Boston College Fully Funded PhD Scholarship in Social Work 2027

The Boston College School of Social Work is inviting applications for its PhD programme, designed to train future researchers, university educators and scholars working to address social challenges and improve social welfare.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineDecember 1, 2026
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorBoston College
• City to studyMassachusetts
• School to studyBoston College
• Course to studySocial work
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• Applicants must have a master’s degree in social work or a related field 

• Applicants are fully funded with a doctoral fellowship valued at more than $250,000 over the course of four years, including tuition remission, health insurance, professional development support, and an annual stipend.

Requirements

International Applicants
International applicants should follow specific application requirements, including transcript evaluations, English proficiency documentation (if required), and payment of the application fee. Admitted students must provide financial documentation to obtain a student visa. The BC Office of International Students and Scholars offers guidance and support throughout the enrollment process.

Selection Process

1. Submit Online: Complete BC's graduate application with all required materials by December 1. 
2. Faculty Review: The doctoral committee reviews each application, matching research interests to faculty mentors. 
3. Interview: Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview with faculty in January.
4. Decision: Admitted students receive their fully funded fellowship offer by early February. 

Application Documents

• Statement of Purpose: Submit a two- to three-page, double-spaced personal statement outlining your reasons for pursuing a PhD at BC, relevant experience, goals, faculty interests, program fit, and career aspirations.
• Three Letters of Recommendation: Ideally from academic references who can speak to your research potential and readiness for doctoral study. 
• Résumé or CV: Submit a resume, CV, or chronological employment history, including relevant jobs, internships, and volunteer experience. List your title, dates of service, and average hours worked per week for each role.
• Writing Sample: A scholarly paper demonstrating your research and analytical writing ability—published or unpublished. 
• Transcripts: From all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended — a master's degree in social work or a related field is required. 
• Application Fee/Waivers: A nonrefundable $40 application fee is due when you submit your application and may be paid online or by mail before the December 1 deadline. Fee waivers are available for eligible U.S. military veterans and Peace Corps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, City Year, and AmeriCorps volunteers with qualifying documentation.
• No GRE Required: We evaluate the whole application. If you choose not to submit GRE scores, you are strongly encouraged to speak about your verbal and quantitative reasoning ability in your personal statement and provide other supporting materials. If you choose to submit GRE scores, you should submit an official score report from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) earned within the last five years. The BCSSW School Code is 3219 and the BCSSW Department Code is 5199. 

Check also:
Fairleigh Dickinson Scholarships for International Students 2026

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Applications are made via the Application Portal.

For more information, kindly visit the Boston College webpage.