Study Abroad

Boston University offers a number of study and internship opportunities abroad. At the moment, the following programs are available in Asia:

Singapore Exchange Program

Boston University students have the opportunity to study for a semester or an academic year at the National University of Singapore (NUS), one of Asia’s leading universities. Singapore is a cosmopolitan city-state and one of Asia’s economic powerhouses, supporting a diverse and multi-lingual population, including Chinese, Malay, and Indian. NUS is one of the top ten universities in the Asia Pacific region, offering courses in all major disciplines, ranging from the sciences, engineering and technology to law, humanities, medicine, computing, business and social sciences. The Singapore Exchange Program offers four “pathways” of study: Asian Studies, Culture and Religion, Science, and Engineering. In addition, all students are required to study an Asian language—Chinese, Japanese, or Malay; other courses are taught in English.

Shanghai Chinese Studies/Internship Program

The Division of International Programs offers Chinese Studies and Internship Programs in Shanghai (P.R. China) in collaboration with Fudan University. This gives students the opportunity to spend a semester or a summer in the vibrant city of Shanghai while enrolling in either a Chinese Studies track or an Internship track. Upon completion, students earn 16 credits. Standard International Programs criteria apply and the program is open to qualified BU and non-BU applicants.  No prior knowledge of Chinese language is required for the Chinese Studies track, but students are required to study intensive beginning Chinese on the program.  Four semesters of college-level Chinese language or the equivalent are required for the Internship track.  Faculty are from Fudan University and Boston University.

Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies (KCJS)

Boston University students have the opportunity to participate in an academic year or semester of study at the KCJS, sponsored by a consortium of 14 American universities and administered in Japan by the Overseas Studies Program of Columbia University. Upon completion of a semester, students earn 16 to 20 Boston University credits.

Keio University Exchange

BU students can spend a semester or an academic year at Keio University in Tokyo, one of Japan’s top private research universities. The exchange program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students, and has no language prerequisite. While BU students studying at Keio are expected to take at least one Japanese language course a semester, the heart of the program is made up of courses taught in English through Keio’s Center for Japanese Study, on subjects such as Japanese business, literature, art, religion, diplomacy, and technology. Students are accommodated in either dormitories or apartments in Tokyo.

International Management MBA Program

This MBA program begins during the summer in Asia and follows the same requirements as the School of Management’s General MBA program. Students spend five weeks in Shanghai (China) and then five weeks in Kobe (Japan), combining intensive classwork, multicultural teamwork, and visits to Shanghai’s and Kansai’s great corporations and cultural landmarks. During this Asian stage, they earn 20 MBA credits, 16 core credits, and 4 electives credits for a Business in Asia course. All courses in Asia are taught by BU School of Management faculty. After completing the Asian component of the program, students return to Boston and finish their remaining 44 MBA credits.

For more information on all BU programs in Asia, please visit the BU Division of International Programs Website.