
- Complete the non-degree application form.
- Complete the Add/Drop form and have it signed by the course instructor.
- An official transcript for every undergraduate institution from which you have taken course work for credits.
- Email millie@bu.edu or drop off the form to the GMS Registrar, Millie Agosto in the Student Services Office, L-309
Please see the tuition page for up-to-date costs per credit. Non-degree applicants are not eligible for University sources of financial aid or aid that requires matriculation in a degree program.
It is essential that all students enrolled in Graduate Medical Sciences (“GMS”) at the Boston University School of Medicine have a predictably high level of competence across the range of knowledge, critical judgement and technical skills generally expected of scientists and health-related professionals. These skills encompass academic and non-academic technical standards essential to all GMS and Boston University educational programs. Awarding a GMS degree or certificate implies that the recipient has demonstrated a foundation of knowledge in his or her field and the ability to independently apply and communicate that knowledge. All students are expected to carry out the tasks, both intellectual and physical, of the foundational science, laboratory and/or clinical curricula either without accommodation(s) or with those accommodation(s) that are reasonable in the range of settings and circumstances in which the educational program is based. The following technical standards have been formally adopted by Graduate Medical Sciences at the Boston University School of Medicine. In addition, some GMS programs may have more specific technical standards. A student enrolled in a GMS degree or certificate program must have sufficient abilities and skills relevant to her or his field of study in the areas of observation; communication; sensory and motor coordination and function; intellectual-conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities; and behavioral and social attributes, as described below. The use of a human intermediary may be permitted provided that the student’s judgment will not be influenced by someone else’s power of selection and observation. Observation Students must be able to observe, participate in, and conduct experiments in the basic sciences or clinical sciences within the laboratory and instructional setting, as required by the program. Communication Students must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in both oral and written English, either independently or through the use of a human intermediary. If a student uses an intermediary, the intermediary is permitted to function only as an information conduit and may not serve in an integrative or evaluative role. Students must be able to communicate experimental or clinical findings as required by the program with faculty, peers, or patients and families. This communication may also be in the context of presentations to the scientific community, professional journals, with laboratory personnel, or as a member of a clinical team. Students must possess communication skills at a level sufficient to accomplish, in a timely manner, all administrative requirements and to meet the performance expectations of the faculty in all areas of the curriculum. Sensory and Motor Coordination and Function Students must possess motor and sensory capacity to perform activities required for the chosen discipline. Depending on the program, such actions may require coordination of gross and fine movements and equilibrium. Students may be required to perform such actions rapidly and under challenging circumstances. For example, students must be able to manipulate the equipment, instruments, apparatus or tools required to collect and interpret data appropriate to the area of study, practice or research. Intellectual-conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities Students must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, hypothesize, and synthesize ideas. It is also essential that students are able to absorb and process information from faculty, peers, patients, supervisors, and/or from the scientific literature, as components of problem solving and critical thinking. Students must be able to acquire information from experiences and demonstrations conveyed through coursework, lecture, group seminar, small group activities and other. When appropriate to the field of study, students must have the ability to follow universal precautions against contamination and cross-contamination with infectious agents, toxins, chemicals and/or other physical hazards. Students must be able to work in a manner that is safe for themselves and others, and respond appropriately to emergencies and urgent situations. Behavioral and Social Attributes Students must have the emotional and mental health required to demonstrate maturity, respect, and tolerance in their professional relationships under all circumstances. Students must have the ability to understand and comply with ethical standards for the conduct of research. They must be able to use their intellectual capacity, to exercise sound judgment, and to complete all responsibilities in a timely and professional manner. They must be able to demonstrate emotional stability to function effectively under stress and to adapt to changing environments.Technical Standards
Required Documents
All Applicants must submit:
- An UNOFFICIAL, English transcript of each college or university attended at the time of application. This should be uploaded to complete your application in the section “Supporting Information > Documents.” If you have multiple unofficial transcripts from the same college or university, combine them into one upload.
- GMS DOES NOT require official transcript (or WES evaluation) until you are admitted. Once admitted, Official Transcripts need to be sent directly from the previous institution where the student graduated to our transcript department address below or emailed to srao2019@bu.edu. We do not accept transcripts directly from students or from third parties.
- GMS DOES NOT require official transcript (or WES evaluation) until you are admitted. Once admitted, Official Transcripts need to be sent directly from the previous institution where the student graduated to our transcript department address below or emailed to srao2019@bu.edu. We do not accept transcripts directly from students or from third parties.
- Upon matriculation into the program, you must submit an official, final transcript to:
Graduate Medical Sciences: ATTN Gregory Viglianti
Boston University School of Medicine
72 East Concord St., L-317
Boston, MA 02118 - Three letters of recommendation from faculty members, research advisors – or similar – in your proposed field. The software does not accept letter packets or Interfolio records. There is a section to provide the recommender’s name, email, personal note of request and deadline for submission which will be electronically sent to him/her with further instructions. No paper letters accepted. You can submit your application with pending letter submissions.
- A Personal Statement, minimum 200 words, that describes your qualifications and the objectives of your intended educational program.
- CV/Resume. Please note that the “Experiences” section is optional, since it may be redundant to your resume.
- General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). We no longer require GREs for some doctoral and masters programs. Please check here and/or your program’s website for specific admissions requirements pertaining to testing.
- If your program of interest does NOT require the GREs please check the box indicating “I will not be submitting any standardized test scores” in the testing section of your application.
- If your program requires the GREs please send the official results using BU Institution Code: 3087
- For Oral Health Sciences applicants, the DAT is required (not the GRE)
- We realize that standardized tests for many programs may be disrupted due to COVID-19 and are adapting admissions requirements accordingly. Please email your program contact directly to see if the requirement has been waived or if alternative credential may be used.
Financial Assistance
Learn more about tuition and fees, in addition to financial aid opportunities at GMS.
Please note: there is a separate admissions process for the Physician Assistant Program. Please see the PA website and apply for the PA program through CASPA. Financial information can be found here.
If you are seeking financial aid, we advise you to complete the optional SSN section of your application to expedite the process. Learn more about tuition and financial aid.
If you would like to request a waiver to cover the application fee please email gmsbusm@bu.edu. This request is confidential.
BMC Employees
Learn more about the BMC Employee Tuition Discount.
Contact Information
For admissions requirements, deadlines and policies:
Graduate Medical Sciences
Boston University School of Medicine
Shuchita Rao at srao2019@bu.edu
Phone: 617-358-9518
Fax: 617-358-2913
For application technical issues:
gms-support.bu@liaisoncas.com
Phone: 857-304-2005
Program Contacts
To speak with a program representative, please contact him or her directly via email. Alternatively, fill out the form on the righthand sidebar to receive a program brochure.
