ListOfUni

Boston University (BU)

Massachusetts, United States
Visit School Website
  • Private Type
  • 37,557 Students
  • 4309 Faculties
  • 1839Founded
  • YesAccept Int. Studs
  • YesDistance learning

About

Founded in 1839, Boston University is one of the largest independent, nonprofit universities in the United States. With a commitment to research, academic excellence, and community engagement, BU provides students with a dynamic and inclusive environment for learning and personal growth.

Acronym BU
Motto / Slogan Learning, Virtue, Piety
Colour Scarlet and White
Mascot Rhett the Boston Terrier
Founded 1839
Undergraduate Programmes
Postgraduate Programmes 400
Departments 22
Location Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Address Boston University, Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, United States

Mission

Boston University is an international, comprehensive, private research university, committed to educating students to be reflective, resourceful individuals ready to live, adapt, and lead in an interconnected world. Boston University is committed to generating new knowledge to benefit society.

We remain dedicated to our founding principles: that higher education should be accessible to all and that research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice should be conducted in the service of the wider community—local and international. These principles endure in the University’s insistence on the value of diversity, in its tradition and standards of excellence, and in its dynamic engagement with the City of Boston and the world.

Boston University comprises a remarkable range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs built on a strong foundation of the liberal arts and sciences. With the support and oversight of the Board of Trustees, the University, through our faculty, continually innovates in education and research to ensure that we meet the needs of students and an ever-changing world.

Vision

Boston University is an international, comprehensive, private research university, committed to educating students to be reflective, resourceful individuals ready to live, adapt, and lead in an interconnected world. Boston University is committed to generating new knowledge to benefit society.

We remain dedicated to our founding principles: that higher education should be accessible to all and that research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice should be conducted in the service of the wider community—local and international. These principles endure in the University’s insistence on the value of diversity, in its tradition and standards of excellence, and in its dynamic engagement with the City of Boston and the world.

Boston University comprises a remarkable range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs built on a strong foundation of the liberal arts and sciences. With the support and oversight of the Board of Trustees, the University, through our faculty, continually innovates in education and research to ensure that we meet the needs of students and an ever-changing world.

Boston University

Main Academic Divisions (Faculties)

  1. College of Arts & Sciences
  2. College of Communication
  3. College of Engineering
  4. College of Fine Arts
  5. College of General Studies
  6. College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College
  7. Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
  8. Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
  9. Metropolitan College
  10. Questrom School of Business
  11. School of Dental Medicine
  12. School of Education
  13. School of Hospitality Administration
  14. School of Law
  15. School of Medicine
  16. School of Public Health
  17. School of Social Work
  18. School of Theology
  19. Wheelock College of Education & Human Development

Reasons to Study at Boston University

  1. You’ll Learn From Accomplished Professors

    • Jump right into introductory courses with Rhodes and Fulbright scholars, Presidential Award winners, a MacArthur genius, and more.
    • Conduct research alongside professors doing incredible work, such as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.
    • In fact, our sterling reputation earned us an invitation to join the prestigious Association of American Universities.
  2. World-Class Reputation & Rankings

    BU is one of only three universities in Boston and Cambridge named to the prestigious Association of American Universities. Ranked #42 among national universities by U.S. News & World Report. #3 Most popular state for international students. Ranked #17 in Top 50 Best Colleges in Big Cities by Newsweek.


     


     


     

  3. Academic Excellence

    Student-to-faculty ratio. Schools and Colleges to choose from to study whatever your heart desires. 90% Of faculty have a PhD or equivalent. Ranked #26 for Best Value by U.S. News & World Report for academic excellence and economic value. 579.5 Million in research awards awarded to BU. 30 The average class size you'll find at BU, which means you'll get to know your professors well.
     


     


     

  4. A Global Impact

    Ranked #7 among universities hosting the most international students in the US by Open Doors. 170+ study abroad opportunities. 650+ Global themed courses to choose from. 3 Most Popular US States for International Students. Students come from 111 Countries and 47 States.

Fees

Undergraduate Tuition

Indigenous Students USD 69,870

Admission

Undergraduate Admission Requirement

As a first-year applicant, you must submit the following credentials. International applicants must also submit additional credentials.

  • Common Application or QuestBridge Application
  • High School Transcript
  • Senior Year Grades
  • Counselor Recommendation and School Report Form
  • Teacher Evaluation
  • Standardized Tests (Optional)
  • College of Fine Arts Requirements

Video Submission (Optional)

 

International Applicants:

View the entry requirements on the application page for international applicants.

 

Supporting Documents

  • Secondary School Records
  • Senior Year Grades
  • Counselor Recommendation and School Report Form
  • Teacher Evaluation
  • English Proficiency Testing
  • InitialView and Vericant Interviews (Optional)
  • Documentation of Financial Support
  • Copy of Data Page of Passport
  • Standardized Tests (Optional)

Postgraduate Admission Requirments

Entry requirements vary by program and course. Check the program and course page for requirements.

Supporting Documents

  • Transcripts
  • Two recommendation letters
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Personal statement
  • Writing Sample

How To Apply For Admission

UNDERGRADUATE:

  • You must complete and submit the Common Application to be considered for undergraduate admission to Boston University.


 POSTGRADUATE:

  • All applications and supporting documents may be submitted through our convenient online application.  

Admission Contacts

Email: [email protected],[email protected]
Phone : 617-353-2300, 617-353-4492

Apply For Admission

Campus Tour

Facilities

  • Classrooms
  • Library
  • Laboratory
  • Research Center
  • Accommodation
  • Hospital
  • Sports
  • Gym
  • ICT
  • Cafeteria
  • Library: BU Libraries provide research tools and services that include library tutorials, library instruction from research basics to graduate-level classes, reference services in all our major libraries, access to digital resources, specialist consultations, and librarian-created guides with curated resources. Our specialized libraries develop targeted collections for area-specific research, offering access to the best available resources.

 

  • Research Center: BU is home to a multitude of research centers and institutes, many of which are embedded in BU’s 17 schools and colleges. A subset of those centers, listed below, facilitate highly collaborative research that spans disciplines and report directly to the Office of Research.

 

School Contact

Address

Boston University, Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, United States

Phone Number

+1 617-353-2000

Website Address

https://www.bu.edu/

Social Media Pages

Accreditations

  • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
  • Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
  • Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)

Vice Chancellor

Melissa L. Gilliam

Dr. Melissa L. Gilliam became Boston University’s eleventh president on July 1, 2024. Dr. Gilliam is an esteemed and award-winning interdisciplinary researcher in medicine, public health, and the humanities. Dr. Gilliam joined Boston University from The Ohio State University, where she held the Engie-Axium chair and served as executive vice president and provost overseeing 15 colleges and six ca... read more
mpuses and the Office of Academic Affairs, including undergraduate education, graduate education, international affairs, diversity and inclusion, external engagement, online learning, and information technology. She placed a keen focus on issues of access, affordability, and reducing student debt.

 


 

Academic Staff

  • Gloria Waters

    University Provost and Chief Academic Offic

    Leads BU's academic efforts in concert with the deans of the University’s 17 schools and colleges and the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences.

  • Jason Campbell-Foster

    Dean of Students The Office of the Dean of Students is at the heartbeat of student life. Our dedicated team is wholeheartedly committed to supporting you throughout your journey at Boston University. We serve as mento... read more
    rs and counselors, fostering an environment that not only promotes scholarly exchange but also encourages your individual expression.
  • Kamrhan Farwell

    Senior Vice President, University Relations

    Oversees Marketing & Communications, Government & Community Affairs, and Federal Relations.

  • Andrew Forsyth

    Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees Principal Liaison with the Board of Trustees and oversees the Office of the Trustees. The Secretary of the Board is the custodian of all official records and of the University seal. The Secretary arra... read more
    nges the meetings of the Board of Trustees and its committees, prepares the minutes of meetings, and serves as a liaison between the Board and other members of the University community.

     


     

View More Staff

Notable Alumni

View More Alumni

History

Boston University traces its roots to the establishment of the "Newbury Biblical Institute" in Newbury, Vermont, in 1839, and was chartered with the name "Boston University" by the Massachusetts Legislature when it moved there in 1869. The university organized formal centennial observances both in 1939 and 1969. One or the other, or both dates, may appear on various official seals used by different schools of the university.

On April 24–25, 1839, a group of Methodist ministers and laymen at the Old Bromfield Street Church in Boston elected to establish a Methodist theological school. Set up in Newbury, Vermont, the school was named the "Newbury Biblical Institute".

In 1847, the... read more

Congregational Society in Concord, New Hampshire, invited the institute to relocate to Concord and offered a disused Congregational church building with a capacity of 1200 people. Other citizens of Concord covered the remodeling costs. One stipulation of the invitation was that the Institute remain in Concord for at least 20 years. The charter issued by New Hampshire designated the school the "Methodist General Biblical Institute", but it was commonly called the "Concord Biblical Institute".

With the agreed twenty years coming to a close, the trustees of the Concord Biblical Institute purchased 30 acres (120,000 m2) on Aspinwall Hill in Brookline, Massachusetts, as a possible relocation site. The institute moved in 1867 to 23 Pinkney Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, and received a Massachusetts Charter as the "Boston Theological Seminary".

In 1869, three trustees of the "Boston Theological Institute" obtained from the Massachusetts Legislature a charter for a university by the name of "Boston University". These trustees were successful Boston businessmen and Methodist laymen, with a history of involvement in educational enterprises, and they became the founders of Boston University. They were Isaac Rich (1801–1872), Lee Claflin (1791–1871), and Jacob Sleeper (1802–1889), for whom Boston University's three West Campus dormitories were later named. Lee Claflin's son, William, was then Governor of Massachusetts and signed the University Charter on May 26, 1869, after it was passed by the Legislature.