Boston University Study Abroad welcomes students from participating colleges & universities around the country to study abroad on our programs. If you have already been accepted to a BU Study Abroad Program, congratulations! To help you get acclimated to BU and our systems, please read below for more information.
BU Login Accounts
What is a BU Login Account?
A BU Login Account is a full-access account that is reserved for registered students. Once you are admitted and enrolled, you will be invited to create an account known as a BU Login Account. The account uses a short login name (no email address) and highly secure, Kerberos password. This account type allows access to BU services. It is important to remember your Kerberos password for the duration of your program.
Why do I need a BU Login Account?
Visiting (non-BU) students who are registered for a BU Study Abroad program need to access BU resources that are not available using the Study Abroad Application Portal TerraDotta used to apply for a program. All students must have an active BU Login Account. In particular, if you are responsible for paying BU directly for your program tuition and fees, you will need a BU Login Account to access your bill.
I created the BU Login Account, what now? Where do I use it?
You can use your BU Login Account in most password-protected web locations that begin with www.bu.edu. A great place to begin is the MyBU Student, where you can view your bill and other resources. Additionally, please make sure you have set up e-mail forwarding so you continue to receive important messages from our office here in Boston and from your program site. Please note: If you do not set up email forwarding, you must check your @bu.edu email inbox.
I tried to go to the MyBU Student but it says I lack the proper authorization to log in. What do I do?
Did you upgrade your login credentials, following the instructions? If so, make sure you are using the BU Login Account you created recently. Once your BU Login Account is activated, you will no longer use your full email address to log in. Use your new BU Login name and make sure you do not include ‘@bu.edu’ or any other domain name, as this is a common cause of login errors. If you did not receive an email invitation to create your account or if you need other technical assistance, please email abroad@bu.edu as soon as possible.
I set-up my BU Login account and followed all of the above instructions but it's still not working.
Please try the following:
- Make sure you are logging in with the username you just created and NOT an email address. Please make sure you are not adding an @bu.edu or other domain after your username as this is a common cause of access errors.
- Use a different browser to enter your user name and Kerberos password.
- If the previous steps are unsuccessful, please clear your browser cache.
Please email abroad@bu.edu if you continue to have issues accessing your account.
I tried to log in but I keep getting the login screen instead of the correct page.
We recommend trying a different browser first, as this often resolves the issue. If this doesn’t work, clear your browser’s cache.
Please email abroad@bu.edu as your first point of contact with any technical issues.
I pay tuition & fees through my home institution. Why do I have to make a BU Login account?
Your BU Login Account also provides you access to services beyond billing, such as Blackboard, electronic library services, and many others.
MyBU Student
What is MyBU Student?
MyBU Student provides students with direct access to public and personal academic, financial and institutional data maintained in the University’s central computer system.
Via MyBU Student, students can view their term invoice and make payments, view their term registration and grades, accept or waive the , and grant a third party access to ShareLink.
What is ShareLink?
ShareLink provides secure access to those parents, employers, and other interested third parties a student has authorized to view the student’s academic and financial information. The student must use MyBU Student to sponsor a login account for each person who will have access. The student also specifies the information available to each party and controls the duration of access.
Study Abroad Grants & Scholarships
I received a grant and/or scholarship from BU Study Abroad. When and how can I access these funds?
BU Study Abroad Grant & Scholarship funds will be credited to your BU Student Account on the first day of your program. On MyBU Student, you can view your BU Student Account to view your term balance. If your term balance reflects a credit at the start of your program, you receive a refund from BU. You must add a bank account to Nelnet in order to automatically receive your refund. You can find more information here on how to add your bank account to Nelnet.
Billing
How do I view and pay my bill?
Go to the MyBU Student, click the Money Matters tab, and then click Student Account Inquiry.
You will see a number of options for viewing, printing, and paying.
My school is sending aid to BU on my behalf. What is this process and how does it affect my billing?
This process is called an Agency Sponsorship and you can set up this arrangement through BU Student Accounting Services. Information on the documentation you will need for this process be found here, under the “Agency Sponsorship” section. If you have any questions, please contact BU Student Accounting Services at studenta@bu.edu.
Can BU process federal financial aid on my behalf?
If you are expecting Boston University to process federal financial aid on your behalf, please contact BU’s Office of Financial Assistance to ensure that you have taken all the necessary actions.
Health Insurance
I have my own health insurance. Why was I charged for the BU Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)?
Boston University and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts require all full-time university students to be automatically enrolled in US-based (domestic) medical insurance, including visiting students. To learn more about this, please visit the BU Student Accounting Services website.
If you are able to demonstrate comparable US-based coverage, you can complete a waiver to opt out of the BU Student Health Insurance Plan and have this charge removed from your BU Student Account.
I already waived US-based health insurance at my home institution. Why do I need to complete at waiver at BU?
Although you may have already confirmed or waived US-based medical insurance through your home institution, the BU SHIP must also be waived (or accepted) directly through Boston University. The waiver you may have completed at your home institution does not impact your enrollment in the BU SHIP. Please make sure to complete the waiver process.
If I waive the BU Aetna SHIP, will I lose my international health insurance coverage provided by BU Study Abroad?
The BU Aetna SHIP and the BU Chubb international Travel insurances offer two different types of coverage that do not intersect. The BU SHIP provides US-based (domestic) health coverage only, while the BU Chubb International travel insurance plan through International SOS provides international health and evacuation insurance coverage to students participating in BU overseas programs.
Waiving the BU SHIP will have no impact on your insurance coverage provided by BU Study Abroad.
Can I use my BU Chubb international health insurance to waive the BU Aetna SHIP?
The BU Chubb international health insurance provided by BU Study Abroad does not provide US-based health insurance and does not qualify as comparable coverage as described by BU Student Accounting Services. Please be advised that students attempting to waive the BU SHIP with this coverage information will have their waiver rejected.
What does comparable coverage mean?
Comparable coverage is described in detail by BU Student Accounting Services. Please use their checklist when completing your waiver.