UMass Boston

All UMass Boston applicants are asked to submit a personal essay. It gives you the opportunity to present yourself in a way that grades and test scores cannot. Our admissions counselors use your essay to determine your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself clearly. Your essay may also be used to consider you for the Honors College and/or any scholarship opportunities for which you may qualify.

Please select one of the following questions and write an essay of about 500 words:

• Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
• Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
• Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
• Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
• A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
• Some other topic of your choice.

• Students who are attending or have graduated from a U.S. high school or have completed an English-based curriculum (i.e. International Baccalaureate, A Levels, etc.) may apply Test Optional.
• Students who have not attended a U.S. high school or completed an English-based curriculum should refer to the information provided below regarding English Proficiency.

• All non-native speakers of English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Students can demonstrate proficiency by submitting the following exams:
  • TOEFL (79+)
  • IELTS (6.0+)
  • SAT (Evidence Based Reading & Writing (ERWS) component of 480+) 
  • ACT (Reading and English component scores totaling 34)
  • Duolingo English Test
    • Spring 24 & Fall 24 (100+)
    • Spring 25 or later (105+)
• UMass Boston must receive your official test scores directly from the testing agency. You may request scores be sent to UMass Boston at the time you register for the test. If you have already taken the test, you may request official scores by contacting the College Board, ACT, TOEFL, IETLS, or Duolingo directly.
• The UMass Boston SAT/TOEFL and IELTS code is 3924 and the ACT code is 1925.

UMass Boston may offer provisional admission to an international undergraduate applicant who meets all of the admission criteria, but whose TOEFL or IELTS results do not meet the minimum requirements.

• UMass Boston does not offer conditional admission for nursing, engineering, or management applicants.
• Students provisionally accepted to the university will be referred to the University Preparation ESL program.

Once you have been accepted to the UMass Boston, you will receive detailed instructions from International Student and Scholars Services (ISSS). They will contact you about submitting documents necessary for I-20 Certificate Eligibility issuance.

First year students are automatically considered for UMass Boston merit scholarship aid based on their admissions application. International students with a 3.3 GPA or higher are considered for a merit scholarship of up to $5,000 annually. These scholarships are not available to students entering through partnership programs.

Estimated Expenses for the 2023 Academic Year

• Tuition: $36,145
• Fees (including health insurance): $4,929
• Living Expenses and Meals: $16,440
• Personal Expenses: $800

• Total: $58,750