Prospective Students

All applicants for admission are required to have a baccalaureate degree in anthropology or archaeology from an accredited university. Preference is given to students with a concentration in biological or physical anthropology.

Applicants are also encouraged to complete courses in Anatomy, Osteology, Biological Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Statistics and Experimental Design. Minimum required GPA for admission is a 3.50 though applications with lower GPAs will be reviewed.

Visit our on-line application to begin the application process. For more specific information regarding admissions and applications, please visit the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences website.

All applicants are required to submit the following:

  • An official transcript of each college or university attended.
  • A minimum of three letters of recommendation from faculty members in your proposed field
  • A Personal Statement of not less than 200 words that describe your qualifications and the objectives of your intended educational program at the Division.
  • Official results of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (or MCAT)

Applications are due by March 1st for consideration for early admission. All applications received after March 1st will be considered for rolling admission until the class is full.

Writing Sample

Students are strongly encouraged to submit a writing sample (in addition to the personal statement required in the application) with their application. The Admissions committee places a significant emphasis on an applicants writing ability. Students are also encouraged to complete course work or seminars in writing skills and scientific writing.

Thesis Topic

Students are strongly encouraged to submit a proposed thesis topic with their applications. Students are required to complete an acceptable thesis proposal by the end of their 1st semester in the program.

Graduate Record Examination

Applicants must submit results from the Graduate Record Examination (General Test Only) or the Medical College Admission Test. Our GRE institution code is 3251. Preferred minimum required GRE scores are 155 (~500) Verbal and 145 (~500) Quantitative.

Visit the GRE website for more information.

International Students

International students are considered for admission to the MS in Forensic Anthropology. In addition, to the application material listed above, international students also must submit:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for applicants whose native language is not English
  • International Student Data Form for international applicants

International applicants must complete all information in the International Student Data Form section of the online application (required for non-United States citizen). As a requirement of the U.S. Government, all international applicants must submit documentation of all sources of financial support for a minimum of one year. A Financial Sponsorship Certification for International Students should also be submitted to the Division Office. You can find the link to these forms at http://www.bu.edu/isso/students/prospective/admissions/Expenses.html.

Financial Aid

Boston University participates in the Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Program. Graduate students receive their Direct loans through this program, which has the same loan limits, interest rates, and fees as the Federal Stafford Loan Program.

For the 2011-2012 academic year tuition at the Graduate School is $1276 per credit up to 11 credits per semester. Tuition for 12 or more credits per semester is $20,832 per semester. Full-time students must register for a minimum of 12 credits. Registration in fewer than 12 credits is considered part-time.

For more specific information regarding admissions and applications, please contact the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences or visit their website.

Division of Graduate Medical Sciences
Boston University School of Medicine
Attn: Admissions
72 East Concord Street, Room L-317
Boston, MA 02118

Scholarships and Teaching Assistant Positions

Travel awards are available to students traveling to other Universities, Institutions or Museum to conduct their thesis research project. Travel awards will be granted based on the merit of the thesis proposal and will be granted by the Graduate Student Committee.

A limited number of Teaching Assistantships are available for 2nd year students. Opportunities as teaching assistants are available in Human Anatomy and Osteology, Crime Scene Investigation and several Forensic Anthropology courses.

The Boston University Women’s Guild scholarships awards scholarships to women enrolled in graduate programs at Boston University. For more information please visit the Boston University Women’s Guild website.