The summer means many things: dips in the ocean, backyard barbeques, a time to finally pick up that novel you’ve always wanted to read. However you choose to enjoy summer, just because the days stretch longer and you’re having fun doesn’t mean you have to stop learning. In fact, summer is a chance to be the best version of yourself.
And the place to do this is Boston University.
BU Summer Term is a great way to fit in travel, learning, and fun while studying and living in one of the US’s most brainy, buzzing cities. BU offers short-term courses run in small class sizes fit for international students from all walks of life. Whether you’re enrolled in university pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or are working or taking a break, BU Summer Term welcomes all to experience a world of opportunity.
Through the program at this world-class research university, you can explore more than 700 courses in 70 subjects. Some of these can also be taken online. From advertising and psychology to management and political science, each summer brings a new curated list of unique and unusual courses. Whether it’s learning something new or getting hands-on training in a particular area, there is an exciting range of opportunities to choose from.
Whichever you choose, you’ll be supported every step of the way. The faculty and staff are just one email or office visit away to help you settle in and succeed in your studies. They’ll help you choose the courses that best fit your needs and passions early on, and ensure you have the tools you need for a rewarding summer when you arrive to campus.
The best part about the program though? It runs on an open enrollment policy, so visiting students don’t have to go through the hassle of getting a formal BU admission letter in order to spend a summer in the US. You just have to submit a handful of documents, and the Summer Term team enrolls you in your selected courses. And the team coordinates the F-1 immigration document for the student visa required during your study abroad experience. Two program sessions are offered during the May – August timeframe; participate in one six-week session or spend 12 weeks in lovely and historic Boston.
Boston was rated #16 in the world by QS Best Student Cities of 2025. The campus itself is an urban, sprawling environment where classrooms and residence halls rest in close proximity to local shops and eateries. Located right by the scenic Charles River, the university is nestled in the charming Back Bay neighborhood surrounded by picturesque, Victorian brownstones.
The campus is accessible by the Boston metro system or BU shuttle, and is home to 13 libraries, the George Sherman Union student center, and the 270,000-square-foot Fitness & Recreation Center — all of which you have access to. And the Summer Term program organizes regular social activities, whether that’s sight-seeing or get-togethers on campus, so you’ll get to know your peers who hail from more than 100 countries.