International Applicants

Important note: The university deadline for graduate admissions for international applicants is May 1 for Fall admission and October 1 for Spring admission, unless the program to which you are applying has an earlier deadline. Many programs have an earlier deadline, especially for Fall admission. So please refer to your program’s specific deadline to ensure that you submit your application on time.

Application Instructions

International applicants must complete the General Application Requirements. In addition, international applicants must also complete the following requirements:

1. Official Transcripts and Official English Translations
   
2. Evidence of Completion of a University-level Degree Program
   
3. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Exam Scores
4. Completed “Declaration and Certification of Finances Form” (Application for an I-20)
5. Completed “Transfer Verification Form,” if needed
6. International Applicant Fee

You can also review our Admissions Procedures for information on the application process.
 

Please send all application materials to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393

Official Transcripts and Official English Translations

All applicants must submit an official transcript of their academic record, including grades. If your transcript is in a language other than English, each page must be accompanied by an English translation, validated by an official public translator.

UMass Boston cannot return application materials, so we strongly recommend retaining copies for your records.

Evidence of Completion of a University-level Degree Program

International applicants must submit evidence that they have completed the equivalency of a U.S. university-level Bachelor’s degree program. Acceptable evidence includes official copies of diplomas, certificates, and notifications of final examination results. If you have any questions about what can be submitted to meet this requirement, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 617.287.6400 or send us an email at bos.gadm@umb.edu. All documentation must be mailed to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393

TOEFL or IELTS Test Results

International applicants must submit official score results for either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Please have the testing agency report results directly to UMass Boston.

Applicants are exempt from submitting these test scores if they have received at least four (4) years of education (including their undergraduate program) in the United States, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Grenada, Grand Cayman, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Trinidad/Tobago, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.
 

The requirement may also be waived if the applicant has completed at least two (2) academic years of study, full-time, at an English-speaking college or university in the U.S., by the deadline of the program to which they are applying.
 

All other applicants must submit test results to be considered for admission.
 

Permanent resident immigrants and U.S. citizens who have not met the above requirements are also required to submit scores from either the TOEFL or IELTS.
 

UMass Boston requires the following minimum scores:

Declaration and Certification of Finances Form
(Application for I-20)

International applicants must download and complete the Declaration and Certification of Finances Form. The form must be accompanied by an affidavit of support from the student’s sponsor, as well as documentation from the sponsor’s bank showing the ability to cover all costs for the duration of study based upon the Estimate of Institutional Costs and Living Expenses Table provided below. If an applicant will be sponsoring his/herself, s/he must provide his/her own bank statement(s).
 

• Original documents must be sent. These cannot be returned to the applicant, so we recommend that you retain copies for your records.
   
• The form must be completed accurately, and show that the total funds available to the student cover his/her full period of study.

Note: International students must pay the non-resident tuition rate for his/her full period of study.

The Declaration and Certification of Finances Form must be submitted to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393

The table below provides an estimate of the annual expenses for a single, international graduate student. Please keep in mind that this cost estimate is based upon a 12-month period, and, depending on the individual, actual costs may be higher.

Estimate of Institutional Costs and Living Expenses

Applicants must be prepared to pay their own expenses, and should also anticipate yearly increases in institutional costs (such as tuition and fees) and living expenses. For a complete listing of fees, refer to the Tuition and Fees page of the Bursar’s Office. Transportation to and from the U.S. is not included in this estimate. International students are required to pay non-resident tuition and fees.

Transfer Verification Form

If the applicant holds an I-20 from another U.S. institution, a Transfer Verification Form must be completed by the International Student Advisor at the institution the student is currently attending, or if not currently enrolled, the institution most recently attended. Please send the form directly to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393
 

International Application Fee

UMass Boston cannot accept personal checks from international applicants. International graduate applicants are required to submit a non-refundable application fee in the amount of $100 in U.S. currency.
 

This must be paid by Visa or Mastercard when completing the Online Application form.

OR
 

If applying via hard-copy application, you can pay by cashier’s check, demand draft, or money order made payable to “UMass Boston.” Payment must be mailed along with the application to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393

Admissions Procedures for UMass Boston

Once all application materials have been received, and an admission decision has been submitted by the department, UMass Boston will notify the applicant of the admission decision. Please note that this process can take some time. If the applicant is admitted as a student, UMass Boston will send the student an official letter of admission and a Certificate of Eligibility, which is also known as an I-20 form. These forms may arrive separately.

Admission is granted for a specific semester only, and the I-20 form is valid only for the semester for which the student is admitted. If you are unable to attend the semester specified, please notify the Office of Graduate Admissions by mail as soon as possible.

If you wish to defer your admissions to a different semester, please indicate in your letter when you would like to attend UMass Boston. UMass Boston is only able to defer enrollment for up to one year. A $25 processing fee will be charged for deferred enrollment.

Important Notes:
 

• The I-20 form is valid only for the semester for which it was issued. The Office of Graduate Admissions must be notified of an official decision to defer enrollment before a new I-20 form can be issued.

• Under no circumstance should an applicant come to UMass Boston without having received both an official letter of admission and an I-20 form for the correct semester. Any applicant who comes to UMass Boston without the required documentation does so at his or her own risk. Your presence on the UMass Boston campus will not expedite or influence the admissions process.

• UMass Boston does not offer student housing. Please refer to the Office of Student Housing website for information on locating housing or a roommate in the Boston area.