Requirements
Bachelor
BU reviews secondary school transcripts, course rigor and grades as the central academic factor; standardized test scores are optional for all applicants through the cycles Boston University has announced. International applicants must submit TOEFL, IELTS or the Duolingo English Test as the primary means of demonstrating English proficiency, evaluated alongside the rest of the application rather than against a single hard cutoff below the levels described in english_waiver_md.
Documents
The Common Application, official secondary school transcripts, an English proficiency score (TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test), and, after admission, financial documentation so the university can issue the Form I-20 for the F-1 visa.
How to apply
- Apply through the Common Application, choosing Early Decision I, Early Decision II or Regular Decision.
- Submit official secondary school transcripts.
- Submit a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test score.
- Pay the 80 dollar nonrefundable application fee or request a fee waiver.
- After admission, submit financial documentation so BU can issue the I-20.
English test waiver
BU is test optional for SAT and ACT through students applying for fall 2028 and spring 2029 entry, but international students must still submit TOEFL, IELTS or the Duolingo English Test as the primary way of demonstrating English proficiency. BU describes the most competitive applicants as scoring 90 to 100 on TOEFL iBT with no section below 20, and 125 to 135 on the Duolingo English Test; an IELTS score of 7 or higher satisfies the requirement for all programs. The average TOEFL score among admitted students is 107. PTE Academic is not listed among BU's accepted tests.