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Apply as a Graduate Student
Take The Next Step
- Choose which graduate program is the best fit.
- Review your program’s application requirements and deadlines.
- Applications are open for Summer and Fall 2025. Submit your application:
Transcripts & Supplemental Materials
UMass Boston accepts unofficial transcripts for the purpose of application review. Please submit your current transcripts from all institutions attended, undergraduate and graduate, where more than six (6) credits were earned. Please see the transcripts section below for more information.
- If GRE or GMAT scores are required for your program, request official scores be sent to the University of Massachusetts Boston (institution code 3924).
- If you are an international applicant, please review our bachelor’s equivalency and English language proficiency requirements. If submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores, request that they be sent to the University of Massachusetts Boston (institution code 3924).
- If we are unable to determine international degree equivalence, we may ask applicants to submit an external evaluation from the Center for Educational Documentation. The foreign evaluation does not replace the official transcript requirement.
If you need to submit hardcopy materials, you can send materials directly to our office (please allow for additional processing time):
UMass Boston
Graduate Admissions
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
Check Application Status
Use the tool below to check the status of your application. If we're missing any portion of your application (e.g., your transcripts, essay, SAT scores, letter of recommendation) the status check will let you know.
After submitting your application, you should have received an email with log-in information to your personal UMass Boston portal.
GPA
A minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or international equivalent) in all undergraduate work. Please note that some programs may require a supplemental list of coursework and/or discipline specific GPA calculation. Please review your program's requirements to confirm.
Bachelor's Degree
At the time of enrollment, a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of recognized standing or an international equivalent. International applicants must submit evidence that they have completed the equivalent of a regionally accredited, U.S. university-level bachelor’s degree program. Most international 3-year degrees, including the Indian Bachelor of Arts, Sciences and Commerce degrees, are not considered to be equivalent.
Online Application & Fee
The nonrefundable application fee is $75.
No application fee for UMass Boston alumni! UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.
Transcripts
UMass Boston accepts unofficial transcripts for the purpose of application review. Please submit your current transcripts from all institutions attended, undergraduate and graduate, where more than six (6) credits were earned. Unofficial transcripts uploaded to the Academic History section of your application, emailed to gadocs@umb.edu, or uploaded via the application portal, are acceptable for initial application review.
We prefer that the unofficial transcript uploads are a PDF of the unofficial document provided by your institution. Please ensure you upload/send one compiled transcript PDF for each institution you attended, even if it includes multiple pages, translations, a legend, degree certificate, or diploma. Please keep your transcript pages in order. Do not include any syllabi, thesis submissions, dissertations, capstones, or extraneous documents in your compiled PDF(s).
We will not accept screenshots of grades. All documents should be clear, legible, and in PDF format. The document should include the institution name, the applicant/student name, dates of enrollment, program and degree information. Word documents and images (i.e. JPEGs, HEICs, PNGs) should not be uploaded as these are not acceptable. Secure (encrypted, password protected) pdfs and zip files are not acceptable. Do not send links to the unofficial transcript through file sharing services like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, etc. as these are not acceptable.
If admitted to UMass Boston, official transcripts must be submitted, either electronically or in paper format, directly by each institution to the Office of Graduate Admissions before your program starts. UMass Boston reserves the right to revoke an acceptance or matriculation if falsified unofficial documents are submitted during the application process.
To send official documents, contact your institution's registrar office to inquire about sending the official transcript. UMass Boston's Office of Graduate Admissions is set up to receive electronic transcripts via Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). Your institution's registrar may use a different transcript sharing process, please check with them to inquire about the system they use. If they use Parchment or NSC, please ensure that transcripts are directed to "UMass Graduate Admissions Only" via Parchment and "Graduate" via NSC. For international credentials, official transcripts can be sent electronically to gadocs@umb.edu directly from your institution. An official transcript is one sent to UMass Boston directly from the institution, either electronically or by mail.
If an applicant has completed a study abroad program earning more than 6 credits, and these courses and grades are documented on their degree-seeking institution’s transcript, a separate study abroad transcript is not required.
If you are a current student or alumnus of UMass Boston, the Office of Graduate Admissions will request your official transcript on your behalf.
If you need to submit hardcopy materials, you can send materials directly to our office (please allow for additional processing time):
UMass Boston
Graduate Admissions
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
Test Scores
- Some programs require official GRE or GMAT test scores. Please review program requirements to confirm.
- Applicants who completed undergraduate coursework outside of the United States may be required to submit English proficiency test results, even if they are permanent residents or citizen of the U.S. Please review the international applicant page.
- UMass Boston’s institution code is 3924. We can only accept official score reports sent electronically or in hardcopy directly from the testing agency.
- In accordance with Massachusetts state law, Office of Graduate Studies and Graduate Admissions policy permits residents of Massachusetts who have been diagnosed as developmentally disabled (including those with specific language disabilities, such as dyslexia, but not including those whose sole disability is blindness) to request a waiver of the requirement to submit GRE, GMAT, or MAT scores. To qualify for a waiver, an applicant must submit documentation of their disability. Some graduate programs require an alternative mode of assessment (e.g., a writing sample) in lieu of the standardized test score.
- For information, contact your program of interest.
Letters of Recommendation
- The number of letters required varies by program. Please review program requirements. The recommenders you identify will receive an email with instructions upon submission of the online application.
- Typically, one or more letters from former professors familiar with your academic abilities provide the strongest recommendations. Recommenders should have worked closely with the applicant in an academic, professional, or community service setting. Letters should not be written by friends or family members of the applicant. Letters should focus on the applicant’s abilities and past academic performance, while also indicating an ability to effectively complete graduate-level coursework.
Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose is your opportunity to show the graduate admissions committee why you wish to pursue graduate study, as well as your specific interests and goals. In general the first part of your statement (about 300 words) shares your reason for wanting to attend graduate school while the second part (about 1200 word) indicates your specific interest and the kind of work you would like to do in your intended field. The program to which you are applying may have other instructions regarding the content and nature of this statement. You will be able to upload your Statement of Purpose to your application in .doc or .pdf form.
Resume / CV
A current resume/CV is required as a part of the admissions application process. Please submit a detailed and concise resume summarizing your education history, academic achievements, professional experiences, extracurricular activities, volunteer work or community involvement, and relevant skills that demonstrate your readiness for graduate study. Consider including an overview of research experience, affiliations, publications, certifications, presentations, leadership experience, and other pertinent professional skills.
Admission is granted only for the semester requested and cannot be guaranteed for future semesters. Admission to graduate study does not automatically indicate approval of candidacy for a degree. Please refer to the program-specific requirements for more.
Questions?
Have questions about the application process or need help submitting your application? Contact graduate.admissions@umb.edu.