How to Apply to Mathematics at Boston University: A BA in Mathematics in the College of Arts & Sciences With Pure, Applied and Statistics Tracks, Six Joint Majors, and Admission by College, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At Boston University (BU), undergraduate mathematics is offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), and the degree is a BA in Mathematics. Here is what you need to know to apply, based on BU Admissions, the university Bulletin and the department’s website, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Computer science has its own guide on this site and appears here only in the joint majors.

1. Degrees and tracks

• Major in Mathematics (BA): the department’s primary major. Students must also choose one of three tracks: pure mathematics, applied mathematics or statistics. The department says students often call these the Pure Math, Applied Math and Statistics majors, and because the lower-division requirements of the tracks are quite similar, students often do not choose until they start registering for upper-division courses.
• Sample courses: the pure and applied tracks require calculus (CAS MA 123 and 124 or equivalent), multivariate calculus (MA 225 or 230), linear algebra (MA 242 or 442), and introduction to computer science (CS 111 or DS 110); the pure track adds courses such as MA 511 (analysis) and MA 412 or 713 (complex variables), the applied track has students pick two of five focus areas and take at least two courses in each, and the statistics track requires introductory probability and statistics (MA 213 and 214) among others. Courses count toward the major only with a C or higher. The total credit count is not stated on the pages read.
• Six joint majors: Economics and Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Mathematics and Mathematics Education, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics and Physics, and Statistics and Computer Science. The department explains that these are single majors, not double majors, drawing on coursework from two departments; students can later switch to a double major or a major/minor pair.
• Minors and bachelor’s-to-master’s: the department has a mathematics minor and two statistics minor tracks, and a BA-to-MA program in mathematics; admission requirements are on the CAS Bachelor’s-to-Master’s page.
• 2022-2023 revision: the department says the math major was revised for 2022-2023, splitting the old combined pure and applied track in two; students who declared before fall 2022 may keep the old version.

2. Admission: you apply to the college, not the department

• When you apply: BU requires you to specify a school or college. If you have no specific subject in mind, BU suggests applying to the College of Arts & Sciences as “Undeclared” or to the College of General Studies. Mathematics is in CAS, so apply to CAS. BU says you will be considered for the college you choose, but it is possible that you will be offered admission to the College of General Studies or another BU program for which you qualify.
• A separate department admission standard: the pages read do not say the mathematics major has its own admission line or enrollment cap, nor when and under what conditions students declare; this is not published there, so ask the department advising team (mathadvising@bu.edu).
• Internal transfer: current BU students interested in majoring or minoring in mathematics and statistics can attend drop-in advising hours for their class year; the pages read give no formal internal-transfer conditions.
• Honors college: to be considered for Kilachand Honors College, answer “Yes” on the application and write the required essay; your application is first considered for the college you applied to, and only then for Kilachand.

3. Prerequisites

• High school courses: for most BU programs the recommended curriculum is 3 to 4 years of mathematics (precalculus/calculus recommended) and 3 to 4 years of history and/or social science, among others. BU states firm math requirements only for the College of Engineering (a year of calculus) and Questrom School of Business (a year of calculus, or a year of precalculus plus AP Statistics); it states no separate firm requirement for mathematics in CAS.
• Placement test: the pages read do not mention a math placement exam; it is not published there, so ask the department.
• AP/IB credit: the department says the standard calculus sequence is MA 123 (Calculus I), MA 124 (Calculus II) and MA 225 (Multivariate Calculus); students with AP Calculus or similar placement exams may receive credit for one or more, and some start in the most advanced course their credit allows while others repeat a course they have credit for to solidify their background. The credit rules are on BU’s advanced credit page, which was not read for this guide.
• Honors calculus: the department also offers MA 230, Honors Vector Calculus, for students who want a deeper, more abstract treatment.
• Honors in the Major: the Bulletin says students earn it with a GPA of 3.3 or greater in major courses and a senior work-for-distinction research project (a written thesis and an oral defense before three faculty); interested students should contact the director of undergraduate studies no later than the second term of junior year.

4. Deadlines and materials

• Deadlines: Early Decision (binding) 2 November, with notification on 14 December; Early Decision 2 and Regular Decision both 5 January, with Early Decision 2 notification on 8 February; the enrollment deposit for regular admission is due 1 May; some merit scholarships require applying by 1 December. The page shows no year, so check that these apply to fall 2027 entry.
• How to apply: the Common App or QuestBridge application. Two essays are required: the Common App personal statement and the BU supplemental essay.
• Application fee: $80, payable through the Common App; fee waivers are available.
• Recommendations: a school counselor recommendation and school report, plus one Teacher Evaluation form. BU does not say the teacher must teach mathematics.
• Grades: official secondary school transcripts and first-semester senior-year grades; Early Decision applicants submit first marking period grades.
• Testing: BU is test optional for first-year applicants applying through fall 2028 and spring 2029, for all undergraduate schools and colleges and all scholarships. If you submit scores you can self-report, with official scores required before enrolling; BU superscores both the SAT and ACT by taking the highest score of each section.
• Math competitions: the pages read do not say how competitions are viewed.

5. US domestic applicants

• Tuition: BU’s cost page lists a single tuition figure, with no in-state/out-of-state split. For 2026/27, tuition is $73,024, housing $13,170, food $7,570 and fees $1,570, for estimated billed expenses of $95,334; with books and supplies ($1,000), personal expenses ($1,455) and local transportation ($630), the estimated total cost of attendance is $98,419. The rates for fall 2027 entry are not published on the page read.
• Aid: BU says it will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, without loans, for first-time, first-year US citizens and permanent residents; admitted first-year students from families with household incomes below $200,000 and typical assets can expect to pay no more than $20,000 per year, and families with incomes of $75,000 or less can expect to pay nothing. Need-based aid requires both the CSS Profile and FAFSA, due 5 January for regular applicants and 2 November for Early Decision.
• Scholarships: BU also awards merit scholarships regardless of need; some require applying by 1 December.
• Residency preference or guaranteed admission: not stated on the pages read.

6. International applicants

• English: if your first language is not English you must submit the TOEFL iBT, IELTS or Duolingo English Test; BU also recommends an optional InitialView or Vericant interview, but test results are still required. An IELTS Academic total of 7 or higher satisfies the requirement for all programs. For TOEFL iBT, the most competitive students have a composite of at least 90 to 100 with at least 20 in each section, or 5.0 or higher on the new scale for reports from 21 January 2026; for Duolingo, a total of at least 125 to 135, with the total and all subscores required. BU also reviews component scores for consistency. English proficiency waiver requests must be received by the application deadline and are decided by the Board of Admissions.
• Records: official secondary school transcripts; students in national-exam curricula submit official results as set out on the credentials page; students in examination-based curricula (IB, GCE, CBSE/ISC and others) also need predicted results. Documents not in English need a notarized English translation, with both original and translation submitted. A copy of the passport data page is also required.
• Proof of funds: students who will study on an F-1 or J-1 visa submit financial documentation (the Confidential Statement for Financing Studies plus items such as a signed bank letter). Documents must be dated within 12 months of the start date, funds must be readily available (stocks and non-liquid investments are not accepted), and the account owner must match the sponsor who signs.
• Scholarships: need-based financial aid from BU is not currently available to international students; they may be eligible for select merit scholarships.

7. Applicants from China

• Credentials: the credentials page lists the Senior High School Graduation Certificate for China, and says credentials must come with your final secondary school transcript and leaving exam scores where applicable, plus copies of qualifying exams taken throughout secondary school.
• Gaokao: the page does not say how Gaokao results are used; this is not published there, so ask BU international admissions.
• Other Chinese school records (for example the senior-high-school proficiency exams): not stated on the pages read; check the credentials page or ask international admissions.
• International curricula: students in IB, A-Level and similar programs follow the international-applicant rules above, including predicted results.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5 for the 2026/27 figures.
• Department awards and grants: CAS gives one College Prize in Mathematics or Statistics each year; the department awards Academic Excellence and Community Engagement prizes in mathematics and statistics to graduating students and two Academic Excellence prizes to juniors; it gives departmental travel grants to a limited number of undergraduates for conferences and workshops; CAS Honors Research Travel Awards fund up to $1,000 for advanced undergraduates doing honors research; undergraduate research funding is described on the department’s research page; and the MAA’s National Math Talent Fund offers just-in-time support to mathematics and quantitative-science students more than halfway through their program who face unexpected financial hardship.
• Outcomes: the department’s page prints no employment or graduate-school statistics. It says some graduates enter the workforce and others pursue graduate degrees, and it lists professional-society career pages.

9. Transfer students

• Who counts: students who have completed the equivalent of a US secondary education and will have at least one full-time semester (12 or more credits) as a degree candidate at another college or university.
• Requirements: transfer applicants must choose a school or college and declare a major when they apply, and cannot apply undeclared; BU asks you to check the majors list to make sure your program is open to transfers. Submit official transcripts for all college coursework, your high school transcript and proof of graduation, and one essay of no more than 600 words. The application fee is $80; the SAT/ACT is not required. Submit syllabi as soon as you apply so credits can be evaluated. Admitted transfer students cannot defer to a future term.
• Deadlines: for September entry, 15 March, with notification from mid-April to mid-June; for January entry, 2 November. The page shows no year, so check; some programs do not offer January admission, and whether that includes mathematics was not read.
• Minimum GPA and math prerequisites: the pages read do not give a minimum transfer GPA or required calculus and linear algebra courses; this is not published there, so ask admissions and the department.
• Transferring math credit: first check BU’s Transfer Equivalency Site; for pre-approved courses submit the CAS Advising Transfer Course Pre-Screen Request and send an official transcript after the course. Courses not pre-approved need a Transfer Course Equivalency Form and the syllabus, emailed to mathdept@math.bu.edu; the department says to expect a decision within two weeks.
• Transfers from Chinese universities: the documents must be sent directly by the Center for Student Services and Development, Ministry of Education (CSSD): the English verification report of the academic transcript, and official English and Chinese transcripts.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Apply by 2 November (Early Decision) or 5 January (Early Decision 2 and Regular), choosing the College of Arts & Sciences (or undeclared)
• Submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA; note 1 December if you want merit scholarship consideration

International applicants (including China):

• Prepare IELTS 7, new TOEFL 5.0 or Duolingo 125 to 135 or higher; applicants from China prepare the senior high school graduation certificate and transcripts
• F-1 or J-1 applicants submit financial documents; ask international admissions how the Gaokao is used

After entry:

• Plan your calculus sequence with the advising team (mathadvising@bu.edu); choose pure, applied or statistics when you reach upper-division courses; major courses need a C or higher

Transfer students:

• Choose your college and declare a major when you apply; 15 March for September entry; check the Transfer Equivalency Site first

Sources: Boston University, Mathematics & Statistics: degree programs; Bulletin: BA in Mathematics; Department advising; Department FAQs; Awards and grants; Careers and graduate school; Transferring credits; First-year applicants; Important deadlines; International applicants; Secondary school credentials; Transfer applicants; 2026/27 cost of attendance; Scholarships and financial aid; Majors. The deadlines page does not state a year and costs are 2026/27 figures; check that they apply to fall 2027 entry. Check Boston University for the latest details.