GMS – Graduate Medical Sciences
Student Financial Services (SFS) provides students with tools and guidance to manage financial aid while at Boston University Medical Campus (BUMC) as well as the resources to be financially successful upon graduation. Financial aid is offered each academic year and you must re-apply annually to be considered eligible to receive aid.
To determine eligibility for federal financial aid, SFS must receive and review your submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A student is considered independent for purposes of awarding federal financial aid and parent information is not required.
To be eligible for federal aid, you must be enrolled with six or more credits in your degree program or be certified as a full-time student. BT courses or courses that are not to degree requirements will not count towards the minimum six credit requirement for federal financial aid.
Specific Program Application Consideration
Incoming Oral Health Sciences (OHS) students
- The Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 Application Requirements will apply financial aid towards all of your enrollment, including the classes that begin in August 2023. Submit your application documents as early as you can, in order to ensure timely disbursement of financial aid to your account
Physician Assistant (PA) Class of 2024
- Complete the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 FAFSAs for the Summer 2023 semester
- Students who submit a FAFSA and qualify for Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans for Summer 2023 will be notified of any Federal student loan eligibility.
- Students who do not wish to utilize Federal student loans or wish to borrow a lower amount can email osfs-gms@bu.edu with any loan adjustment request
- Complete the Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 Application Requirements to apply financial aid towards expenses for the classes that begin in August 2023 and December 2023
Physician Assistant (PA) Class of 2026
- Complete the Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 Application Requirements to apply financial aid towards expenses for the classes that begin in August 2023.
Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 GMS Aid Applicant Requirements
Submit the 2023/2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
- Boston University school code 002130
- Available to US Citizens, Permanent Residents and eligible Non-Citizens
- Parent income data NOT required
- Non-credit based, Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan of up to $20,500
- Loan amount will vary depending on academic year and enrollment status
- We encourage students to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your IRS federal income tax information from the IRS to your FAFSA
Receive award notification
- Students who submit a FAFSA and qualify for Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans will be notified of any Federal student loan eligibility.
- Students who do not wish to utilize Federal student loans or wish to borrow a lower amount can email osfs-gms@bu.edu with any loan adjustment request
- Starting with the 2023-2024 academic year the online GMS Supplemental Application is no longer required for financial aid applicants.
Enroll in six credits or more during either the Fall 2023, Spring 2024, or for both semesters or be certified as a full-time student
- Required to maintain eligibility for Federal financial aid
Social Security Numbers and Your Application
Your Social Security Number (SSN) is required in order for Boston University to receive your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
When completing the BU-GMS CAS or CASPA for admission to GMS, we strongly encourage you to include your Social Security Number when you apply.
If you chose not to, or neglected to include your SSN on the BU-GMS CAS or CASPA, you must:
- Complete the financial aid application (as outlined below on this page)
- Receive your acceptance letter from GMS Admissions
- Complete the secure Social Security Number Reporting form to provide your SSN electronically (requires BU login name and password)
- For newly admitted students who may not have a BU login name and password you can also visit one of our weekly Virtual Drop-In Hours to provide our counseling staff your Social Security Number or call SFS at (617) 358-6550 to provide your Social Security Number over the phone
The SSN not provided on the BU-GMS CAS or CASPA will result in potentially significant delays in the review of your financial aid application.
We at Boston University Medical Campus are dedicated to the security of your personal information on your financial aid application.
Summer 2023 GMS Aid Applicant Requirements
This process is solely for students enrolled in Summer 1 or Summer 2 classes.
Register for Summer 2023 classes
- No applications will be processed until registration for summer classes has occurred
- Eligibility for federal financial aid requires six credits or more registered for the summer sessions
Submit the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
- Boston University school code 002130
- Available to US Citizens, Permanent Residents and eligible Non-Citizens
- Parent income data NOT required
- Loan will vary depending on academic year and enrollment status
- We encourage students to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your IRS federal income tax information from the IRS to your FAFSA
- If the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 FAFSAs are already submitted, re-submission of the FAFSA is not required
Submit the Summer 2023 Direct Loan Application:
- Assesses eligibility for need-based institutional loans and federal loan aid based on your program.
- No parental income information will be requested for your application.
- The FAFSA must be completed before you submit the Application
- If applying for a PLUS Loan complete the Summer 2023 PLUS Loan application.
Be advised: any Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans you receive in Summer 2023 may reduce your 2023-2024 academic year eligibility, dollar for dollar.
Changes in Registration
Changes in your registration could significantly impact your eligibility for financial aid.
Contact Student Financial Services if you have any of the following changes to your registration:
- Changing from full-time to part-time registration
- Changing from part-time to full-time registration
- Changing the number of credits taken when registered for less than 12 credits (e.g. changing from 8 credits to 4 credits)
- Planning on taking a Leave of Absence or withdrawing from BU
Failure to contact SFS timely could result in adjustments to your financial aid late in the semester, which could result in balances, and possible holds on your student account.
Certified Full-Time Process
Students request Certified Full-Time (CFT) status in order to receive federal financial aid during a period of enrollment below the 6 credit threshold. The following steps must be completed before any financial aid requests can be completed:
- Discuss with your academic advisor about your CFT-eligibility
- Follow the instructions to submit the Certified Full-Time Form on the GMS Student Forms page. Please note you must complete a separate form for each term in which you wish to be considered CFT.
- Receive confirmation from the GMS Registrar that your CFT request has been approved
- Contact Student Financial Services at osfs-gms@bu.edu that your CFT request has been approved
- To be considered for federal financial aid in the summer students must be CFT for both Summer 1 and Summer 2 sessions. You will need to submit two CFT forms to the GMS Registrar.
Deadlines
You must complete your financial aid application at least one month prior to the bill deadline in order to ensure that your financial aid is shown on your bill and to avoid late fee charges. Please contact Student Accounting Services for exact deadline dates for your program.
If you receive an outside scholarship after submitting your application, please submit a copy of the notification letter to SFS.