Winter break is right around the corner, but students have a few exams to get through before that. The study period starts December 11, and finals begin on December 15.

If you are looking for a quiet place to study alone, somewhere to rehearse a presentation, or a lively spot for group work, we have you covered with a guide to the major study spots on campus.

Charles River Campus

Mugar Memorial Library
771 Commonwealth Ave.

Hours: Daily during study period and finals, 24 hours; see other hours here.

Mugar is a second home for many BU students during finals. It will stay open 24 hours starting Thursday, December 11, until Thursday, December 18. The library has seven floors and the largest computer lounge on campus—and each floor gets quieter the higher you go. The ground floor and the third floor have large desks and open spaces, which make an ideal group study environment.

Kilachand Hall Study Lounge91 Bay State Rd., ninth floor

Hours: Daily, 24 hours.

Students studying on the top floor of Kilachand Hall will find a study lounge with panoramic views of Boston, the Charles River, and Fenway Park. This study lounge, like those in other residence halls, is available only to students living on campus; after 2 am, it’s available only to Kilachand residents.

Educational Resource Center
Yawkey Center for Student Services
100 Bay State Rd., fifth floor

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 9 pm; Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 8 pm.

The Educational Resource Center (ERC) has open-concept study areas and private rooms available on a first-come, first-served basis. The ERC is open to all students with a valid BU ID.

College of Communication Lounge640 Commonwealth Ave., first floor

Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 10 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday.

You don’t have to be a COM student to hang out in the school’s lounge. With its large number of outlets and charging stations and mix of comfy armchairs and round tables, the lounge is a calming space to get some work done.

Pickering Educational Resources LibraryWheelock College of Education & Human Development
2 Silber Way

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday.

The Pickering Library, located in the basement of 2 Silber Way, is one of the smallest libraries on campus and offers a quiet place to study. Open to all students with a valid BU ID.

Science & Engineering Library
38 Cummington Mall

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday.

This library is convenient for anyone living on or near East Campus seeking a short commute. It has cubicles and communal tables for studying.

HoJo
575 Commonwealth Ave., eighth floor

Hours: Daily, 24 hours.

This top-floor study lounge is for those who want a view while hitting the books. The hotel turned residence hall also has a first-floor multipurpose room with chairs, couches, and a pool table for when you need a break. The study lounge is open only to students living on campus; after 2 am, it’s available only to HoJo residents.

Frederick S. Pardee Management Library595 Commonwealth Ave., third floor

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 11 pm; Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 11 pm.

The third floor of the Questrom School of Business is a perfect spot to have either a quiet or a collaborative study session. With reservable team rooms and large, round tables, you can easily find a place to “lock in” among the towering bookshelves. You must present a BU ID when entering. 

Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences
665 Commonwealth Ave.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 am to 11 pm; weekend access is through BU Terrier card only.

The 19-story Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences is open for learning, lounging, and eating, and students can find many nooks to do some studying, too. The bottom two floors are your best bet for casual solo or group work (and be sure to grab a snack at the student-run cafe, Saxbys). Or hunker down in a quiet study corner with whiteboards on many of the upper floors.

College of Arts & Sciences Think Tank725 Commonwealth Ave., Room 105

Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 am to 9 pm.

The Think Tank features individual study cubbies, communal tables, and team meeting rooms with whiteboards. The space can accommodate up to 134 students and is open to all BU students.

Einstein Bros. Bagels
725 Commonwealth Ave., basement

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7:30 am to 8 pm; Friday, 7:30 am to 2 pm.

No need to study on an empty stomach. Bring your laptop or readings to the Einstein Bros. Bagels in the College of Arts & Sciences basement, where you can grab a booth seat and get some work done in a cozy atmosphere—and fuel yourself with a bagel sandwich.

Stone Science Library
675 Commonwealth Ave., Room 440

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

For a central and quiet stop between exams, students can tuck themselves away in the Stone Science Library, a noncirculating research library focusing on archaeological and remote-sensing materials. On the fourth floor of the Stone Science Building, the spot boasts large windows and plenty of plants.

School of Theology Library
745 Commonwealth Ave., second floor

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 8 pm; Friday, 10 am to 5 pm. Closed weekends.

The STH Library has carrels and communal tables for studying. There is also a conference room that can be booked for groups of students needing a place to gather. (Reserve a group study room here.) The library is open to all students with a valid BU ID.

George Sherman Union775 Commonwealth Ave.

Hours: Daily, 6 am to midnight.

The George Sherman Union (GSU) provides a bustling and spacious environment, especially good for group projects. Students can easily refuel at the food court and make use of the communal areas upstairs, like the Ziskind Lounge and the Dean’s Lounge, for focused work and collaboration.

College of General Studies Lounges871 Commonwealth Ave.

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm; Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.

The College of General Studies has several study spots to choose from, notably the Katzenberg Center (Room 330), the Gilbane Study Lounge (Room 130), and the first-floor lobby, which has comfy armchairs and plenty of natural sunlight. The CGS Writing Center, housed in the Katzenberg Center, is also there for students in need of help with papers.

Buick Street Market and Café10 Buick St.

Hours: Weekdays, 7 am to midnight; weekends, 8 am to midnight.

This is a place for those who study best surrounded by food and a crowd. Choose from the market’s ample selection of sandwiches, salads, and snacks. For those needing a caffeine boost or a donut, the Dunkin’ inside the market is open from 7 am to 5 pm on weekdays and from 8 am to 4 pm on weekends.

StuVi II Study Lounge
33 Harry Agganis Way, 26th floor

Hours: Daily, 24 hours.

Many consider this to be BU’s premier studying spot. The lounge offers sweeping views of Boston and Cambridge (a great distraction when you need a break) and is especially popular with students who live on West Campus. Open to all students who live in BU housing.

West Campus Study Spaces
273 Babcock St.

Hours: Daily, 24 hours.

The West Campus residences have plenty of spaces to study (like the StuVi II Study Lounge, the Rich Hall Cinema Room, and the Sleeper Hall second-floor lounge). Our pick is the Claflin Hall first-floor study room, next to the West Campus dining hall, since it’s best suited for group work. Open to all students with a valid BU ID who live in BU housing.

Medical Campus

Alumni Medical Library72 East Concord St., 12th and 13th floors

Hours: Weekdays, 7:30 am to 9 pm; weekends, 10 am to 6 pm.

This Medical Campus spot has long communal tables, group rooms for quiet study, and computers. (Reserve a study room here.) The library is open to all students with a valid BU ID.