Boston University (BU) has around 21% of international students. International students coming to the USA often require help with financing. Boston University offers some graduate scholarships, such as Merit-Based Scholarships, BUSPH Select Scholars, and others, which offers the amount in the range of USD 20,000-35,000 / INR 18-31.7 Lakhs. Some undergraduate scholarships for international students are the BU Merit Scholarship for Juniors, the Provost’s Scholars Award, and others, which offers the amount in the range of USD 1,000-3,000 / INR 90,000-2.7 Lakhs. Scholarships are offered based on academic merit.
International students also have the option of credit-based student loans and external scholarships funded by the government or private agencies like Fulbright Scholarships for Indians, Inlaks Scholarship, and others.

Boston University UG Scholarships
The table below mentions the details of the internal scholarship offered by Boston University (BU) to international undergraduate students.
| Scholarship | Eligibility Criteria | Documents Required | Scholarship Deadline | Award Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BU Merit Scholarship for Juniors | First year undergraduate students with a minimum 3.5 on a 4.0 GPA (85%) | Resume, Personal Statement, 3 LORs | March 20, 2026 | 3,000 USD / INR 2.7 Lakhs |
| Provost’s Scholars Award | Second-semester students with 3.0 on 4.0 GPA (80%) | Not required | March 20, 2026 | 1,000 USD / INR 90,000 |
| Merit-Based Scholarships | First-year international students | Not required | December 1, 2026 | Variable |
| Athletics Scholarship | Based on athletic talents | Not required | NA | Variable |
| College of Fine Arts Scholarship | Based on the performance of artistic talents | Portfolio | January 4, 2026 | Variable |
Also Check: External Scholarships for Indians in the USA
Students' Review from Reddit and YouTube:
- Boston University scholarships for international students are extremely competitive.
- Many international students have commented that they have not been awarded scholarships and have to rely on external scholarships or loans.
- If students are selected for grants, then they get it till the completion of their studies at Boston University.
Application Process for UG Scholarships
International students seeking scholarships at Boston University must follow the application process below to be considered for scholarships:
- Apply for undergraduate admissions at Boston using the Common Application
- Submit academic transcripts with scores
- Submit English language proficiency scores
- Upload financial supporting documents
- Attend the interview (if invited)
Also Check: Application Procedure for Boston University
Boston University Master's Scholarships
Boston University offers a limited number of scholarships and fellowships for international students at the graduate level. The scholarships offered differ from department to department.
| Scholarship | Eligibility Criteria | Documents Required | Award Value (USD) | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merit-Based Scholarships | Good academic grades in a graduate course in arts or science | Not Required | 20,000 USD / INR 18 Lakhs | No application required |
| Excellence in Communication Scholarship | Good academic record in a program related to communication | Not Required | 31,000-35,000 USD / INR 28-31.7 Lakhs | No application required |
| BUSPH Select Scholars | Enrolled in graduate programs in public health | Apply through the official BU website | 50% of graduate tuition fees | December 15, 2026 |
| Boston University Alumni Master's Scholarship | Alumni students enrolled in an engineering graduate course | Not required | 25% of graduate tuition fees | No application required |
| BU Wheelock Graduate Merit Scholarship | Students enrolled in education and human development graduate programs | Not required | Variable | No application required |
Also Check: Boston University Acceptance Rate
Application Process for Master's Scholarships
The application process for graduate scholarships at Boston University is given below:
- Apply for a master’s or PhD degree at Boston using the official graduate portal
- Submit all required documents, including test scores
- Upload financial evidence
- Eligible candidates will be automatically considered for the scholarships
- The selection will be made based on the applicant's academic achievement and a recommendation given by the faculty or the program department.
International students are advised to look for external scholarships by visiting the Boston University financial assistance page. External scholarships are offered based on demonstrated financial need. International applicants may also refer to the following websites to explore a range of scholarships and funding opportunities:
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Search
- College Board Scholarship Search
- FastWeb Scholarship Search
Boston University Credit-based Student’s Loan
International students are not eligible for US federal student aid (Govt), but they are eligible to take educational loans from a private firm. There are 2 options for students wishing to take a student loan from a private firm. They are: a loan with a US cosigner and a loan without a US cosigner.
Loans with the US Cosigner:
- A US cosigner is a person who is of American nationality.
- He/She would agree to pay the loan if the student is unable to repay it.
- It has the benefits of a high chance of approval, lower interest rates, and better loan terms.
Loans without the US Cosigner:
- Very few firms offer loans to international students without a US cosigner.
- Interest rates charged are higher in it.
- MPower Financing offers loans to undergraduate and graduate students. Students must be within 2 years of graduation.
- Prodigy Financing offers loans mainly to graduate students. It is mainly offered for programs like MBA, Engineering, Public Policy, Health Science, and Law.
External Scholarship for Indians in the USA
Indian students can apply through the external agencies for the master's scholarship to study in the USA. They are:
- Fulbright Scholarships for Indians (To Know More: Click Here)
- Inlaks Scholarship (Click Here: To Know More)
- National Overseas Scholarship (Click Here: For More Information)
- SN Bose Scholarship (For More Information: Check Here)
- KC Mahindra Scholarship (For More Details: Check)
- Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship (Check Here: For More Details)
Some of the external scholarships for undergraduate Indian students are mentioned below:
- Asian Women in Business
- Western Union Foundations Global Scholarship Program
- Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarships
With various scholarships and funding opportunities, Boston University is a good choice for international students. The undergraduate scholarships are merit-based, and only high-achieving candidates are considered for scholarships. On the other hand, the graduate scholarships are awarded based on merit and financial need. There is no separate application required for merit-based scholarships, but financial evidence may be requested for need-based scholarships.
Boston University Scholarships: Students' Opinion
AI-Generated Summary based on 15 Reviews
Scholarships offered
TEC Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $1,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 1
BeArt Presets-Academic Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $2,500
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 2
Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: No
- Amount: $1,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Bharat Petroleum Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Comindware Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $4,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Apprenticeship
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Reviews
Most Popular Tags
15 Reviews Found
Likes
- Best resources made available by the university in making connections, Events and much more.
Dislikes
- I dislike about MET college is that they dont have STEM benefits & less industry connections
- I chose off-campus housing; the rental cost averages $550-1000, depending on sharing or private rooms.
Likes
- BU supports diversity and inclusivity. There is a large International population which gives the opportunity to meet and interact with people from different culture and backgrounds.
- BU's campus is spread across charles river, so you get to roam around and attend classes in prestigious historic buildings.
- The academic programs are diverse and very well structured.
Dislikes
- It is way too expensive. The food, groceries etc and especially the utilities and rent is too much for a student
- The tuition is extremely expensive with challenging time constraint assignments
- There is less city life as it a part of college hub so people tend to face mental health issues - depression anxiety, loneliness due to academic pressure and harsh gloomy winters
Scholarship
- There are no scholarships for international students from Boston University. However, there were people who were there on scholarships from their own government.
- Students need to show funds, be it their own—father, mother or any family member who is sponsoring them—or via a bank loan or any of the other organisations. One needs to show around $100,000 approx. in funds, which include the tuition and living expenses.
- Accommodation: I used online platforms such as facebook and real estate agents
- Monthly rent: $1050 with hot water and heat, $ 200 for electricity
- I didn't find any challenges while finding or securing my accommodation
- Recommendations for future students seeking accommodation: start searching at least 5-6 months in advance and ask for real-time videos and face-to-face video calls to check the place and facilities
- Mine was 15 minutes by walk and 5 minutes via train. The students stay 15-20 mins by train max as the campus is accessible via train and bus very easily


Likes
- BU has plenty of On Campus job opportunities from Research Assistant to Teaching Assistant. The best part is other Dining part-time jobs are available only for International students.
- BU has a very huge campus with modern amenities. BU is famous for sports like Ice hockey, Football and several other sports including squash. Olympic-sized swimming pools in Agganis Arena. And of course a huge diversity at Commonwealth Avenue.
Dislikes
- Well, Boston University has its own Merchandise shop where you can buy Huddies, T-shirts, stationery, Planners, Books, electronics, and more, but it's quite expensive.
- Boston University does not offer financial aid to international students, and you cannot work off Campus.
- BU conducts lectures even during nights and many a times you have attend lectures till 9:00 PM.
In a nutshell, the admission process consists of IELTS / GRE --> Wes Course Evaluation --> Application --> Results. Here my IELTS, undergrad grades and strong application were the key things for my selection to Boston University. I started quite early to build my strong research-oriented profile for my master's in computer science. I come from a Mechanical Engineering background and did my research in computer vision, Predictive maintenance and implementing computer vision Algorithms in the Manufacturing sector. I presented my 1st research paper at the IIT BHU international conference in 2023 and submitted 2 more papers in international journals. We designed and built a Hexapod Robot with an innovation to resist the impact, Got selected for the Gujarat Council of Science and Technology and filed a patent for the design. I also hold one more patent with my professor during my undergrad for designing a welding machine for micro-welding. I highlighted all these in my resume during my application.
Likes
- I like the Part-time job at the campus system.
Dislikes
- I do not like self-registering to the class system. If a class is full and I want it, I will fail to get it.
I chose this university as this university is globally known and had a good academic curriculum. Professors are full-time professionals and part-time, helping us require an up to date practical knowledge.
Likes
- Very safe city and campus + very diverse crowd
Dislikes
- Very very expensive tuition + cost of living too unaffordable + not the best career resources
I applied to 8 schools, and got in 7 of them. I chose the top-ranked one out of the 7. Wanted to be on the East Coast because of my aspiration to work on Wall Street. Overall experience was average, I wish I had gone to a cheaper school.
Likes
- The people are very accommodating and friendly, the academics are strong and the program is well-known and reputable.
Dislikes
- Low stipend, less freedom to take courses outside the university.
I chose this university as I was familiar with the city, the reputation of the program, the professors aligned with my interest, the people seemed nice, the stipend is livable (barely), and the proximity to other big economic departments (Harvard, MIT, NBER).
Likes
- I really liked the city as it is safe and one of the biggest hubs in US. And the university was very well ranked especially for my program.
Scholarship
I received a $12000 scholarship from my program, but I didn’t have to apply separately it was given on the basis of merit.
Overall I am having a great experience so far and one more thing I’d like to highlight is Boston University has a lot of opportunities for on-campus jobs so you can make some money to pay your rent and have some fun as well.
Likes
- Course and curriculum is updated and the professors are very helpful. Most professors are part time and work in organizations during the day so some professors also refer you to their organizations. Also, we are close to MIT and Harvard and are allowed to attend their events which is a plus.
- I got 4 admits and out of those, BU’s curriculum was the best. Also, it was the highest reputed University out of my admits. My other admits were from UIC, SJSU, Santa Clara University and IIT Chicago.
Dislikes
- Campus is in the city. It has its pros as well like transportation is easy and there are a lot of off campus housing nearby. The only thing I dislike about the the university is that its very expensive. And as a city, Boston is expensive so off campus housing is also very expensive.
Scholarship
Unfortunately, BU does not provide scholarships.
It was a really good and different experience. At first I thought it was very stressful but then you start liking the life here. It is definitely an experience that everyone should have once in their lifetime.
Scholarship
No, I didn't receive any scholarship.
It has the best program for project management in the country.
Scholarship
Shibulal Family Scholarship $20,000/year.
High ranking for selected fields, scholarship, and ideal location (diverse and urban environment).




















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