Suffolk University

Founded in 1906, Suffolk University is a four-year, private university that proudly welcomes international students to its downtown Boston campus. Suffolk is recognized as one of the Best National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report 2024.

Suffolk offers undergraduate and graduate programs in its College of Arts and Sciences, Sawyer Business School, and Suffolk Law School. International students make up 12 percent of the overall undergraduate student body, with over 96 countries represented, while they make up 18 percent of the overall graduate student body, with over 70 countries represented.

Suffolk University is in an ideal location: near Boston's Financial and Innovation Districts, and down the street from global corporate headquarters and cutting-edge start-ups. At Suffolk, education is tied to the engines that drive the economies of the city, region, and the world. Professors who work in and consult for major enterprises, and who are connected to employment opportunities throughout the city, teach Suffolk classes.

With more than 60 undergraduate areas of study and over 50 graduate degree options to choose from, students can study subjects they are passionate about in small classes that emphasize individualized teaching. The curriculum at Suffolk makes hands-on experience a part of every major, custom-built to lead to rich career opportunities. Students get an inside view of the day-to-day operations at companies like EY, Deloitte, New Balance, The Boston Globe, and McNeil, Gray & Rice Strategic Communications, where they participate in internships for academic credit.

Suffolk's campus is within walking distance of museums, historic sites, restaurants, world-class shopping, Boston Common, the Financial District, the Massachusetts State House, theaters, and so much more.

Suffolk offers undergraduate students more than 60 areas of study to choose from, with custom-built subjects offering rich career opportunities. Graduate students can choose from over 50 program options, including graduate degrees, dual degrees, certificates, and academic microcredentials. Undergraduates and graduates can access several STEM-designated programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Sawyer Business School.

Suffolk provides innovative, interdisciplinary offerings updated to reflect the contemporary world students graduate into. Programs of study range from traditional subjects to cutting-edge offerings such as urban environmentalism, financial wealth management, and big data and business analytics. Suffolk University offers this wide course catalog through:

College of Arts & Sciences

Suffolk University's College of Arts & Sciences programmes blend classroom learning with co-curricular activities and hands-on internships, taking students off campus to experience the wider world. Students learn via practical experiences to prepare them to make an impact in their careers.

Sawyer Business School

Suffolk University's Sawyer Business School offers a rigorous business education—with purpose. The school sits at the nexus of Boston's private, public, and nonprofit sectors and holds prestigious AACSB International accreditations. Students have unparalleled access to the city's financial and innovation clusters, seats of government, nonprofit organizations, and world-class healthcare institutions, and are taught by renowned faculty.

Suffolk Law School

Suffolk Law focuses on real-world practice and experiential learning, equipping students with tools to launch successful legal careers. It is the only law school in the United States with four top 35 ranked legal skills specialties—clinics, dispute resolution, legal writing, and trial advocacy—in U.S. News & World Report for seven years in a row (2017-23 editions).

Special resources are provided to Suffolk University students to help them excel in their studies and maximize all available academic opportunities. This support network starts from the first day on campus to graduation day and beyond as a valued member of the Suffolk University alumni community. The Division of Student Success offers various support mechanisms, including:

• Undergraduate Academic Advising – Academic advisors help students balance personal interests, curriculum, and graduation requirements.
• Career Development – The Center for Career Equity, Development & Success supports and empowers students and alumni with ongoing information and training for a competitive edge in the job market.
• Disability Services – A dedicated Office of Disability Services is committed to providing equal, effective, and meaningful access to all opportunities and programs for students with disabilities.
• International Programs and Services – The International Student Services Office advises on immigration, personal, social, and cultural matters, with staff specially trained to meet the needs of Suffolk's diverse international student community.
• Center for Learning and Academic Success – This center provides academic support services that help students enjoy an easy transition to college life and strengthen their commitment to academic success.

Scholarships & funding

There is a proud tradition of welcoming international students at Suffolk University. The dynamic, culturally diverse campus in the heart of Boston is built on a belief that quality education should be as affordable as possible. International students will be automatically considered for merit-based financial aid when they are admitted to the university. Generally, awards are based on previous academic achievement, work experience, standardized test scores and how well they fit in their programs of study.

All students are automatically considered for scholarships upon applying.

Hear what the Suffolk University experience is really like straight from Suffolk students.

Jack McDonnell, Political Science Major, Class of 2025

"I just knew right away that it would be awesome to go to school in Boston and be so close to everything. The vibe I got was that I'd be in a place where I could get a lot out of my experience. And I have."

Abishagi Obiero, Marketing Major/Biology Minor, Class of 2025

"I just knew right away that it would be awesome to go to school in Boston and be so close to everything. The vibe I got was that I'd be in a place where I could get a lot out of my experience. And I have."

Alessandra Rera, Biology Major/English Minor, Class of 2025

"I've wanted to become a pediatrician forever and always felt a passion for science. In my freshman year lab, we learned to measure with micropipettes that cost $1,000 each. That really stuck with me: Okay, we're working with the real stuff here."

Carter McPherson, Management Major/Business Law Minor, Class of 2025

"The classes here are very small, which turns them into discussions where the professors talk with you, not at you. Here, you make that connection with the faculty. I still talk to four or five professors regularly, despite not having had their class for years."

"I have a lot of doors to pick from because of Suffolk. The coursework develops you professionally and intellectually, the professors help you find your voice, and your peers inspire you to become extraordinary."

The university prioritizes the safety of students and staff. Suffolk has numerous programs and services aimed at maintaining the health and safety of all students, including:

Counseling, Health & Wellness:

This office provides students with primary health care, personal counseling, health education, prevention services, and co-curricular educational opportunities.

University Police

Suffolk Police and security staff operate across campus to maintain a safe and secure environment. Public safety for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors on Suffolk campuses is a top priority, and the dedicated police force strives to maintain this level of safety. There are also systems to circulate campus safety and emergency announcements to the Suffolk community, including RAVE, the University Emergency Messaging System.

Teaching Quality

Classrooms at Suffolk University are places that encourage animated discussion and debate, with small class sizes fostering vigorous engagement. With faculty committed to the success of their students and professors who are enthusiastic educators and recognized industry leaders in their fields, students receive high-quality mentoring to pave the way to rewarding careers.

Suffolk also strives to build practical experiences into their courses. For instance, broadcasting students produce "Suffolk in the City" television news segments, with the help of experienced faculty, which are aired on New England Cable News. Finance majors work with guidance to analyze stock markets and compare exchange rates of currencies in a simulated trading room environment. Entrepreneurship students aren't just reading about best practices, they're testing them by pitching ideas to executives at real companies and helping clients tackle real business challenges.

Students also gain valuable experience through internships, with the help of well-connected faculty, to set them apart in the job market at Fortune 500 companies, non-profit institutions, and game-changing start-ups that surround the campus.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates from Suffolk University enjoy great success in rewarding professional roles or by pursuing advanced degrees. Suffolk graduates are prepared with the skills, knowledge, and experience to meet the needs of the modern marketplace, whether in Boston or beyond.

97 percent of undergraduate-level and 98 percent of graduate-level Suffolk University Class of 2022 graduates are employed or continued their education within one-year of graduation.

1. Common Application or Suffolk Application
2. Essay and personal statement
3. Official college/university transcripts (in English or with an accompanying translation) from all institutions attended
4. Letter of recommendation
5. Proof of English Proficiency. A flexible testing policy requires only ONE of the following:

· A Test of English Proficiency. We accept (only one needed):

· SAT or ACT Scores (in lieu of an English Proficiency Test)

A SAT EBRW score of at least 520 or ACT Composite score of 19 and higher proves English proficiency. SAT and ACT scores can be self-reported but are not mandatory.

· International Baccalaureate (IB), AP, IGCSE, GCSE and AS/A-level

• IB HL English Predicted scores (if provided by the high school), B average or a predicted score of 5 minimum
• First Language English Exams in the IGCSE or GCSE or AS/A-Level Predicted/Actual results, B average
• B average performance in AP ENG LANG and COMP or AP ENG LIT and COMP course

· Transfer Students Currently at a US Institution

If students have taken the equivalent of the university's WRI 101/102 course with a B or better average, they can waive the test of English proficiency requirement.

· Gao Kao Exam

Gao Kao: students from mainland China who have taken the Gaokao exam where English was one of the three areas tested, may arrange an interview via the Initial View website or contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

· Test Exemptions

Exempt if the student is from a country where English is the First and Official Language. If they are unsure if their country qualifies, please complete the Test of English Proficiency Waiver Request form.