Best Places to Study for Finals at Boston University
The Best Places to Study for Finals
A guide to BU’s well-known spots and best-kept secrets to help you prepare for exams
It’s almost summertime, but students have a few exams to get through before they can relax into summer. The study period starts today, May 4, and finals begin on May 8.
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 Wednesday, May 3 through Friday, May 12 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
Center for Student Services
100 Bay State Road, fifth floor
Hours: Open Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 9 pm; Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; and this 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. Visit the ERC’s 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 on weekends
The Pickering Library, located in the basement of 2 Silber Way, 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 Thursday, 9 am to 9 pm; Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; closed on 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; weekends is through BU Terrier card access 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 of the building are your best bet (and be sure to grab a snack at the student-run cafe, Saxbys).
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.
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, and closed Sunday
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, which is open to all students with a valid BU ID. 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 on weekends
Gilbane Lounge: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 9 pm; closed on 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’ Donuts inside Buick Street 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 dorms 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: Monday to Friday, 7 am to 9 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm; and Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm.
Warren Towers: Monday to Thursday, 7 am to 10 pm; Friday, 7 am to 9 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm; and Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm.
West Campus: Monday to Thursday, 7 am to 10 pm; Friday, 7 am to 9 pm, Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm; and Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm.
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
BU 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 white boards, 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.
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