Welcome to the comprehensive information guide regarding secondary school credentials for international students applying to Boston University. When candidates apply during their final year of secondary schooling, they need to explicitly state the exact title of the credential or certificate they anticipate earning, along with the expected graduation timeline. Applicants must provide an official school transcript alongside their application materials and submit original documents or certified copies of the specific credentials detailed below as soon as those items become available. The admissions team may request extra credentials whenever necessary to evaluate a file completely. Please remember that all specified credentials must accompany your final secondary school transcript and any leaving examination scores if those apply to your educational system.

Applicants must also submit copies of every qualifying exam taken throughout their secondary school years. Examples include IGCSE final certificates or Class 10 Secondary School Examination Certificates from India, because these records remain essential for completing an application review. If your specific country of study does not appear on the official list and you remain uncertain about the proper credentials required, please reach out to the admissions office directly for clarification. When exploring top-tier university pathways and Ivy League strategies, understanding precise document requirements is essential for international applicants.

To help you prepare your application, here is the full list of credentials accepted for admission by country and region:

For applicants from Algeria, the accepted credential is the Baccalaureate of Secondary Education, known as the Baccalauréat de l’Enseignement Secondaire. Students from Argentina must submit the Baccalaureate, or Bachiller. Candidates studying in Australia have several regional options depending on their territory or state: the ACT Year 12 Certificate for the Australian Capital Territory, the Higher School Certificate for New South Wales, the Northern Territory Certificate of Education for the Northern Territory, the Queensland Certificate of Education for Queensland, the South Australian Certificate of Education for South Australia, the Tasmanian Certificate of Education for Tasmania, the Victorian Certificate of Education for Victoria, and the Western Australian Certificate of Education for Western Australia. Austrian students provide the Matura, also known as the Reifeprüfung. Bahamian applicants submit the Official General Certificate of Education along with the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate, abbreviated as CSEC. Bahrain requires the Secondary School Leaving Certificate. Bangladesh applicants must provide the Higher Secondary Certificate, or HSC. Barbados applicants submit the Official General Certificate of Education and the CSEC. Students in Belgium present the Certificate of Higher Secondary Education, recognized variously as the Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur, the CESS, the Diploma van Hoger Secundair Onderwijs, or the Abschlußzeugnis der Oberstufe des Sekundarunterrichts. Bolivia requires the Bachillerato. Brazil asks for the High School Leaving Certificate, which is the Certificado de Conclusão de Segundo Grau or the Certificado de Ensino Médio. Bulgaria requires the Diploma of Completed Secondary Education, known as the Diploma za Zavurcheno Sredno Obrazovanie.

Canada features multiple provincial credentials: the Secondary School Graduation Diploma for British Columbia, the Ontario Secondary School Diploma for Ontario, the Secondary Leaving Certificate alongside one to two years of CEGEP for Québec, and a standard High School Diploma for other provinces. Chile applicants supply the Diploma of Middle Education, known as the Licencia de Educación Media. China requires the Senior High School Graduation Certificate. Colombia requests the Secondary School Diploma, or Bachiller. Cyprus requires the Secondary School Leaving Certificate, called the Apolyterion. The Czech Republic asks for the Maturity Certificate, or Maturitní vysvědčení. Denmark applicants submit the Upper Secondary School Leaving Examination, known as the Studentereksamen or STX. The Dominican Republic requires the Bachillerato. Ecuador asks for the Bachillerato. El Salvador requires the Bachillerato. Egypt applicants must provide the General Secondary Education Certificate, known as Thanawiyya al-A’aamaI, or the Advanced Level Certificate of Nile International Secondary Education, abbreviated as CNISE. Finland requires the Matriculation Examination Certificate, known in local terms as the Ylioppilastutkintotodistus or Studentexamensbetyg. France requires the French Baccalaureate, specifically the Baccalauréat général. Germany asks for the Abitur. Greece requires the Upper Secondary School Certificate, or Apolytirio Lykeiou. Guatemala requires the Bachillerato. Honduras requires the Bachillerato. Hong Kong applicants submit the HKDSE, HK A-Levels, HKCEE, and a Lower Form VI transcript. Iceland requires the Upper Secondary School Certificate, known as the Stúdentspróf. India applicants supply the Higher Secondary Certificate or ISC, though state board exams may also receive consideration for admission. Indonesia requires the Upper Secondary School Diploma, titled the Ijazah Sekolah Menengah Atas. Ireland asks for the Leaving or Senior Certificate, known as the Ardteistiméireacht. Israel requires the Matriculation Certificate, or Te’udat Bagrut. Italy requests the Diploma of Maturity, known as the Diploma di Maturita. Japan requires the Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate, formally the Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho. Jamaica requires the Official General Certificate of Education and the CSEC. Jordan requires the General Secondary Education Certificate. Kazakhstan requires the Certificate of Secondary Education, known as the Attestat o Srednem Obrazovanii. The Republic of Korea requires the Senior High School Diploma. Lebanon requires the Lebanese Baccalaureate, or Baccalauréat Libanais. Malaysia asks for the Malaysian Higher School Certificate, known as the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia or STPM, previously called the Higher School Certificate. Mexico requires the Baccalaureate Certificate, or Certificado de Bachillerato. Morocco asks for the Baccalaureate, or Baccalauréat. The Netherlands requires the University Preparatory Education Diploma, known as the VWO. New Zealand requires the National Certification of Educational Achievement Level 3, or NCEA Level 3. Nicaragua requires the Bachillerato. Nigeria requires the Senior Secondary School Certificate, abbreviated as SSSC. Norway requires the Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate, known as the Vitnemål fra den Videregående Skole. Pakistan requires the Higher Secondary School Certificate. Panama requires the Bachillerato. Paraguay requires the Bachillerato. Peru requires the Certificate of Completion of General Secondary Education, titled the Certificado de educación secundaria común completa. Russia requires the Certificate of Complete Secondary General Education, known as the Attestat o Srednem Polnom Obshchem Obrazovanii. Saudi Arabia requires the General Secondary Education Certificate, known as Shahadat Al-Marhalat Al-Thanawiyyat. Singapore requires two years of GCE A-Level study, though students completing one year of A-Level study through AS Levels only may also receive consideration. South Africa requires the National Senior Certificate, or NSC. Spain requires the Baccalaureate, or Título de Bachillerato. Sweden asks for the Leaving Certificate from Upper Secondary School, known as the Avgångsbetyg or Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola. Switzerland requires the Matura, encompassing the Certificat de Maturité, Maturität, or Attestato di Maturità. Taiwan requires the Senior High School Diploma. Thailand requires the Certificate of Secondary Education, known as Mathayom Suksa 6 or M6. Trinidad and Tobago requires the Official General Certificate of Education and the CSEC. Turkey requires the General Secondary School Diploma, or Lise Diploması. The United Kingdom requires two years of GCE A-Level study, while students with one year of A-Level study covering AS Levels only may also receive consideration. Uruguay requires the Bachillerato. Venezuela requires the Baccalaureate, known as the Título de Bachiller. Vietnam requires the Senior High School Certificate, titled the Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Trung Học Phổ Thông.

Boston University maintains resources to help prospective candidates handle the application process. For first-year applicants, international applicants, transfer applicants, early decision applicants, and QuestBridge applicants, all deadlines and procedural requirements are outlined across the admissions pages. For complete policy details and additional forms, please check the official portal directly. Boston University Admissions is located at 233 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215. Domestic inquiries can be directed to 617-353-2300 or via email at admissions@bu.edu. International inquiries can reach the team at 617-353-4492 or through intadmis@bu.edu. Review all guidelines carefully before submitting your final documentation to ensure a smooth application experience.

News is prepared from public university announcements for general guidance. Policies change frequently; confirm current details with each university admissions office.