Registration

Spring 2026 Registration

Registration

General Instructions

All Students are required to register as a (continuing study) each semester until completion of all Degree Requirements including submission of thesis.
Completion of Degree Requirements: Students completing degree requirements in one year, must register for four semesters. (fall, spring, Sum I & Sum II).
Compliance: All students must meet the following compliance requirements – BU Alert System, Medical Immunization Status, Student Account Payment, Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Law, Local Address and Sexual Misconduct Prevention.
Academic Advising: Prior to registering on-line for classes, students must meet with their Advisor/Program Director to discuss course selection. Some GMS courses are restricted from on-line registration. For these courses, students must submit a GMS Student Online form via the web page.
Students may NOT register for PDP classes, GMS BT undergraduate courses, unapproved graduate courses, and undergraduate courses. These courses will not count towards a graduate degree.
Students may NOT register for or audit courses in other colleges at the University, this excludes PhD Students. Permission required for SPH Courses.
Dropping Classes: Dropping a course indicates that you are still enrolled in one or more courses at GMS. Students may drop standard courses online using the MyBU or with an add/drop form following approval by advisor without academic penalty up to the designated drop deadline. Students who receive federal financial aid must be sure that they maintain the correct number of credits to be eligible for this aid.
Certified Full-Time Requirements can be found here .
Financial Aid and Awards: Financial Aid, Fellowships, Scholarships and Deadlines: Students making any class adjustments to their spring semester schedule will be responsible for notifying the program administrator & Student Financial Services any scholarship adjustment needed. Student Financial Services
Payment & Payment Deadlines: All students must be registered and settle their accounts by the date posted. Payments should be made to Boston University and can be sent to Student Accounting Services, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. Payment options for degree candidates are available at Student Accounting Services. All students are expected to use the Student Account Inquiry function on the My BU Student Portal to check the balance due on their student account.
Diploma Application: Students must submit a diploma application by the deadline in order to be eligible for graduation or allowed to attend the May Commencement.
Withdrawal/Leave of Absence: Students may only take up to two semesters of Leave of Absence. Leave Of Absence, Withdrawal, And Reinstatement
Student should recheck their account as they add and drop classes after the payment deadline as there may be financial and compliance ramifications. Students must also contact the GMSRegistrar@bu.edu to have their approved academic load corrected, if they change from part‐time (0‐11 credits) to full‐time (12‐16 credits) status or vice versa at any point during the registration or drop period.

RCR Responsible Conduct of Research

Spring Registration Procedures and Information

Summer Registration Procedures and Information

Fall Registration Procedures and Information

Calendar and Important Dates

Withdrawal and Leave of Absence

Leave of Absence

Normally, students must register for each regular (i.e. fall/spring) semester until completion of all degree requirements. Upon written petition to the Associate Provost for GMS and for appropriate cause, a student is allowed up to a total of two (2) semesters of leaves [or for a total of one (1) academic year] of absence throughout degree completion without the necessity of reapplication and/or readmission.
Leaves of absence beyond two (2) semesters are granted only in exceptional cases, such as a substantiated illness, maternity or paternity leave, or military service. The student should petition to the Associate Provost of GMS with the approval of the program director.

Procedure for requests for a leave of absence is:

The student should meet with their advisor and program director for approval.
Submit a written request explaining the reason for leave of absence along with the required forms, including the program director’s signature, to the GMS Registrar.
May be asked to meet with the Associate Provost. If approved, a request for a leave of absence is effective on the day the written request is received by the GMS Registrar.
A certificate of authorized leave of absence is issued and a copy is included in the student’s record. For a student who files for a leave of absence from the University before classes start, charges for tuition and fees are canceled in accordance with the University’s published refund schedule.
A student who is on a leave of absence and who has borrowed federal and/or private loans may be required to begin repayment while on leave. The period of an authorized leave of absence is counted as a part of the total time allowed for completion of the degree requirements. Students may not complete any degree requirements in a semester for which they have been granted a leave of absence.
Students on an F-1/J-1 visa, are required to contact ISSO (isso@bu.edu) to discuss immigration implications of your potential Leave of Absence or Withdrawal.
All PhD students requesting a Leave of Absence from GMS should meet with the Associate Provost. Please contact Sarah Mlynek at 617-358-9516 or samlynek@bu.edu to schedule an appointment.

Leaves of Absence for Medical Reasons

Sometimes a student may need to interrupt his or her studies for medical reasons. A student requesting a leave of absence for medical reasons must submit a letter from their clinician, or s/he must be seen (or have the records reviewed) by Student Health Services or its designee. GMS reserves the right to require an involuntary medical leave of absence if it is determined that a student’s continued enrollment would create a significant risk to the health and safety of the student or others.
A student seeking to re-enroll after a medical leave of absence must demonstrate to GMS that the student’s health permits the successful completion of studies. Documentation needed to support this finding will be determined by Student Health Services or its designee, but will generally include information from the student’s clinician as well as an assessment by Student Health Services or its designee. The decision whether to permit a student to re-enroll is within the sole discretion of GMS.

Withdrawal

A student who wishes to withdraw from the University must follow the below procedures:

Meet with their advisor and program director for approval.
Submit a written request explaining the reason for withdrawal along with the required forms, including the program director’s signature, to the GMS Registrar.
Students on an F-1/J-1 visa must contact ISSO (isso@bu.edu) to discuss immigration implications.
May be asked to meet with the Associate Provost.
If approved, a withdrawal is effective on the day it is received by the GMS Registrar and charges are canceled in accordance with the University’s published refund schedule, based on the effective date of the student’s withdrawal.
Absence from class does not reduce financial obligations or guarantee that final grades will not be recorded. Please follow the refund calendar for key dates.
All PhD students requesting a withdrawal from GMS should meet with the Associate Provost. Please contact Sarah Mlynek at 617-358-9516 or samlynek@bu.edu to schedule an appointment.

Reinstatement

A student who has voluntarily withdrawn from GMS will be subject to the regulations governing readmission to a Degree Program under section 12.2. For additional details please see the GMS Policies and Procedures.

Registration

Registration

General Instructions

RCR Responsible Conduct of Research

Spring Registration Procedures and Information

Summer Registration Procedures and Information

Fall Registration Procedures and Information

Calendar and Important Dates

Withdrawal and Leave of Absence

Important Links and Forms

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