<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-06-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001453687</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SELECTA BIOSCIENCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SELB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001508052</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Flagship Ventures Fund 2007, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MEMORIAL DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001508053</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Flagship Ventures 2007 General Partner LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MEMORIAL DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222012</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AFEYAN NOUBAR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MEMORIAL DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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    </reportingOwner>

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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-06-27</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>318752</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series E Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-06-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>125008</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>193777</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Held by Flagship Ventures Fund 2007, L.P. (&quot;Flagship 2007&quot;). Flagship Ventures 2007 General Partner LLC (&quot;Flagship 2007 LLC&quot;) is the general partner of Flagship 2007. Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D. and Edwin M. Kania, Jr. are the managers of Flagship 2007 LLC. Flagship 2007 LLC and each of these individuals may be deemed to share voting and investment power with respect to all shares held by Flagship 2007. Each of the filing persons disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The preferred stock is convertible at any time, at the holder's election and has no expiration date. The preferred stock automatically converted into common stock on a 1-for-1 basis upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Series E Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible at any time, at the holder's election and has no expiration date. The Series E Convertible Preferred Stock automatically converted into common stock on an approximately 1-for-1.550115 basis upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FLAGSHIP VENTURES FUND 2007, L.P. By: Flagship Ventures 2007 General Partner LLC By: /s/  Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D., Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-06-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FLAGSHIP VENTURES 2007 GENERAL PARTNER LLC By: /s/ Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D., Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-06-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/ Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-06-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
