Boston University outlines the application requirements and procedures for international students applying for undergraduate admission. For individuals planning to handle the process, the institution defines an international applicant as any person who holds neither United States citizenship nor United States Permanent Resident Green Card status. Generally, these students require either an F-1 Student Visa or a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa to pursue their education within the United States. When students look into competitive admissions criteria, mastering Ivy League strategies often helps applicants organize their academic profiles effectively. First-year international applicants can also apply for merit scholarships.

The international applicant checklist requires several mandatory credentials submitted through the application portal. Applicants must provide their Common Application, secondary school records, senior year grades, a counselor recommendation along with the school report form, a teacher evaluation, English proficiency testing results, documentation of financial support, and a copy of the data page of their passport. Standardized tests remain optional.

Secondary school records must include official copies of transcripts submitted directly by a school official. Enrollees in international curricula that involve national exams should consult the specific secondary school credentials page to understand submission guidelines. Applicants targeting the College of Engineering must complete one year of calculus. Students taking International Baccalaureate courses meet this requirement by enrolling in either HL or SL Math Analysis and Approaches or HL Math Applications and Interpretations. Other international curricula require some level of calculus. Applicants to the Questrom School of Business need a year of calculus, or a year of precalculus alongside a year of AP Statistics. IB students meet this through HL or SL Math Analysis and Approaches or HL Math Applications and Interpretations, while other curricula demand some calculus. All documents written in a world language require a notarized English translation accompanying the original language document.

Senior year grades follow distinct schedules based on the application plan. Early Decision candidates must have their school counselor submit first marking period grades—covering first quarter or first trimester results—as soon as they become available. Examination-based curricula like IB, GCE, or CBSE and ISC also require predicted results. Regular Decision applicants must submit first semester grades, or first trimester grades for schools operating on a trimester schedule. Examination-based curricula applicants under Regular Decision likewise need predicted results.

English proficiency testing is mandatory if English is not the applicant’s first language. Accepted examinations include the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test, known as the TOEFL iBT, the International English Language Testing System Academic exam, or the Duolingo English Test. Applicants whose native language is English but who speak another language at home may submit English proficiency results to demonstrate fluency. Additionally, applicants can schedule optional interviews with InitialView or Vericant to demonstrate language proficiency, though official test scores from TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo remain mandatory.

For the Duolingo English Test, competitive applicants typically achieve a total score between 125 and 135. Boston University reviews both the total score and all subscores for internal consistency. For the TOEFL iBT, competitive applicants generally earn a composite score between 90 and 100 with minimum scores of 20 in each individual section. Starting with TOEFL iBT score reports beginning January 21, 2026, competitive applicants require a total or overall score of 5.0 or higher, with component scores reviewed for consistency. Applicants must direct the testing agency to send scores to Boston University using the institution code 3087. Accepted TOEFL formats include the in-person test and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. The university does not accept the IELTS Indicator, TOEFL ITP Plus, or TOEFL Essentials exams.

For the IELTS Academic exam, a total or overall score of 7 or higher fulfills the English language requirement across all programs, with component scores examined for consistency. Official results must be sent directly from the testing service to Boston University Undergraduate Admissions at 881 Commonwealth Avenue, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02215. Boston University does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake.

Applicants may request an English proficiency waiver by submitting the designated waiver request form alongside a complete application by the application deadline. Granting a waiver remains entirely at the discretion of the Board of Admissions.

Regarding recommendations, applicants must ask their school counselor to submit the School Report form and the School Counselor Recommendation form via the Common Application. Students attending secondary schools without a counselor should contact another school official to handle these documents. A teacher evaluation must also be submitted by an instructor using the Common Application form.

Documentation of financial support is required for all students studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa. Submitting these materials alongside the application is strongly recommended. Applicants complete the Confidential Statement for Financing Studies & Sponsorship Support Confirmation to supply documents verifying funds for annual study expenses, such as online bank statements or signed bank letters confirming the ability to cover educational costs. Documented sources of support must be current—dated within 12 months of the starting date at Boston University, meaning documents for Fall 2026 enrollees must be dated between September 2, 2025, and September 2, 2026. They must be written in English, readily available or liquid since stocks and non-liquid investments are unacceptable, and the account owner’s name must match the sponsor who signs the financial confirmation form. These files can be uploaded through the Common Application under the My Colleges tab in the Other Information section of Application Questions, or uploaded directly through the MyBU Applicant Portal on the Application Status page. Early Decision and Early Decision 2 applicants must submit financial documentation by the application deadline, as the Board of Admissions cannot review academic credentials without these financial forms.

A photocopy of the photo and data page of a current, valid passport must be supplied by all international applicants. This copy can be uploaded through the Common Application, the MyBU Applicant Portal Application Status page, or faxed to 617-353-5334, with PDF designated as the required file format.

Standardized testing policies indicate that Boston University remains test-optional for first-year applicants seeking admission through the spring 2029 term across all undergraduate schools, colleges, and scholarship programs. International students must still submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test results to evaluate English language proficiency. Applicants independently decide whether to include general standardized test scores, considering their academic history, community involvement, and confidence in their academic records. Students declare their preference regarding test consideration during the application process, and this choice cannot be modified after submission. Those opting to have scores considered may submit self-reported scores on the application, provide official scores through the testing agency, or use the self-report form on the MyBU Applicant Portal. Enrolling students must supply official score reports from testing agencies prior to attendance, and discrepancies between self-reported and official scores may result in rescinded admission. To review complete instructions, read the full guidelines directly on the official portal.

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