Accepted Students

All GMS programs have Orientation on August 31st, 2021 with classes starting September 2nd, unless otherwise specified. Please refer to the 2021 Orientation webpage for more details.

We are pleased that you have selected Boson University for your master’s degree or PhD! If you have decided to accept your offer of admission to Boston University, the following checklist outlines the required actions you must take prior to matriculating:

1. Accept Offer: Accept your offer of admission by the date specified in your acceptance letter  (link provided) and submit your deposit online. *Should you require a decision deadline extension during these uncertain times, please contact your program director.
2. Compliance:  Meet University Compliance Requirements via the Student Link. These include:
   • Health Insurance: Health Insurance. Massachusetts law requires all students who are enrolled in at least 75 percent of the full-time curriculum ( 9 credits) to carry health insurance. The Boston University Student Medical Insurance Plan is administered by Aetna Student Health.  Boston University automatically enrolls students in our Aetna health insurance plan;  if you already have comparable coverage you may waive the medical insurance via the Student Accounting Services website.  NOTE:  PhD students are automatically enrolled in the BU PLUS health insurance plan.
   • BU Alert Phone Number: Boston University requires all students studying on Massachusetts campuses must provide a BU Alert phone number, which is used to notify you of a University-wide emergency. View and update your BU Alert phone number on the Student Link, Personal Tab, Address and Phone Option.
   • Settle Student Account:  All students must settle their students account by the deadline each semester.
   • Immunizations: Massachusetts law requires that all full-time and many part-time students be immunized. 
   • Sexual Misconduct Prevention: Students must complete the Graduate Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training.  Students will be notified by email in mid-August.  
   • Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Law Requirements:  Out-of-state students read and acknowledge on Student Link. Sign an acknowledgement of MA motor laws.
   • Update Current Address
   • Other Required Documents & Training: Available on Blackboard in August
3. COVID-19 Vaccination: All students must be vaccinated before Orientation on August 31, 2021. Students can upload their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card to BU Healthway. Deadline to upload is August 1st.
4. Official Transcript: If you have not already done so, submit a final transcript, degree certificate, or other official documents showing all previous degrees conferred to GMS Admissions. Electronic submissions need to be addressed to Jorge Fortin (fortin@bu.edu). Alternatively, you may submit all documentation in a sealed (official) envelope to  GMS Team during Orientation, or no later than October 1, 2021 to the following address:
   • Graduate Medical Sciences Admissions
     Boston University School of Medicine
     72 East Concord Street, L-317
     Boston, MA 02118
     ATTN: Jorge Fortin
5. Housing: Search for on or off-campus housing. Please visit the GMS Housing page  as well as the BMC Office of Housing Resources  for information regarding housing, and direct specific questions to ohr@bu.edu
6. Handbook:  Review the Student Handbook. This comprehensive document covers basic GMS information, Policies and Procedures, Academic Conduct Code and Disciplinary Procedures.
7. Student ID:  Get your Terrier Card (BU student ID). Terrier Cards for new students are issued at the start of the student’s first semester.  This process will updated and posted in the near future.
8. Social Media: Like us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date with GMS news and events!

If you decide to defer or withdraw, please email your program director and the admissions manager, Shuchita Rao (srao2019@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 Shuchita Rao (srao2019@bu.edu).

• COVID-19 Vaccination: All students must be vaccinated before started classes on September 2, 2021. Students can upload their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card to BU Healthway.
  • BU Today: What You Need To Know About Updating Your Vaccination Status For Fall
• Coming to Campus – Back2BU:
  • Upon arrival, we will require students—whether on campus for the first time, or leaving and returning—to test and stay in place, until they receive one negative test result from the BU testing lab. This will take approximately 24 hours.
  • If you are fully vaccinated and have uploaded your information to Patient Connect, you do not need to wait for a negative test to attend classes or University-sponsored events.

Setup BU Email: 

• Information to set up your BU email address and Kerberos password will be emailed to you by either the GMS Registrar, Millie Agosto (gmsregistrar@bu.edu) or the GMS Assistant Registrar Karen Francis (kfranci@bu.edu) in  June/July (May for OHS students).
• Create a BU login name and Kerberos password to be able to access BU’s webmail and other internet services.
• Once you create your account, please remember to check your BU email regularly as this will be your primary email account for the University.
• Please contact the Registrar(gmsregistrar@bu.edu) with any questions regarding setting up your BU email address and Kerberos password, which are needed to access Student Link.

Registration: 

• Most incoming students will be pre-registered for the fall core curriculum, but adjustments may be made during Orientation. Registration information will be posted here when available.

• GMS Coronavirus Information
• BU’s Back2BU for Graduate Students
• Boston University Medical Campus’ COVID-19 Information
• BU Today: What You Need To Know About Updating Your Vaccination Status For Fall

For more information about housing for our graduate students, check out our Housing Resources page or our Housing Flyer (2021)

You can also check out the video below to hear directly from our students!

Please see the ISSO webpage for more information.

Raissa Souza, an international student and past President of the Graduate Medical Sciences Student Organization, shares some insight with incoming students.

Should you have any problems or questions regarding your visa status, please contact the International Students and Scholars Office at 888 Commonwealth Avenue, 2^nd 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.

Speak to an Advisor on call on Zoom here Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-4pm and Wednesday 1-4pm. (phone 1-301-715-8592  Zoom ID 474-879-2442)

• BUSM/GMS requires a Medical History and Physical Report Form  and proof of immunizations for all new students.
  • NOTE: Students in clinical programs (Clinical Research, Bioimaging, Genetic Counseling, Physician Assistant, and Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine) should complete the Medical, Dental, or Clinical Medical Sciences Student form.
  • All other graduate programs should complete the Graduate or Transfer Student form.
  • Completed forms can be uploaded to the Patient Connect Portal.
• Any questions should be directed to Student Health Services at 617-353-3575.

Please refer to the 2021 Orientation webpage under the Required Documents/Trainings section for more details on required paperwork for all incoming students.

Check out where to get student discounts as well as some fun facts about BU here.

All incoming students are required to submit a final transcript, degree certificate, or other official documents showing all previous degrees conferred. If you have not already submitted the required documents, please do so immediately. If your degree was conferred in May or will be conferred in September 2021, please submit all required documentation no later than October 1, 2021, to the following address:

Official transcripts show the seal of the registrar of university, the graduating degree title and the year degree was conferred on, along with grades for all the courses taken over the course of study. International students should arrange for degrees from foreign institutions to be translated and certified by evaluation services such as WES (www.wes.org). Official transcripts can either be:

1. Delivered electronically to GMS (fortin@bu.edu)
2. Handed in by student at GMS office in a sealed envelope with a signature across the seal
3. Received by courier/regular mail at GMS L-317 Suite

Graduate Medical Sciences Admissions
Boston University School of Medicine
72 East Concord Street, L-317
Boston, MA 02118
ATTN: Jorge Fortin

Note: If you are unable to submit official transcripts by October 1, 2021, you will not be allowed to register for Spring semester courses at GMS.

Note: Students who have received undergraduate & graduate degrees from Boston University will only need to request only one transcript, since both degrees will be listed on one transcript.

Financial Aid

• • Matriculating students who wish to apply for financial assistance must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  For assistance in navigating the FAFSA process, watch the Financial Aid FAFSA Tutorial playlist.
  • Once your FAFSA is filed, please complete the 2021-2022 Graduate Medical Sciences Financial Application.
  • Financial aid notifications will be sent to your BU email account.
  • After you receive your initial financial aid award, many full-time degree candidates will need to find an alternative loan program to supplement the Federal Direct Loans received. Please review the resources for Graduate PLUS Loans, Private Credit-Based Loans and scholarships.
  • The Credible portal allows you to compare private student loan options.
  • Student Financial Services (SFS) advises completing any alternate loan programs approximately 60 days before the start of the Fall 2021 semester.
  • Questions?  Come to our Virtual or Walk0In Office Hours
    • Virtual drop-in hours available daily. Students will be met on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointments are necessary. The below links will bring you to the waiting room for the drop-in session (all times below are Eastern Time):

Mondays – 4:00PM – 6:00PM
Tuesdays – 8:00AM – 10:00AM
Wednesdays – 4:00PM – 6:00PM
Thursdays – 8:00AM – 10:00AM
Fridays – 12:00PM – 2:00PM

• • • In-person counseling staff available in our office in Robinson B-401, each Monday to Friday 10:00AM – 4:00PM.

Tuition

• • • • The Cost of Attendance page provides a breakdown of all billed, and unbilled expenses.
      • Review the Cost of Attendance pages for specific programs below:
        • Oral Health Science
        • Physician Assistant
      • For more information on important dates and deadline, check the academic calendar
      • Please update your mailing address on Student Link to ensure BU can connect with you accurately.