2026 Fall Orientation
Welcome to Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine!
Overview
All masters and Phd programs have the Main GMS Orientation on Monday, August 31 with classes starting Wednesday, September 2 (unless otherwise specified). The in-person Main GMS Orientation Session is required for all students starting in September.
Program-specific orientation sessions will be held after the Main GMS Orientation Session and according to the schedule below. These orientations may be either in-person or virtual. Please check with your individual program for details.
Schedule
The following is the schedule of all Orientation sessions and activities.
Main GMS Orientation Session
| Date | Time | |
| Monday, August 31 | 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. |
Check-in & Breakfast
Main GMS Orientation Session |
Additional Sessions & Activities
Date |
Time |
Session/Activity |
Format |
| Tuesday, July 28 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Student Health Insurance Info Session: Co-Sponsored w/ School of Public Health (open to all students)
Speak with a representative from the Aetna BU Student Health Plan during this virtual info session. They will discuss the difference between coverage options, how to use your new plan and answer questions you may have when deciding which plan is best for you. |
Virtual |
| Tuesday, August 11 | 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Mandatory Stipend Meeting (open to phd students & attendance is required)
Learn about how your doctoral student stipend process works, how best to budget as a doctoral student, as well as how the Oath of the Scientist comes into play during your doctoral experience. Joining us will be the Associate Director of Finance Administration & Operations, the Assistant Director of Student Financial Support and the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Sciences. |
Virtual |
| Thursday, September 24 | 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Student Experience Fair : Co-Sponsored w/ School of Public Health (open to all students)
This event provides a rare opportunity for students to meet with folks from many of the BU offices that you will frequent during your time in graduate school, learn about the important resources that could benefit you and how to get involved with any of our student organizations / other community groups. |
In-person |
Program-Specific Orientation Sessions for Master’s Students
| Program | Date & Time |
| Anatomy & Neurobiology – Vesalius | August 31, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
| Biomedical Forensic Sciences | August 31, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
| Biomedical Research Technologies | August 31, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
| Clinical Research | August 31, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. |
| Forensic Anthropology | August 31, 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Genetic Counseling | August 31, TBD |
| Healthcare Emergency Management | August 31, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Medical Sciences | August 31, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
| Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine | August 31, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
| Nutrition & Metabolism | August 31, 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Oral Health Sciences | July 30 |
| Pathology Laboratory Sciences | August 31, TBD |
| Pharmacology | August 31, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Physician Assistant | August 3 – 7 |
*The following programs will not be hosting a program-specific orientation session: Biophysics, Health Professions Education, Physiology.
Program-Specific Orientation Sessions for PhD Students
| Program | Date & Time |
| Anatomy & Neurobiology | August 31, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
| Neuroscience (GPN) | August 31, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
| Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS) | August 31, 12:00 p.m.. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Program in Biomolecular Pharmacology | August 31, 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
Required Documents & Trainings for Compliance
All Students
You will need your BU ID number to complete these requirements. To find your BU ID number, refer to the “Boston University Admission Decision” offer letter that you received via email OR download your CAS application and look for the eight character field starting with the alphabet “U” with the label “Alternate Id:”
| Compliance item | Requirement from | Platform |
| 1. Academic Conduct Code & Disciplinary Procedures | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | Blackboard orientation course |
| 2. Appropriate Treatment in Graduation Education | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | Blackboard orientation course |
| 3. Fuller Gym Release Form | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | Blackboard orientation course |
| 4. Identifying & Avoiding Plagiarism Training | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | Blackboard orientation course |
| 5. Intellectual Property Agreement | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | Blackboard orientation course |
| 6. Microaggressions Training | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | Blackboard orientation course |
| 7. Photo Release Form | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | Blackboard orientation course |
| 8. Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training
In mid-September, you will be emailed a direct link to the training from automated-message@everfi.net and can complete this requirement via the compliance page on the myBU portal. |
Boston University Student Health Services and Equal Opportunity Office | myBU portal/Everfi |
| 9. Final official transcripts, degree certificates, or other official documents indicating previously conferred degrees
Official transcripts must be sent directly from the degree-granting institution to GMS either via email to GMScrpt@bu.edu or via regular mail/carrier in a sealed envelope to: Attn: GMS Admissions Graduate Medical Sciences Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine 72 East Concord Street, L-317 Boston, MA 02118, U.S.A. |
Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | N/A, sent directly by degree-granting institution |
| 10. Medical History & Physical Report Form
Complete the form and upload it to your Patient Connect Portal. |
Boston University Student Health Services | Patient Connect Portal |
Additional Requirements for All PhD Students
| Compliance Item | Requirement from | Platform |
| 11. ORCID | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | Blackboard orientation course |
| 12. eRA Commons | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | Blackboard orientation course |
| 13. RCR Training | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine | Blackboard orientation course |
Additional Trainings for Specific Research & Clinical Programs
Students in certain master’s and doctoral programs are required to complete the below trainings. Please review to confirm if your program requires any of these requirements. These can all be found on the Blackboard orientation course.
| Program | Additional Required Training |
| Anatomy & Neurobiology (MS) | Lab safety |
| Anatomy & Neurobiology (PhD) | Lab safety |
| Biomedical Forensic Sciences (MS) | Lab safety |
| Biomedical Research Technologies (MS) | Lab safety |
| Forensic Anthropology (MS) | Lab safety |
| Nutrition & Metabolism (MS) | Lab safety, RCR training |
| Pathology Laboratory Sciences (MS) | Lab safety, Radiation training, RCR training |
| Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS) (PhD) | Lab safety |
| Program in Biomolecular Pharmacology (PhD) | Lab safety |
Student ID Card and Semester MBTA Pass
Student ID Card
All students must have a BU student identification card (ID). To obtain your ID, please follow the instructions that will be sent via email from GMS Student Affairs (gmssa@bu.edu).
Semester MBTA Pass
Please visit the TransComm website to determine if a semester pass is right for you. The deadline for the MBTA Student Fall Semester Pass is August 10.
International Students
Check out the BU International Graduate Student Guide here.
Please see the ISSO webpage for more information.
All students must complete BU First Class, ISSO’s online pre-arrival orientation course once they arrive in Boston.
Additionally, all students beginning new programs in Fall 2026 must complete the Initial ISSO Check-In remotely through myBU after they arrive in the U.S.
Should you have any problems or questions regarding your visa status, please contact the International Students and Scholars Office at 888 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd floor, (617-353-3565 or isso@bu.edu). You will not be allowed to register for classes until the International Students and Scholars Office has cleared you for admission.
Contact Us
Questions? Email gmssa@bu.edu to connect with the Student Affairs Office.
If you decide to defer or withdraw, please email your program director and GMS Admissions at gmsadmsn@bu.edu prior to the first day of classes stating that you officially withdraw your application. For any technical questions regarding indicating your admission decision, please contact GMS Admissions (gmsadmsn@bu.edu).