UMass Boston

Access and complete our program application at umb.edu/esl-application. When you complete your application, you will receive a confirmation email to let you know that we have received it. Read more about Step 1: Complete your Application  »

To give us a sense of your writing in English, you must complete your writing assessment before your interview. You will receive the link to the assessment in your confirmation email. You will also receive a confirmation email with a link to schedule your interview with someone in our office.

In the confirmation email for completing your Writing Assessment, there will be a link to schedule an interview with someone in our program's office. We use this interview to get to know you and how you will best in our program. All interviews will be conducted on Microsoft Teams.

If you pass your interview with one of our staff members, you will receive a conditional acceptance letter, which will explain the remaining steps. Please note that this acceptance is contingent on you completing the other required steps of your enrollment. In your acceptance letter, you will receive a link to activate your student email account. You need this account set up in order to complete the next steps.

*Effective for Summer and Fall 2023 Enrollment* When you receive your acceptance letter and set up your student email account, you will be able to sign into all of the university systems. Using your username (everything before "@" in your student email) and password (same as student email), log into WISER and click the button that says "Finance and Financial Aid", "Student Financial Center", and "Account Summary". You will then be prompted to pay the non-refundable $40 USD Orientation Fee. For U.S. Resident Students: After you pay your Orientation Fee, you are all set! All that is left is for you to attend orientation and begin taking classes!

When you receive your acceptance letter, we will connect you with the Office of Global Programs. You will get an email from this office, explaining the process for applying for and receiving your I-20. *Please note that our Office (Pathways and Multilingual Programs) does not process I-20s directly and will not be able to make any changes to your I-20 application or the document itself. Any questions regarding your I-20 should be sent either to the Office of Global Programs' department email isss@umb.edu or our advisor in that office, Richard Truong (richard.truong@umb.edu).

After receiving your I-20, you must pay your I-901 (SEVIS) Fee and schedule your visa interview with the U.S. Embassy in your country. For tips on passing your interview, check out the helpful list compiled by the Office of Global Programs here. Read more about Step 7: Schedule and Pass your Visa Interview at your Local U.S. Embassy (For International Students Only)  »

Our program does not provide housing and on-campus housing is not available during standard semesters (Fall and Spring). UMass Boston does, however, have an Off-Campus Housing Office that will help you find a place that is close to campus, and in most cases, is accessible by public transportation. Check out their website here! Read more about Step 8: Make Housing Arrangements  »

After all of these steps, this will probably be the easiest one! All that's left is for you to book your flight and make your way to Boston for the start of the semester!