There are many factors involved in your success during your time at Boston University, including securing reliable housing in Boston, accessing on-campus resources, finding student employment, and more. At GRS, we are here to help you with anything you need to ensure that you have a fulfilling graduate student experience.
Boston and BU Living
Housing
BU provides our students with reliable resources to ensure that you find housing in Boston’s competitive housing market. Housing listings in Boston and the Greater Boston area can be found on the Off-Campus Services website. Use this site to connect with other terriers to find a roommate, explore housing options around Boston, or list properties. They also provide an excellent collection of resources, tips, and tricks for living in the city.
The Office of Rental Property has a listing of available Boston University apartments. For information regarding additional apartments available on the Charles River Campus, please call 617-353-4101.
Other helpful resources include:
Off-Campus Housing FAQs for Graduate and Professional Students
Transportation
The T: We can just about guarantee you’ll make extensive use of Boston’s rapid transit system (the MBTA, or simply, “the T”) while you are a student at BU. Boston University is located at several stops along the Boston College branch (B Line) of the Green Line.
The MBTA’s Student Semester Pass allows students to pre-pay for their monthly “T” passes and thereby save approximately 11% off the regular monthly “T” pass price. Information about subway schedules and fares can be found here.
Parking: If you plan on driving a car to classes, you should take a look at the Office of Parking Services’ website
The BUS: BU also offers a free shuttle service (called the BUS) on Comm. Ave and between the Medical and Charles River campuses. Information, live tracking, and shuttle schedules can be found here.
Bike Safety: Register your bike, find resources, safe routes, and bike racks, or rent a bike room online. More info can be found here.
Boston Neighborhoods
Boston is famous for its neighborhoods, many of them fun, interesting, and easy to get to. BU Today has assembled a guide to several neighborhoods, with helpful lists of where to eat, shop, and hang. Whether you’re new to the city, looking to explore new areas, or choosing a neighborhood to live in, check out the Boston neighborhood guide!
Academic & Technology Resources
Educational Resource Center (ERC)
The Educational Resource Center provides students with the services and resources for developing personal and academic skills. With a variety of programs including peer tutoring, writing assistance, Language Link, academic skills advising, and workshops, you are sure to find the help you need at the ERC.
Disability and Access Services
Disability & Access Services aims to provide services and support to ensure that students are able to access and participate in the opportunities available at Boston University. In keeping with this objective, students are expected and encouraged to utilize the resources of Disability & Access Services to the degree they determine necessary. Although a significant degree of independence is expected of students, Disability & Access Services is available to assist should the need arise.
To make an appointment, please call 617-353-3658. For general inquiries feel free to email access@bu.edu. Please note, emails will be responded to within three business days.
BU Libraries
Boston University houses a number of libraries on campus and you’ll make use of at least one of them during your time here. The libraries offer research support, and you can talk with a research librarian via chat, email, or an in-person appointment. You can also access the libraries’ online resources 24/7.
Geddes Language Center
The Geddes Language Center is a full-service language learning facility dedicated to providing an extensive humanities resource for the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the Boston University community. The Center is operated by four full-time staff members and twelve student work-study assistants. The Center offers over 6500 audiovisual titles; audio, video and computer labs with language learning hardware and software; a/v recording studios; digital production services; training and digital materials development; and classroom equipment.
Information Services & Technology
BU’s Information Services & Technology (IS&T) department can help you with all of your technology needs. Links for computing resources on campus and information on obtaining support for your personal computer can be found here.
Student Employment Resources
Student Employment Office
The Student Employment Office is the comprehensive resource for all matters related to student employment at Boston University, including information on getting paid, policies for student employees, taxes, and more.
Student Job Board
Getting a job on campus is a great way to earn money and experience while completing your graduate degree at BU. You can search for student jobs by visiting the Work tab on the StudentLink.
Graduate Assistantships
The Department of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance offers various graduate assistantships to students enrolled in a graduate degree program at Boston University. These positions are highly coveted and allow graduate students to take advantage of discounted graduate-level classes at BU and earn a stipend while working in a fun, challenging, and rewarding environment.
Many academic departments also offer Teaching and Research Assistantship positions for graduate students. These positions vary for each department and program. You should contact your department for information about these opportunities and how to apply.
Health and Wellness Resources
Student Health Services
Student Health Services offers a range of supports for members of the BU community, including Primary Care, Behavioral Medicine, Wellness and Prevention, Sexual Assault Response & Prevention, and Athletic Training.
For new students: All entering Boston University students have pre-matriculation health requirements that must be completed prior to your first term here at BU. Please visit the BU Student Health Services website for important information regarding required medical forms and immunizations.
Behavioral Medicine
We know how stressful graduate school can be. Looking for some help adjusting to life as a new graduate student in Boston? Or maybe you are a continuing student looking for some tips on how to manage an increasing workload. Behavioral Medicine is a useful resource – providing trained staff, psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical nurse specialists, licensed mental health clinicians, and licensed clinical social workers who are available to address the varied issues that arise in a university community.
Behavioral Medicine accepts walk-ins and their services include:
- Assessment
- Short term counseling
- Some medication management
- Intermittent treatment
- Help with referrals to local clinicians for longer term treatment
Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center (SARP)
“We provide rapid, confidential, compassionate, supportive, and free-of-charge advocacy and assistance to BU students who have experienced a traumatic incident. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual assault, physical assault, interpersonal violence, and other crimes..” – SARP website
SARP is an on-campus resource that offers guidance and support for students to help them navigate difficult and traumatic situations as safely and constructively as possible. Counselors are on call 24-hours a day to respond to emergency situations, and individuals are also welcome to schedule counseling appointments during regular business hours (Monday – Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm).
Be sure to visit their website to learn more about what SARP does, view their mission, and explore resources and guides available to you as a member of the BU community. There are also a variety of ways to get involved with SARP.
FitRec
BU’s Fitness and Recreation Center (FitRec) is free for full time students and offers an array of fitness, recreation, club sports, dance, and certification programs in addition to an aquatics center, climbing wall, weight rooms, exercise machines, an elevated running track, a juice bar, and a pro-shop.
Headspace App for Mindfulness & Meditation
Headspace is the mindfulness app that helps with stress, anxiety, sleep, and focus. And the best part is, you get it for free as a BU graduate student.
Wellbeing
Student Wellbeing is a campus-wide initiative to support students’ health and wellbeing during their time at BU. Wellbeing believes that everyone deserves to feel good and that how students feel matters. Our collective goal — as administrators, faculty, and staff — is to inspire our students to feel fulfilled each day, despite the ups and downs of life on campus. Wellbeing focuses on physical, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, financial, social, and emotional wellbeing; please check out this wonderful resource!
Sargent Choice Nutrition Center
BU’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation offers an array of nutrition services and counseling to the BU community, including help with weight loss, food allergies, and sports nutrition.
Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders
BU Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) is a clinic specializing in anxiety disorders and related challenges, such as mood, sleep, concentration, and pain and is open to both adults and children.
Arts, Culture, and Community Support Resources
Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground
The Thurman Center is Boston University’s cultural hub, and, unlike many colleges and universities that have separate Centers based on race, Boston University’s Howard Thurman Center does not. The Thurman Center is intentionally inclusive and emphasizes the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone to build relationships and share experiences with others. The Thurman Center is a place where cultural expression in all of its forms is embraced and encouraged.
Through an array of culturally based programs, lectures, discussions, films, events, and resources, the center spreads Thurman’s belief in the unity of all people and his philosophy of the Search for Common Ground.
BU Arts Initiative
The Boston University Arts Initiative ensures that the arts are fundamental to the student experience by developing and supporting university-wide programs to advance the role of the arts at BU through building community; supporting interdisciplinary arts teaching, learning, and research; and highlighting diverse artists and modes of artistry.
The BU Arts Initiative provides all BU students free membership with valid BU Student ID to:
Newbury Center for First-Generation Students
The Newbury Center celebrates and fosters the success of first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at Boston University. Through various programs and events, and with the support of faculty, staff, and alumni, the Newbury Center creates a community of belonging and the ability for first-generation students to thrive.
Boston University Women's Guild
The BU Women’s Guild is a woman-to-woman organization that provides the women of BU with a forum to discuss topics of common interest and with the opportunity to meet women from across the University whom they otherwise might not get to know.
Campus Help & Safety
Campus Police
The Boston University Police Department (BUPD) is a full-time, professional law enforcement agency that also provides a wide variety of public services, including alarms, emergency medical assistance, investigating suspicious circumstances, and responding to and investigating criminal matters. Patrols are conducted throughout the Boston University area 24 hours a day and span an area that includes over 132 acres of University-owned property and surrounding streets.
Late Night Campus Transportation
Out late? Don’t walk alone. BU offers safe options for transportation around campus at night, including Scarlett Safe Walk, a student-run escort security service.
Ombuds Office
“The Office of the Ombuds is an independent, impartial, informal problem-solving resource serving faculty, staff, and students on the Charles River and Medical Campus. The Office maintains strict confidentiality, and provides a safe place for you to have off-the-record conversations on issues related to life, work, or study at Boston University. Talking to the Ombuds can be a good first step if you have a concern and you don’t know where to turn for help.” – Office of the Ombuds website
Be sure to visit their website for more information about the Ombuds office, as well as FAQs & other resources available to you as a member of the BU community.
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