Visiting Students
Students at other ABA-accredited law schools who wish to spend a semester or a year studying full time at Boston University School of Law may apply for visiting student status. Visiting privileges are most often granted to students wishing to be at Boston University during one or two semesters of their third year. Students wishing to spend part or all of their second year at BU Law must present especially compelling reasons. Non-matriculating students may not transfer to degree status. Please note that Boston University School of Law cannot award financial aid to visiting students.
The deadline for entering in Fall 2025 is August 1, 2025. The deadline for entering in Spring 2026 is November 1, 2025.
You may submit your application electronically, however, application fees must be mailed or hand-delivered to:
Boston University School of Law
Admissions Office
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
No application will be processed unless the application form is completed, signed, and dated.
Application Requirements
1. Visiting Student Data Sheet
Please complete a Visiting Student Data Sheet including your name, social security number, date of birth, current address, and dates when you would like to be in residence at BU Law.
2. $85 Application Fee
Please submit a check or money order for $85 made payable to Boston University. Please include your LSAC number on your check or money order. The application fee is nonrefundable and is not credited toward any charges when you register as a student.
3. Law School Transcripts
You must have two law school transcripts—one of work already taken and, as soon as it is available, one showing your grades for the current semester—sent to BU Law directly from your law school. Please have your registrar send them to bulawadm@bu.edu.
4. Letter of Permission from Law School Dean
Your law school must send a letter of permission from the dean of your law school or their official representative stating that you are a student in good standing and that credits earned at Boston University will be applied toward your degree from your law school. The letter should also include a list of any specific courses you will be required to take during your visit. Please have your registrar send the letter to bulawadm@bu.edu.
5. Letter of Recommendation
Please ask a member of your law school faculty who has taught you in class to send a letter of recommendation directly to BU Law. Please have your recommender send the letter to bulawadm@bu.edu.
6. Statement of Interest
Your application materials should include a personal statement of interest indicating your reasons for wanting to study at BU Law. Please email your statement of interest along with your Visiting Student Data Sheet to bulawadm@bu.edu.
Tuition and Registration
If you are admitted to study at BU Law as a visiting student, you will be required to pay a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit within two weeks of receiving a decision. For the 2025-26 academic year, tuition and required fees at Boston University School of Law have been set at $69,870. BU Law cannot offer scholarships to visiting students. Registration preference is given to students who are matriculated at BU Law before visiting students may register. However, especially if you are here for the year rather than one semester, you should be able to design a program that is satisfactory to you.
Services Available to Visiting Students
Visiting students are welcome to participate in events on campus and join student organizations, though they are not eligible to serve on a journal. Career Development & Public Service (CDO) provides visiting students access to view and apply for positions as well as to RSVP to CDO events and book an appointment with a CDO Advisor. Visiting students are not designated a specific CDO advisor and may not participate in on-campus interviewing or other exclusive recruitment programs. Visiting students should access financial aid services through their home institution.