Health Records & Medical Insurance

Incoming Health Requirements

Massachusetts law requires all full-time and international students who study on campus to be immunized against certain communicable diseases. Students must have these immunizations to remain in compliance with University requirements. Immunizations include: measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); tetanus (must be Tdap vaccine); hepatitis B; (bacterial) meningitis; varicella; and tuberculosis testing, depending on country of origin.

Your healthcare provider can provide proof of vaccination with the dates of each immunization. Once you are registered for Summer Term, our office will send instructions for uploading your vaccination records to BU’s Patient Connect portal. You will need an active BU login and Kerberos password to access the portal.

Students who are not in compliance with BU’s immunization requirements upon arrival will have 7 days to receive required vaccinations. Appointments can be scheduled in advance at Student Health Services by calling 617-353-3575.

Student Health Services

881 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-353-3575

Medical/Health Insurance

All international students enrolled during the summer are required to have medical insurance and are automatically enrolled in and charged for Boston University’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) as part of their registration. Students may waive enrollment in the SHIP if they are enrolled in a comparable US-based insurance plan that 1) meets the coverage requirements and 2) is underwritten in the US. Please note that just because an insurance company is “based in” or has “offices in” the US does not mean it is underwritten in the US. More information regarding the SHIP waiver requirement can be found on this webpage.

Boston University’s Student Health Insurance Plan rates for summer 2026 are provided below.

• Students who register for the Summer 1 session or for both the Summer 1 and Summer 2 sessions are charged for enrollment in the Basic-level plan for the full summer coverage period of May 17–August 14. Students who attend the Summer 1 session only should email insmed@bu.edu prior to the end of their Summer 1 studies to request to change to the Summer 1 only coverage period of May 17–June 27.
• Students who register for just the Summer 2 session are charged for the Summer 2 coverage period of June 28–August 14.

Student Health Services (SHS)

Boston University Student Health Services (SHS) is your first stop on campus for your physical and mental health. SHS is open Monday through Friday and primarily located at 881 Commonwealth Avenue. Visiting summer students may be charged a $25 fee per visit. There may be additional charges for medical supplies or immunizations. Blood work is billed directly to your insurance, so please bring your insurance information.

SHS Primary Care (PC) provides care for urgent medical issues, including respiratory symptoms, injuries, sexual health concerns, and more. For non-urgent or routine care, SHS can help refer you to a community healthcare provider covered by your insurance. If you have an urgent medical concern outside SHS business hours, please call 617-353-3575 to speak with an on-call provider or visit the nearest urgent care or emergency department.

SHS Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) includes psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical nurse specialists, licensed mental health clinicians, and licensed clinical social workers who support the wide range of mental health concerns that arise in our student community. For longer-term care, CAPS can facilitate referrals to experienced community clinicians. Appointments are available by calling 617-353-3569. CAPS also provides on-call support for mental health emergencies 24 hours a day.

Any student who experiences a sexual assault crisis should call the SHS Survivor Advocacy, Response & Prevention (SARP) at 617-353-7277 to speak with a counselor.

In a life-threatening emergency, call the BU Police Department if you are on campus, or call Local Police if you are off campus.

• BU Police: 617-353-2121
• Local Police/Dispatcher: 911

For a complete list of emergency contacts, including medical, safety, and crisis resources, please visit the SHS Emergency Numbers page.