This article was originally reported in October 2025.
The Fletcher School at Tufts University, best known for international affairs, launched a Graduate Certificate in Business that Tufts undergraduates can earn alongside their bachelor’s degree at no extra cost. Tufts promoted the new certificate to undergraduates at FletcherFest, an evening event in October 2025 (Tufts Global, October 16, 2025).
How the certificate works
- Who can enroll: Tufts juniors and seniors in any major.
- Courses: four graduate-level courses at Fletcher; the Tufts Daily described them as three core courses on problem-solving fundamentals plus one elective. The program builds skills in areas such as finance, marketing and supply chain management.
- No extra time or tuition: the courses count toward the 120 credits required for a Tufts undergraduate degree and are covered by regular tuition.
- Start: students could begin in fall 2025 or spring 2026.
Bhaskar Chakravorti, Fletcher’s dean of global business, said the program aims to connect business intelligence with “contextual intelligence” and benefits students in every field, including the sciences and the arts. “The big benefit is you’re not going to be taking extra time to complete the certificate,” he said. Patrick Schena, professor of the practice and director of Tufts’ finance minor, said the “study of economics and business is essential to a well-rounded undergraduate education” (The Tufts Daily, September 18, 2025).
The certificate gives students in economics, international relations, engineering and other fields a structured way to take graduate business courses. The Tufts Daily noted it could also strengthen applications to graduate programs and open access to Fletcher research and consulting opportunities.
Latest update: the first certificate earned
In June 2026 Fletcher reported that Trevor Hillier, an economics major in the Class of 2026 and a linebacker on the Tufts football team, was the first Tufts undergraduate to earn the certificate. His Fletcher courses included Strategic Management, Financial Statement Management, Managing Operations and Supply Chains in Global Companies, Corporate Finance and Global Private Equity. “The certificate allows you to take free courses at Fletcher,” he said (The Fletcher School, June 12, 2026).
Fletcher also lists other options for Tufts undergraduates: an accelerated BA/BS–MA in international affairs, and Map Your Future, a deferred-enrollment program for students who want to work before starting a Fletcher master’s in international affairs or the Master of International Business (Fletcher, For Tufts Undergraduates). Questions about the certificate go to [email protected].
What international students should know
- Same access as other Tufts undergraduates. The certificate is part of the undergraduate degree, so international students at Tufts on F-1 visas can take it without changing programs or adding a term.
- Financial aid: Tufts meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students regardless of citizenship, but international students must apply for aid when they apply for admission; those who do not usually cannot receive aid later (Tufts Admissions, International Student Aid).
- Rankings: Tufts ranks No. 31 in the 2027 U.S. News national universities ranking. See Forward Pathway’s Tufts University page for admissions data, costs and international enrollment.
References
- The Tufts Daily: The Fletcher School launches Graduate Certificate in Business for undergraduates (September 18, 2025)
- Tufts Global: Students Explore Business and Global Affairs Education Opportunities at FletcherFest (October 16, 2025)
- The Fletcher School: First Tufts student earns Graduate Certificate in Business (June 12, 2026)
- The Fletcher School: For Tufts Undergraduates
- Tufts Admissions: International Student Aid