The BU Beach is now packed and more students are wearing shorts and skirts on Comm Ave, which means one thing: finals season is here. The only thing keeping you from almost four months of summer fun and relaxation is a test, project, or presentation (or one of each). The study period starts on Thursday, May 2, and finals begin Monday, May 6.

Whether you’re 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: Open daily, 24 hours

Mugar is a second home for many BU students during finals. It will stay open 24 hours from Thursday, May 2, through Friday, May 10, when it will close at 11 pm. The library has seven floors and the largest computer lounge on campus—and the floors get quieter the higher you go. The ground floor makes for an ideal group study environment.

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

Hours: Open Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 9 pm; Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; and Sunday, 11:30 am to 8 pm; closed on Saturdays

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

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

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; closed weekends

The Pickering Library, in Wheelock’s basement, is one of the smallest libraries on campus and offers quiet rooms for independent study, as well as group work rooms and a study lounge. Open to all students with a valid BU ID.

Science & Engineering Library
38 Cummington Mall

Hours: Open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; closed weekends

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

HoJo
575 Commonwealth Ave., eighth floor

Hours: Open 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, and after 2 am is available only to HoJo residents.

Center for Computing & Data Sciences
665 Commonwealth Ave.

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

The 19-story 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 Tank
725 Commonwealth Ave., Room 105

Hours: Open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 11 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.

Stone Science Library
725 Commonwealth Ave., Room 440

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

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

School of Theology Library
745 Commonwealth Ave., second floor

Hours: Open Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 10 pm; Friday, 8 am to 5 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; closed Sundays

The STH Library has carrels as well as 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.

Ziskind Lounge
George Sherman Union
775 Commonwealth Ave., second floor

Hours: Open daily, 6 am to midnight

The Ziskind Lounge is a spacious area for study groups to congregate. You’ll find communal tables as well as comfortable easy chairs throughout the lounge. And it’s easy to grab a coffee or meal downstairs in the GSU Food Court when you need a break.

Dean’s Study Lounge
George Sherman Union
775 Commonwealth Ave., third floor

Hours: Open daily, 6 am to midnight

This study lounge is one of the best-kept secrets at BU. It’s quiet, seats about 60, and even has a variety of real plants lining its long wall of windows.

College of General Studies Lounges
871 Commonwealth Ave.

Hours:
Katzenberg Center: Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm; Friday, 9 am to 4 pm; closed weekends
Gilbane Lounge: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 9 pm; closed weekends

The College of General Studies has several study spots to choose from, including the Katzenberg Center (Room 330), the Gilbane 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 a great resource for students who need help with papers (all appointments must be scheduled at the Writing Center reception desk).

Buick Street Market and Café10 Buick St.

Hours: Open weekdays, 7 am to midnight, and 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 in need of a caffeine boost or a donut, the Dunkin’ inside the market is open from 7 am to 6 pm on weekdays, and from 8 am to 6 pm on weekends.

West Campus Study Spaces
275 Babcock St., second floor

Hours: Open daily, 24 hours

The West Campus residences have plenty of spaces to study (like the StuVi II Study Lounge and Rich Hall Cinema Room). Our pick is the spacious second-floor study lounge in Sleeper Hall, open to all students with a valid BU ID who live in BU housing.

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

Hours: Open 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.

Boston University Dining Services and Late Night Cafés

Hours:
Marciano Commons hours: Monday to Friday, 7 am to 9 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm
Bay State Underground hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 9 pm to 1 am; Thursday to Saturday, 9 pm to 2 am
Warren Towers hours: Monday to Thursday, 7 am to 10 pm; Friday, 7 am to 9 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm
Late Night Cafe at Warren Towers hours: Monday to Thursday, 10:30 pm to 1 am; Friday to Sunday, 9:30 pm to 1 am
West Campus hours: Monday to Thursday, 7 am to 10 pm; Friday, 7 am to 9 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm
Late Night Cafe at West Campus hours: Monday to Thursday, 10:30 pm to 1 am; Friday to Sunday, 9:30 pm to 1 am

If you want to camp out for a long study session, one of BU’s three main dining halls is the ideal place. With all the food and caffeine you could crave, plus a lively atmosphere, any of the three can accommodate a group or solo study session.

Medical Campus

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

Hours: Open weekdays, 7:30 am to 9 pm, and weekends, 10 am to 6 pm

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

Have suggestions for other study spots on campus? Add them to the Comment section below.