As an exchange student, there are a few things you need to know about going to Boston College. Learn more about the location, the courses and student life!
Visit their website for more information about studying abroad at Boston College!
Established in 1863, Boston College is one of the oldest and most prestigious Jesuit, Catholic universities in the U.S. Ranked highly among national universities by U.S. News and World Report, Boston College has consistently exhibited a strong dedication to academic excellence.
Boston College (BC) is located just on the edge of Boston, a city which offers a unique blend of past, present, and future. The city juxtaposes modern office buildings with 17th and 18th century architecture, and its distinct neighbourhoods, such as Beacon Hill, Back Bay, and the North End, can easily be explored on foot
The city boasts the greatest concentration of higher education institutions in the U.S. and is a centre for medicine, research, and technology.
Known as “The Heights,” BC’s beautiful 175-acre main campus is comprised of stunning Gothic architecture and has both a clear view of the Boston skyline and easy access to the city’s amenities.
Competitive **
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Semester 1: August to December
Semester 2: January to May
For more information, go to Boston College's academic calendar.
Please view the Online Course Catalog.
The Office of Global Education (OGE) registers students for classes based on the preferences expressed on the exchange applications. While every effort is made to enrol students in the requested courses, there is no guarantee that students will secure their required/preferred courses. Exchange students should not plan to take classes that are required for graduation at their home institution. Students cannot take all their courses in one subject (i.e., all Finance courses) nor can they take only courses in the School of Management. Boston College is deeply committed to its identity as a liberal arts university, and encourages all students to take a wide variety of courses, including at least two College of Arts and Sciences courses, even if admitted to the School of Management. Due to high demand, the Economics, Finance, and Psychology Departments will enrol students in only one class. There is also a limited range of classes in the following departments:
Accounting Business
Analytics
Communication
Computer Science
Information Systems
Marketing
Management
Political Science
Graduate level courses are restricted by agreement and Woods School of Advancing Studies courses (anything that begins with “AD”) are not available to exchange students. Exchange students are also prevented from enrolling in courses that require fieldwork due to visa restrictions.
12-15 credit hours (usually four x 3 credit courses) per semester.
Find out more about credit transfer and grade conversions.
Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
Instagram Takeovers:
YouTube videos/vlogs:
Due to the limited space, on-campus housing is not guaranteed. Most exchange students reside in off-campus accommodations such as shared houses or apartments with other BC and international students. An exchange student housing lottery is held for the available on-campus rooms in May for fall and full year students and in October for spring students. Off-Campus Housing Services assists exchange students in finding suitable off-campus housing upon arrival in Boston.
Information on housing can be found on Boston College's Residential Life page.
Boston College provides information on the cost of living in the halls of residences as a student here. You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Boston here.
Living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle, especially in Boston where renting private accommodation can be as (if not more) expensive than renting privately in London. Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
Important: Students considering to live and study in Boston must be realistic about financial matters, this being one of the most expensive cities in the world. In the decision-making process, Queen Mary students must calculate their forecasted budget with confirmed funding to which they will have access against the rising cost of living.
For information on accessibility, please visit Boston College's Disability Services website.
BC offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities including sports, social and intercultural clubs, and volunteer opportunities. Exchange students are encouraged to participate in the annual Study Abroad Fair, pre-departure orientations, and study abroad information sessions designed for BC study abroad, students. A number of other social activities are organized for exchange students.
Visiting students can enjoy the spirit and enthusiasm that come from attending games and cheering for the “Eagles.”
Boston College:
Boston College Exchange Programme Brochure [PDF 2,780KB]