The mission of Boston University Study Abroad is to offer excellent, innovative, and diverse cross-cultural learning experiences for students. Our study abroad programs cultivate the intellectual, professional, and personal qualities necessary for success in an increasingly interconnected world.
We are looking forward to working with you throughout this process! BU Study Abroad is here to answer any questions you may have about sending your advisee/student abroad. Our aim is to provide support for you and the students you advise and ensure students are prepared for a successful study abroad experience. This Advisor Resource page has many helpful resources all in one place for your convenience, but if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to us at abroad@bu.edu.
Advisor's Role
We require an Advisor Form as part of the application. We do not review applications until this application piece is completed, as we want to ensure students have been in touch with their appropriate advisor (academic or study abroad) regarding their plans to study abroad and discuss how studying abroad will impact their academic plan. The Advisor Form indicates to our office that a student has met with the appropriate advisor, and we typically recommend that students start the conversation with their Study Abroad Office to see if they are the office who is best-suited to complete this form. If you are an advisor at one of our sending schools or partner institutions and are unable to complete the Advisor Form, please reach out to abroad@bu.edu with any questions or concerns that you have.
Completing the Advisor Form
Students will nominate their advisor for each application, and the Advisor Form will be sent to you via our online application system and asks that you sign off on the following:
I have reviewed and support the plan of study and have discussed the transfer of academic credit with the student. Upon the student’s completion of the program and return to campus, courses will be reviewed by the appropriate department representative to verify if the course will be applied toward fulfillment of major and minor degree requirements.
There is additional space for comments for the admissions committee if needed. By requiring this form for all applicants, we hope to avoid any miscommunication between BU Study Abroad, the student, and you, and make sure everyone is on the same page in supporting the student’s application to study abroad. The student’s signature on the form indicates the following:
- Have discussed the plan of study with an appropriate advisor
- Assume responsibility for researching how the courses taken abroad may apply towards my overall degree requirements
- Assume responsibility for completing any additional steps for study abroad coursework to be applied towards fulfilment of my major and minor requirements
- Understand my application will be considered for the alternate choice programs I have listed on this for min the order they are listed
- Understand that if my current program or course selections deviate from my plan of study, I am responsible for communicating with my Advisor
- Understand that if my academic department or institution does not approve of my study abroad coursework or program, I may not fulfill my academic requirements and I may be forgoing credit
Students must complete this process for every application they submit. In the event the student switches programs or BU Study Abroad cannot accommodate their first choice, you may need to complete an additional Advisor Form.
Resource Quick Links
Please feel free to bookmark and save these links as they will be helpful resources for you to refer to as you advise your students on BU Study Abroad Programs.
Info for ALL Advisors
Application Components
Applications have several components:
- Application Questionnaire
- Advisor Form
- Academic Recommendation
- Transcript(s)
- Résumé
- Non-refundable $55 Application fee
- Additional program-specific materials as required.
Once all items have been received and processed by BU Study Abroad (as indicated by a green check mark in the box under Application Pieces column), your application will be ready for review. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials have been received by the BU Study Abroad office. Please note, your application will not be considered complete until all materials have been received. More information about the BU Study Abroad application can be found on our website here.
Most programs follow our main application deadlines, which can be found by reviewing our admissions calendar here, but there are exceptions. Please be sure to confirm what your program deadlines are and whether the program is on a rolling admission cycle or not on specific program pages.
For rolling admissions programs, applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been received. To ensure full consideration, students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as some programs and internships have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline does not guarantee acceptance. Students can expect an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.
Application Process
The BU Study Abroad application process is straightforward and all online. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor (and study abroad office if they do not attend Boston University), and meet with the Program Manager for their intended program. We process all application documents manually and do ask for one week of processing time. All items are backdated to the date they were received.
Students with a complete application will receive an admission decision in two to three weeks* (some exceptions apply). For competitive programs or tracks, BU Study Abroad may, in some cases, place applications on hold until a review of the full applicant pool is completed. We will notify students of their admissions decision via email. The email will include information and resources necessary for the next steps.
All students will be expected to attend a pre-departure meeting, typically held in late November/early December for Spring programs, and April for Summer and Fall programs. The pre-departure meeting will cover important program details, such as academics, arrival information, cultural differences/expectations, and health and safety information. This event is mandatory for all students and is offered in a hybrid format. All program-specific sessions will be recorded and sent out via email for students who have an excused absence. In addition, students are expected to watch and mark complete pre-departure modules through program Blackboard courses after they are registered for their programs.
Some students will need to apply for a student visa. Our Program Managers have information readily available for students and supply many of the supporting documentation, but if you or your students have questions about the visa application process, please email their Program Manager and/or abroad@bu.edu.
Throughout the entire application process, students will be supported by their Program Manager and our Enrollment Services team. During peak admissions season it is typical for our response time to be 24-48 hours.
Advising Options
Thinking about studying abroad but not sure where to start?
We have many great options for you to meet with a Study Abroad Advisor. Please review those below to determine the right fit for you!
General Advising Appointments
Mondays: 10AM – 4PM
Tuesdays: 10AM – 1PM
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 1PM – 4PM
calendly.com/busa/walkinhours
Visit our Calendly page to schedule an appointment for general advising, where we can talk about:
- What you’re looking for in a program
- Our application process and choosing a program
- How to make sure our wide array of programs fits your academic and personal needs
- Program costs and planning for a semester or summer abroad
Program-Specific Advising Appointments
Visit the Calendly pages of our Program Managers below to schedule an appointment if:
- You are currently working on an application and have specific questions about your program(s) of interest
- You have already received your admissions decisions and have questions for your Program Manager
Admissions Calendar
| Fall Semester & Academic Year Programs |
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| Spring Semester Programs |
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| Summer Programs |
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For information on exceptions to deadlines and/or exceptions to rolling admissions, visit our admissions calendar webpage.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Guide
Boston University Study Abroad seeks to build and sustain programs that make every student, whether from Boston University or elsewhere, feel prepared, welcomed, supported, empowered and valued throughout their experience. Our office has created a resource to help support students from diverse backgrounds. You can review and share the guide here.
Program Dates
BU Study Abroad publishes general timeframes for our programs on the program webpages. We understand how important it is for your planning to know the specific program dates. As program dates are finalized, we publish them on the program Pre-Departure Pages. Please note students are not given access to these pages until after they are admitted to the program. We ask that you do not share this link with students so as not to confuse them.
To view the dates as they are finalized, visit our Pre-Departure Pages and click on the specific location/program you are interested in viewing. Once you are on that program’s Pre-Departure Page, click on “Calendar” to view the most up-to-date information.
Please note these documents are updated regularly. Before advising students on flights, please encourage them to review their Pre-Departure pages and be in contact with their Program Manager. These dates are for reference only.
BU Academic Policies
Boston University–administered study abroad programs offer fully accredited Boston University courses taught by highly qualified and experienced faculty. All courses taught directly by Boston University at one of our program sites carry an official Boston University course number. This means that the course has been approved through Boston University’s rigorous curriculum-approval process, including review and approval at the departmental and college levels at Boston University. All students will receive a Boston University transcript upon successful completion of the program. You can read more about BU Study Abroad academic policies here.
If you are looking for information on Academic Accommodations and Support, click here.
Syllabi
Many of our syllabi are hyperlinked in the Curriculum section of each program page. Although these syllabi may not always be up-to-date to reflect the current semester, they are often sufficient and meet the needs of students and advisors in the course approval process. If you require a more updated syllabus, or if a syllabus is not listed/linked on the program page, please email abroad@bu.edu or the Program Manager. If you are one of our University Partners, please email your University Relations Representative.
Health and Safety
BU Study Abroad is committed to ensuring students’ health, safety, and security on all programs. We have a dedicated team of full-time staff who are constantly monitoring local conditions in all of the countries/cities in which we operate and work closely with health officials. With over 40 years’ experience running Study Abroad programs, you and your families can feel secure that Boston University has the plans, procedures, and expertise in place to handle daily safety and security needs as well as emergency situations.
All students participating in an international BU Study Abroad program will be enrolled in comprehensive international health and evacuation insurance through GeoBlue. This is included in our program fee and cannot be waived. Our office will automatically enroll students in GeoBlue coverage, which typically begins one day before the program begins and expires one day after the program end date.
Contact Us
You can always reach us at abroad@bu.edu or 617-353-9888, but use the information below for more specific contact information.
BU Study Abroad Contact Information
9 a.m.–5 p.m. EST617-353-9888abroad@bu.edu888 Commonwealth Ave
2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02215
Follow us on social media at @buabroad on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
For more detailed contact information click here.
Advising Options & Contact Information
Emergency Contact Information
Students and parents may call the International SOS Assistance Center for 24/7 overseas emergency response and support at 215-942-8478; you can also reach them via the International SOS Assistance App. Students also receive in-country emergency contact information for their program upon acceptance and during the onsite orientation.
Helpful Enrollment Services Contacts
Study Abroad Ambassadors
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
BU Study Abroad sends out a monthly newsletter with program updates, grants/scholarship deadlines, Ambassador spotlights and upcoming events. If you’d like to receive that newsletter, sign up here!
Specific Info for BU Academic Advisors
Course Approval Process
It is the student’s responsibility to speak with their advisor before arriving in-country to get their courses pre-approved. Many of our BU Study Abroad programs offer courses with BU course codes, which makes it easy for students and advisors to determine how the course will fit into a student’s academic plan. Many of our programs, such as our exchanges and programs that offer direct enroll at a local university, will require a little added work on behalf of the student and advisor. Most course descriptions will be available on our host institution’s website (which may be in another language). If you require additional information, you or the student can reach out to abroad@bu.edu. Note that students should plan to be somewhat flexible with their courses, as all pre-approved courses may not be offered.
If a student is participating in an External Program, they will need to complete additional documentation for course approvals. Note this is NOT required for most BU Study Abroad programs, and the student should be in contact with our External Programs staff at nonbusa@bu.edu.
External Programs vs BUSA Programs
Boston University Study Abroad offers a depth and breadth of program types designed to meet students’ academic and personal goals. We outline the characteristics of our program types on our website. We encourage you to review so you can better advise students on which program model is best for them.
If students have researched all of BU’s programs and exchanges, including discussing options with BUSA staff, and cannot find one that matches their academic or personal goals then an External Program might be right for them. There is an entirely different process for External Programs (including differences in course approvals, credit transfer, and fees) so students should review our website for more information.
If students need more clarification on any of these questions or want to discuss how feasible an external program will be for them, they can speak with David Lamitie, Associate Director, Program Development and External Programs.
While Student is Abroad
Our office will continue to support you and your student while they are abroad. Below are a few common questions students have while they are abroad.
Course Registration
BU Study Abroad will register students for a 16-credit placeholder course before their semester abroad, which will be updated with final courses before they complete the program. Students should not attempt to register for courses on their own for their study abroad semester, as this will interfere with the final course registration while studying on one of our programs.
Students will use WebReg to register for their return semester courses while abroad. Students should work with their academic advisors remotely to plan for their return semester to campus. Remind your students to be mindful of the time difference between Boston and local time during their registration period, as well as ensuring they have reliable access to the internet at their designated registration time. All students participating in a BU Study Abroad program are responsible for their own return semester course registration.
More information can be found on the Course Registration page.
Housing Selection for CRC
BU Study Abroad works closely with students and BU Housing to make sure students complete the necessary documentation both before they leave and after they return from a semester abroad. Much of this process happens while the student is studying abroad. If students have questions, please direct them to email abroad@bu.edu.
When Student Returns
Students may still have questions for our office after they return from studying abroad. Below are a couple common topics.
Transcripts and Grades
Grades earned on BU Study Abroad programs will appear on the student’s Boston University transcript and will be averaged into their grade point average as normal. Please note that grades may not be available for several weeks (or months in some extenuating circumstances), but they will be uploaded by BU Study Abroad when available from the host institution. This may affect graduating seniors who study abroad in their final semester. Please be in touch with BU Study Abroad if the student has any concerns about this.More information on academic policies, grades, and transcripts can be found on our website.
Study Abroad Ambassador
The BU Study Abroad Ambassador Program is an opportunity for students to share their global perspectives and study abroad stories, raise awareness and interest in study abroad programs, and inspire their peers and prospective BU students to engage in diverse and inclusive cross-cultural learning experiences worldwide. It is also an incredible way for students to process their study abroad experiences while gaining leadership and professional development skills.Please share more information with any students that might be interested in becoming a BU Study Abroad Ambassador. More details can be found here.
If one of your students wants to connect with a BU Study Abroad Ambassador, they can connect with them directly through our Ambassador Contact Page.
Request Meeting or Event with BUSA
BU Study Abroad is happy to collaborate with advisors to help spread the word about studying abroad. Whether you’d like us to do a targeted info session for certain majors, meet with your department to answer questions from other faculty and/or advisors, or another creative event, we always looking to engage with the BU community. Email the University Relations & Campus Outreach team at abroad@bu.edu to set something up.
Events Calendar
Visit our BU Study Abroad events calendar regularly for the latest events and outreach activities. Feel free to share with your students and/or stop in to some events to learn more about our programs and meet our staff!
Specific Info for University Partners
Application Process
While the application process is the same for students from partner institutions, we do occasionally get questions about the process. We’ve included a few tips and clarifications below to make the process easier for you and your student. The FAQ section of our website may also help answer some student questions.
Transcripts
Students should send official transcripts, either hard copy or electronic, to BU Study Abroad with plenty of time before the application deadline. Our office will process the transcript and add it to the student’s file, and backdate it to the day it was received. We recommend students request an official transcript early in the process so it does not hold up their application status.
If students are sending an electronic transcript, they should send it to abroad@bu.edu.
If students are sending a hard copy transcript, they should mail it to our office at:
BU Study Abroad
888 Commonwealth Ave, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02215
Advisor Form
Program Deposit
Grants and Scholarships
Boston University offers grants and scholarships for any full-year, fall, spring, or summer program offered by Boston University Study Abroad.
Awards are made based on both need and merit, with an emphasis on need. The dollar amounts vary and typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 (and may occasionally exceed this level depending on the student’s eligibility and the cost of the program). For students who have a 3.6 GPA or higher, they will receive a $1,000 Merit Scholarship upon submitting the Grants and Scholarships application. In order to be awarded a grant or scholarship, students must be admitted into a Boston University Study Abroad program
Students should complete the grant/scholarship application process while their Study Abroad application is under review. We encourage students to apply for this as soon as possible, so they have more time to plan for their semester abroad.
Application deadlines for BU Study Abroad Grants & Scholarships
- Fall and academic year programs: May 1
- Spring programs: November 1
- Summer Programs: No deadline
University Relations Representative Contact Info
We greatly value our partnerships with study abroad advisors and administrators at our partner institutions. If you do not know who your University Relations representative is, or you have not worked with us before, please reach out to Sue Robinson, Associate Director of University Relations and Campus Outreach at sdrobins@bu.edu. We look forward to working with you!
While Student is Abroad
Your student may have questions for our office while they are abroad. Below are a few common topics.
Emergency Contact Information
Students and parents may call the International SOS Assistance Center for 24/7 overseas emergency response and support at 215-942-8478; you can also reach them via the International SOS Assistance App. Students also receive in-country emergency contact information for their program upon acceptance and during the onsite orientation.
Billing Deadlines
Site Directors Contact Information
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Leonella Castellano Thiébaud
Director, Geneva Programs
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Mark Connellan
Director, Sydney Programs
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Elisabetta Convento
Director, Padua and Venice Programs
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Christine Goodfellow
Director, London Programs
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Mary McCloskey
Director, Dublin Programs
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Charisse McGhee-Lazarou
Director, Los Angeles Programs
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Amalia Pérez-Juez
Director, Madrid Programs
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Renée Pontbriand
Director, Paris Programs
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Kevin Wang
Director, China Center
When Student Returns
Below are a couple common topics that come up after a student has returned from a BU Study Abroad program.
Transcript Order Process
This transcript process enables students to have an e-transcript sent to their home institution within days of their grades being posted. This process allows students to input the most up to date email or mailing address for their home school contact, ensuring the speedy transfer of grades back to their home institution. The e-transcript process is an important BU Study Abroad sustainability initiative reducing our use of paper, mailing supplies, and lowering our carbon footprint, with e-transcripts not requiring traditional shipping services.If you have any specific questions regarding the transcript request process, please contact the Associate Director of Enrollment Services, Caitlin Bueno at dundonc@bu.edu.
Request Affiliation Agreement
BU Study Abroad works with many different institutions across the US, some with special billing agreements, others without a formal agreement. If you are interested in setting up a formal agreement, MOU, consortium agreement, or billing agreement with Boston University Study Abroad, please email your University Relations Representative so we can discuss. Our aim is to meet your institution’s needs so we can better serve your students and we are open to a wide range of agreements/billing options.
Participating Colleges and Universities
Boston University Study Abroad welcomes students from a wide array of colleges and universities across the country on its programs every year. While you do not need to have a formal agreement with us to send your students on a BU Study Abroad program, we would be happy to work with you to develop one. If you are a college/university interested in sending a student on a Boston University Study Abroad program, and/or in establishing a formal partnership with us, please contact us for further information at abroad@bu.edu.
Campus Visit Request
Hosting a study abroad fair? Want us to table on your campus? Want us to host an information session for your students? Want to meet with other staff in our office? Email your University Relations Representative or abroad@bu.edu to set up a campus visit! We value our relationship with our partners and want to make sure that we are serving your needs. Whether we see you multiple times a year or only every now and then, we are happy to meet you where you are and be available to you and your students.
Site Visits and Familiarization Trips
Site Visits
If you have travel planned to any of the cities in which we work, our site staff would be happy to meet with you, give a tour of our facilities, and set up class visits or meetings. Please email your University Relations Representative with your travel dates and goals of the visit and we will work with our site staff to arrange an itinerary. If possible, please give at least two weeks’ notice so we have ample time to arrange a meaningful visit.
Site Familiarization Trips
BU Study Abroad is in the process of planning familiarization trips to several sites and are hoping to offer these to our partners in the coming semesters. Dates and locations are still to be determined. If you are interested in receiving more information when we are ready to launch, please email your University Relations Representative.
