International Student
ATTENTION CURRENT BU INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS!
The International Students and Scholars Office will be hosting an educational session on “Renting and Tenants Rights” this Friday, February 26, 2010, from 3:45pm – 4:45pm, on the second floor of the ISSO (888 Commonwealth Avenue). For more information, please visit: http://www.bu.edu/isso/news/2010/SPR10-CHAT.html
Where do students live?
Boston is home to several world-class hospitals, cultural institutions, and more than 60 colleges and univerities. Within an hour’s commute of New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island – and only 5 hours by car to New York City – Boston is perfectly situated for quick trips throughout the northeast. Whether you are here for only a semester or plan to stay on for several years, Boston’s location affords easy access to explore the U.S. Before you head off to see the rest of the country, we hope you will take advantage of the many rich cultural, educational, and social oppotunities Boston has to offer.
Boston truly is a “city of neighborhoods.” From stately brownstones and upscale shopping in the Back Bay to the mom-and-pop convenience stores, triple-deckers, and single-family homes of Allston, Brighton, and Mission Hill, Boston offers a rich cultural and ethnic diversity with something for everyone. Whether you would prefer a more densely-populated neighborhood with trendy restaurants, a thriving nightlife, and proximity to the BU campus or a quieter residential suburb less than an hour outside of the city, you are sure to find housing to suit your lifestyle and budget. Choosing the neighborhood that best suits your personality will be an important first step in your housing search.
Allston and Brighton, two distinct communities on the western edge of the Charles River campus, are especially popular with our undergraduate students. Brookline, which borders BU to the south, is also home to many of our undergraduates. Students enrolled in the School of Medicine and the Goldman School of Dental Medicine typically prefer to live in the South End, Back Bay, and South Boston, neighborhoods surrounding BU’s medical campus. While many graduate students are clustered in the Back Bay, South End, Brookline, and the Kenmore/Fenway area, some commute in from the suburbs. Cambridge, Somerville, and Arlington to the north of Boston and Newton to the west are often good options for graduate students. Descriptions of these and other Boston neighborhoods can be found here.
What is the cost for housing?
Rent prices can vary greatly between neighborhoods in Boston. The rent comparison chart shows a range of what, in general, you should expect to pay in monthly rent relative to apartment size and neighborhood location.
Can I apply for on-campus housing?
Boston University’s Office of Rental Property Management offers a variety of accommodations, from studios to one- and two-bedroom apartments. The units are conveniently located on or near the Charles River campus and restricted to graduate students. Most accommodations include heat and hot water. To learn more about the rooms and apartments available through this office, call 617-353-4101 or visit www.bu.edu/orpm.
A limited number of single- and double-occupancy dormitory-style rooms are also available for graduate students through Boston University’s Housing office. On-campus housing through this office is available for the acdemic year (September through May) and is conveniently located close to Kenmore Square on the east side of the Charles River campus. Amenities in these small hall, brownstone residences include study lounges and laundry facilities with easy access to the University dining rooms. The Myles Standish Hall and Shelton Hall dining rooms are just steps away from the graduate residences and are open weekdays from 9 a.m. to midnight and weekends from 9:30 or 10:30 a.m. to midnight. Residents of dormitory-style residences are required to purchase a dining plan and may choose from among 6 undergraduate plans or select the Grad Flex 1000, a dining plan available only to graduate students. Inquiries regarding graduate on-campus housing should be directed to the Office of Housing.
Undergraduate international students are also eligible to apply for on-campus housing and should contact the Housing office on 617-353-3511 or housing @bu.edu for more information.
How do I search the off-campus listings?
Access to our listings is restricted to the Boston University community. You must have a valid BU login and Kerberos password to view listings.
Newly admitted students who have not yet received their BU login name and Kerberos password, and wish to access our listings, should visit www.bu.edu/computing/earlybird to set up an account.