University in United States
Boston, MA, United States
University profile
Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It enrols more than 38,000 students from over 140 countries and employs more than 11,000 faculty and staff. Teaching is organised in 17 schools and colleges plus the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, with more than 300 programs of study at undergraduate, master's, doctoral and professional level. BU is one of the members of the Association of American Universities.
The university has three campuses in Boston. The Charles River Campus stretches along Commonwealth Avenue and the Charles River through the Kenmore/Fenway and Allston neighbourhoods; the Medical Campus is in the South End; and the Fenway Campus adds further residences. A free university shuttle, The BUS, links the Charles River and Medical campuses.
Schools and colleges include the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Communication, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of General Studies, Questrom School of Business, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Hospitality Administration, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, the Arvind & Chandan Nandlal Kilachand Honors College, and the graduate and professional schools: Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, School of Law, School of Public Health, School of Social Work, School of Theology, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Graduate Medical Sciences and Metropolitan College & Extended Education. A Division of Military Education offers ROTC.
Student life. First-year students are required to live in university residences, which range from brownstones to high-rises, and most other undergraduates also choose to live on campus. Residence and dining plans, including meal plans, are run by Housing. Study abroad options number 170+, and the university reports that 87% of students complete an internship, co-op, research or other experiential opportunity.
International students. About 21% of students are international, coming from 111 countries. International applicants submit TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic or Duolingo English Test results, financial documentation for the F-1 or J-1 visa, and are eligible for selected merit scholarships. BU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
BU meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted first-year and transfer students who are US citizens or permanent residents. From 2026-27 the BU Promise provides domestic first-time first-year students with aid meeting full need without loans; students from households under $200,000 with typical assets receive at least full tuition plus part of the standard housing and dining plan. The BU Scholarship Assurance guarantees first-year need-based aid will not be reduced, and increases it with tuition. Apply with the FAFSA and CSS Profile by the deadlines (Early Decision: November 2 CSS Profile; January 5 for FAFSA and Regular Decision CSS Profile). 90% of BU aid is need-based and 10% merit-based.
International students: need-based financial aid from BU is not currently available to international students, who may be eligible for select merit scholarships.
BU Need-Based Scholarships and BU Promise →
Browse the scholarships listed for Boston University and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for Boston University →Apply through the Common Application or the QuestBridge Application. Required: high school transcript, senior-year grades, school counselor recommendation and school report, one teacher evaluation, and two essays (Common App personal statement and BU supplemental essay). Applicants must choose a BU school or college; Kilachand Honors College is an option on the application. Recommended curriculum: 4 years of English, 3-4 years of mathematics (precalculus/calculus recommended), 3-4 years of laboratory science, 3-4 years of history and/or social science, and 2-4 years of a world language. College of Engineering applicants need a year of calculus; Questrom applicants need a year of calculus or a year of precalculus plus AP Statistics. College of Fine Arts applicants also audition or submit a portfolio.
Testing: BU is test optional for first-year applicants applying through fall 2028 and spring 2029, across all schools and scholarship programs. SAT and ACT are superscored if submitted (SAT code 3087, ACT code 1794).
Application fee: $80, payable through the Common Application; fee waivers are available.
Apply via the Common Application as a student with at least one full-time semester (12+ credits) as a degree candidate elsewhere. Required: college transcripts for all institutions, transfer report(s), high school transcript or GED, course syllabi for credit evaluation, and one essay of up to 600 words. SAT/ACT is not required. Applicants must select a major and cannot apply undeclared; Questrom applicants need college-level calculus. Fee: $80. Admission cannot be deferred. In fall 2024, 6,728 transfer applicants applied and 840 enrolled.
International first-year applicants submit the same credentials as other first-year applicants, with notarized English translations of documents in other languages and predicted results for examination-based curricula (IB, GCE, CBSE/ISC). English proficiency is required through TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic or Duolingo English Test (DET) if the first language is not English. Most competitive applicants have a TOEFL iBT composite of at least 90-100 with at least 20 in each section, IELTS Academic overall 7 or higher, or DET 125-135 or more; for TOEFL score reports from January 21, 2026, a total of 5.0 or higher. TOEFL code 3087. Waivers can be requested by the application deadline. F-1 or J-1 students submit financial documentation (Confidential Statement for Financing Studies and Sponsorship Support Confirmation) dated within 12 months of the start date, written in English, from liquid funds, and a passport data page (PDF).
Graduate applications go to the Graduate Admissions Office of the school or college of interest.
A free shuttle, The BUS, runs between the Charles River and Medical campuses. A mobile walking tour covers campus points of interest.
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