Boston College (BC)

Boston College (BC) is one of the oldest and most prestigious Jesuit universities in the United States. The university is located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It offers programmes in eight colleges and boasts eight research libraries with 2.7 million volumes. BC is also a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), a collegiate athletic league with member universities competing in a variety of top-level sports.

Available exchanges

Boston College hosts the University-wide exchange.

Academic restrictions

Boston College is not a suitable exchange destination for students studying the following subject areas:

  • Economics
  • Finance

At Boston College, certain subject areas are competitive and entry is subject to prerequisite study requirements, as well as available space.    

Due to high demand, the Psychology Department will enroll students in only one class. Courses in Communications, Computer Science, Information Systems, Marketing, and Political Science are also limited. 

Exchange students are urged to be flexible with their course selections and plan to enroll in a broad range of classes. Students may not enroll in classes for which they have not completed the necessary prerequisites or in classes that are closed or restricted. There is an add/drop period at the beginning of the semester, which allows students to make changes to their courses. 

Your responsibilities

  • The information provided here serves as a guide.
  • It is your responsibility to research whether the partner provides appropriate courses for your degree programme.
  • Even if there are no restrictions on your degree subject, this does not mean that there are appropriate courses for you.

Please be aware, there may not be an up-to-date course catalogue available at this exchange destination. Please use the information available to get an idea about what you can study while on exchange.


Guaranteed accommodation? 

No

University accommodation 

Campus housing is extremely limited. Students interested in on-campus housing will be put in a housing lottery. The Office of Residential Life will contact students directly with their placements. Some dorms require a meal plan and students living on campus must pay the Health Services fee. 

Private accommodation  

Students who opt for private accommodations will be provided/connected with off-campus housing resources. 


How much will it cost to go on exchange to Boston College?

To obtain a U.S. student visa, you will be required to submit bank statements showing you have access to a specific sum. This is calculated based on how much average costs for accommodation, meals, health insurance etc. will cost. This includes proving access to funds through personal funds, or family or sponsorship funds. 

For students going on exchange to Boston College, the amount to show is around USD $28,800 in total. This can be across multiple sources. You will need to provide sponsorship letters from personal funds/family members/sponsor funds/Sponsor organisations etc. 

Please bear this in mind. If you cannot prove this, you will not be able to get a visa and therefore not be able to go on exchange.  

Further cost breakdown

Boston College has provided the following estimated costs:

  • On-Campus Housing: $5,325-$7,000 per semester 
  • Meal Plan: up to $3,400 per semester (required by certain dorms) 
  • BC Mandatory Medical Insurance: $1,885 
  • University Fees: $360 
  • Books/ Supplies: $1,200 per semester 
  • Personal Expenses: $2,950 per semester 

Please note these are estimated costs and subject to change each academic year. Additional costs will depend on your housing and lifestyle choices. Please consider the cost of living in Boston, MA. 

Health insurance  

Exchange students are automatically enrolled in the mandatory BC Medical Insurance Plan. 


  • Semester 1 (Fall): August - December   
  • Semester 2 (Spring): January - May 

Please note that orientation is mandatory: there is no virtual option--student must attend in person. Students who miss orientation will be required to visit the OISS separately in person. 


 

 

 

  


Boston College has provided a fact sheet for prospective exchange students.


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