Boston University Launches 3 New Masteru2019s for Fall 2027

| Updated On - Aug 3, 2026

Boston University added three new master’s degree programs for the Fall 2027 intake. Arts and Sciences Dean Stan Sclaroff announced them on July 9, 2026. Indian STEM applicants now have three fresh entry routes into a top US school. Fall 2027 applications open through BU’s Graduate School in September 2026.

The three programs are MS in Quantum Science and Engineering, MS in Applied Economics and Data Science, and MS in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.
The Quantum Science and Engineering degree is a one-year on-campus program. BU calls it the first of its kind in New England.
Fall 2027 applications open in September 2026 through the BU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

The launch follows two AI master’s degrees BU rolled out in January 2026 through Questrom and Computing schools. That is five new BU master’s routes for Indian students inside seven months. The mix spans on-campus STEM and online AI credentials.

Also Read: Boston University Admissions 2026

What Boston University Announced on July 9

BU’s Arts and Sciences college added three graduate degrees on July 9. The news was published on BU Today, the university’s official channel. The release did not fix tuition for the three programs. Both tuition and deadlines follow when GRS opens Fall 2027 applications in September.

Dean Stan Sclaroff framed the launch as an interdisciplinary bet. "Where disciplines converge, the future gets built," Sclaroff said in the release. Senior Associate Dean Malika Jeffries-EL added a line on staying power. The degrees prepare students "ready to outlast" current trends, she said.

Key Insight: BU has now added five new master’s routes in seven months. The Questrom and Computing schools launched two AI degrees in January 2026. The CAS added three more on July 9. That widens the Indian applicant funnel across on-campus and online tracks.

Three New Master’s Programs at a Glance

Program	Format	Home Department	Signature Feature
MS Quantum Science and Engineering	On-campus, one year	Physics, Math, Chemistry, CS, Materials Science and ECE	First of its kind in New England, per BU
MS Applied Economics and Data Science	On-campus	Economics with Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences	Joint economics and data science core
MS Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence	Fully online	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences	Focus on responsible AI and ethics

The Quantum degree draws faculty across six departments. The Economics degree fuses an MA-Economics core with data science credits. The online CS-AI degree targets working professionals wanting an AI credential.

Why the AI and Quantum Angle Matters for Indian STEM Applicants

Indian students form one of BU’s largest international groups. STEM master’s also unlock a longer US post-study work window. F-1 graduates from STEM programs qualify for a 24-month OPT extension. That sits on top of the standard 12-month OPT window.

The online CS-AI route is different. Fully online US master’s do not qualify students for an F-1 visa. They also do not qualify for OPT. The online degree is best read as upskilling for Indian professionals. It suits techies in Bengaluru or Hyderabad wanting a BU credential.

Key Caveat: The online MS in CS and AI carries no US visa route. Indian applicants needing OPT should pick the on-campus Quantum or Economics degrees. Skip the online AI one for a relocation plan.

How Do Indian Students Apply for Fall 2027?

Fall 2027 applications go through the BU Graduate School portal. BU has confirmed the portal opens in September 2026. Program-specific deadlines are not yet published.

Indian applicants should expect the standard BU GRS document set:

Bachelor’s transcript, with a 3.0 GPA used at peer BU programs.
English test score, typically TOEFL 90 or IELTS 6.5.
Statement of purpose, three recommendation letters, and a CV.
GRE where a program requires it; each new page confirms from September.

Once admitted, students apply for an F-1 visa using BU’s I-20. That applies to the on-campus Quantum or Economics degrees only. Peer programs like MS Computer Science at Boston University show BU’s usual admit bar.

What Indian Students Should Budget

BU has not published tuition for the three new degrees yet. Peer BU MS programs give a live benchmark for Fall 2026 pricing. INR figures use ₹88 per USD as of August 2026.

Peer BU Program	Annual Tuition (USD)	Approx INR at ₹88 per USD
MS Computer Science	$69,870	₹61.5 lakh
MS Artificial Intelligence at Boston University	$69,870	₹61.5 lakh
MS Business Analytics	$82,968	₹73 lakh

Indian applicants should budget ₹60 lakh to ₹75 lakh in tuition per year. Boston living costs add another ₹15 lakh to ₹20 lakh annually. BU does not extend financial aid to international master’s students.

What it means for Indian Students: A two-year BU on-campus MS runs ₹1.2 crore to ₹1.5 crore in tuition alone. That excludes living costs in Boston. Plan lender pre-approval before the September portal opens, not after admits land.

BU has widened its master’s shelf ahead of the Fall 2027 rush. The on-campus Quantum and Applied Economics degrees offer OPT-eligible routes. The online CS-AI degree suits Indian professionals staying put. The hard checkpoint is the September 2026 application window through GRS.

Action Plan for Fall 2027 Applicants

Bookmark BU’s GRS admissions page and set a September 2026 alert.
Lock a TOEFL or IELTS score valid through 2027 by August 2026.
Line up three recommenders and a first-draft SOP before September opens.
Get in-principle approval from an Indian lender for a ₹1 crore loan.

Keep an Eye On: BU is expected to open Fall 2027 GRS applications in September 2026. Program-specific deadlines and tuition for the three new degrees follow then.