Summer break is right around the corner, but students have a few exams to get through before that. The study period starts May 2, and finals begin on May 5.

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 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 Friday, May 2, until Thursday, May 8. 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 make for 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. Visit the ERC’s fifth-floor office to reserve a private space for two hours; find rules here. The ERC is open to all students with a valid BU ID.

College of Communication Lounge640 Commonwealth Ave., first floor

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm

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, 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 study 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 (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 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: Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 10 pm; Friday, 8 am to 5 pm; Saturday, noon to 5 pm; closed Sunday

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.

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

Hours: Daily, 6 am to midnight

The Ziskind Lounge is a spacious area for study groups to congregate. You’ll find communal tables and 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: Daily, 6 am to midnight

This study lounge is one of the best-kept secrets at BU. It’s quiet and seats about 60.

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 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 for students needing help with papers (all appointments must be scheduled at the Writing Center reception desk).

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 4 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 dorms 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.

Boston University Dining Services and Late Night Cafés

Hours:
Marciano Commons hours: Monday to Friday, 7 am to 9 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm; 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 Friday, 7 am to 10 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm; Sunday, 9 am to 9 pm.
West Campus hours: Monday to Friday, 7 am to 10 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm; Sunday, 9 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

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.

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