Welcome to Boston College!
In keeping with Boston College's strategic initiatives—including increasing its impact around the globe—and to highlight its leadership as a premier Jesuit University in Global Engagement, this fellowship is designed to support the next generation of scholars through research opportunities and hospitality. This program will offer summer research fellowships for a limited number of scholars per year. The fellowships will support graduate students matriculated at a partnering university who are seeking to undertake 2 months of research at Boston College.
This page will provide the details you need as you plan your visit with us.
Check back often as new details are added.
Fellowship Period: June 9th - Aug 9th, 2025
Travel: Boston College's Office of Global Engagement will book transportation on your behalf for travel to Boston College and back home. We will reach out to you directly to gather the necessary details. You can expect that we will provide transportation for you from the airport to Boston College on the day of your arrival. You will have confirmations and itineraries before your departure.
Visa Process: Our Office of International Students and Scholars will help guide you through the visa process. Please provide required documentation in a timely manner. *Please note that Global Engagement will pay the BC-OISS visa processing fee and the US-gov't SEVIS fee on your behalf.*
Accommodation on Campus: Housing will be provided on BC's main campus in suite/apartment-style accommodations, where each fellow will be in a single bedroom with shared lounge, bathroom, and kitchen areas. A basic linen service is offered to all Summer Fellows, which includes bed linens, a pillow, a towel, and toilet paper. Trash barrels with liners will also be provided for the suite. All linens must be returned when you check out. Basic kitchen equipment will be provided. Laundry is available in the building; the machines are coin operated. Exact details will be sent once your room is assigned.
BC's Office of Residential Life will run a "welcome center" that will be open daily in Stayer Hall from 7am until 1am. The welcome center provides services similar to a registration and information desk at a hotel.
The Basics
Dining: While staying on campus, you will have access to an in-room kitchenette, BC's award-winning on-campus dining options, and many wonderful restaurants in the area. There are also a number of grocery stores not far from campus—and a convenience store with basic items is right across the street.
Places to eat and shop nearby
Boston College T Stop: This is the closest location to eat and shop off-campus. There are a few small restaurants (pizza, Mexican, bowls, Subway and Dunkin’) and a convenience store (basically, a very small supermarket).
Brighton Center and Cleveland Circle: two commercial areas with restaurants, shops, banks, hair salons, cafes, bars, bakeries, liquor stores, electronics repair services
Star Market: it is the closest big supermarket
Library Access: As a visiting fellow, you will have access to Boston College Libraries and their holdings. Should you need additional support to access special collections or archives, please let us know so that we can help you make the necessary connections. Below are a few examples of the libraries and collections found at Boston College.
- BC Libraries
- Burns Library (Special Collections)
- School of Theology & Ministry Library
- Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies
- Ricci Institute
Fitness Center: Boston College has a new state-of-the-art fitness center. If you would like access to the gym while you are on campus, please let us know.
Phone Plans: We recommend Ultra Mobile. Check if your phone is compatible.
Buying online: For deliveries, including SIM cards, please send them to Hovey House. Use your name, adding
"℅ BC Global - Faber House".
The address is:
102 College Rd
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
These are good general websites to shop:
- Amazon
- Craigslist. On this website, you buy from other individuals. You can find all kinds of stuff and very good deals, but you need to be careful. Never send money in advance. Also, you often need to pick up the items yourself.
Transportation
Public transportation
In many cases, you will start your ride by taking the Green Line, a tram/subway line, at the Boston College stop. You can find more information on the website of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).
Google Maps is very useful for directions, but sometimes you just need to know when the next train or bus will arrive and Google Maps won't tell you just that. Transit is useful in those cases.
Bikes
Blue Bikes is a bike rental service for the Boston area. It is possible to apply for a discounted rate here.
Rideshare apps
Uber and Lyft are the most common apps.
Driving in the USA
Check the driving requirements in Massachusetts. Warning: if you are driving outside of Massachusetts, you should check the requirements for every state that you cross.
If your driver’s license is not in English and you don’t have an International Driving Permit, it is possible to translate the license into an official Massachusetts form. Fill out this form and Bryan can notarize it for you.
Renting a car
Individuals younger than 25 might find additional restrictions and costs. These are some reputable companies:
Avis
Enterprise
Hertz
Eagle ID: Your Eagle ID card is literally your key to access resources on campus: from the libraries to dining—and your room. Once you arrive to campus, we will help you get your card.
Honorarium: As a summer fellow, you will receive a modest honorarium of $800/month. This amount could be taxable and subject to withholding based on tax treaties between the United States and your home country or legal country of residence.
Banking: It is necessary to have a US-based bank account to receive your stipend.
Wise , Adro, and US-based Revolut might be especially convenient. You can find many reviews online comparing the services. You might prefer one or the other depending on where you live, what currencies you will use, how much money you might transfer, if you are interested in a virtual card, etc. It could be especially useful to look for reviews based on your home country.
Please complete any forms and respond to any requests from Boston College for information required to process your honorarium. In particular, be on the look-out for an e-mail from "support@online-tax.net", which will include a legitimate request for information to help Boston College determine your tax residency status and whether you are eligible to take advantage of tax treaty benefits that might exist for your country of residence.
Programming: In addition to a few welcome activities to introduce you to our campus and to yourselves, we will have a number of additional planned opportunities for collaboration, networking, sharing research, lectures—and fun. Check back here for more information as the schedule is finalized.
Free Learning Opportunities
LinkedIn Learning: As a Fellow, you will have access to LinkedIn Learning. The service provides over 20,000 courses and Learning Paths. Instructors with real-world experience.Bite-sized videos and in-depth courses. Certificates can be earned and added to your LinkedIn profile. Learn anytime 24/7, on any laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
Once you have your BC credentials, please visit bc.edu/linkedinlearning to see the variety of learning opportunities available, as well as the BC-specific login instructions.
Explore Boston: Boston has one of the largest public transportation systems in the U.S. The "T" is the city's train system, which includes a stop at Boston College. Please review the Visitor's Guide to the T and Visiting Boston website to prepare for your stay. Some tips for your leisure time around Boston:
Boston Climate: Courtesy of Wikivoyage
Things to Do and See in the Boston Area
Boston Public Library (BPL) Museum Pass
The BPL has a lot of discounts for museums and things to do in the Boston area.
For the discounts, you need to obtain a library card. It requires proof of residency, and for this they might accept a letter or a package label addressed to you at a Boston address. We recommend going to the Brighton branch of the BPL for this.
Free access
As a fellow, you will have free access to:
- Museum of Fine Arts. Go to the ticket office with your BC ID.
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Ask us for more details [the discount code to get the ticket online is BOSTCOLL]
- New England Aquarium. Get your ticket at the Robsham Theater box office.
- Harvard Museum of Natural History. Go to the ticket office with your BC ID.
- Huge skeletons of whales and extinct animals, including dinosaurs
- Many mounted animals, from hummingbirds to Siberian tigers and rhinos
- Free for everybody:
- BC’s McMullen Museum of Art
- Boston Public Library main location in Copley Square. There are also free tours of the art and architecture
- Harvard Art Museums
- Institute of Contemporary Art. Free every Thursday 5-9 pm. Book online after 10 am on the same day.
- Massachusetts State House. Free tours
Interesting neighborhoods to explore
- Coolidge Corner and residential neighborhoods around
- Coolidge Corner Theater, John F. Kennedy's birthplace
- Back Bay
- Charles River Esplanade, Newbury Street, Copley Square (Boston Public Library and Trinity Church), Commonwealth avenue
- Beacon Hill
- Black Heritage Trail, Charles Street, Museum of African-American History
- Downtown
- Massachusetts State House, Boston Common, Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall area, waterfront
- Harvard Square
- Chinatown and Theater District
- North End
- Freedom trail, Italian restaurants and shops
- South End
- Seaport
- Waterfront, Institute of Contemporary Art
- Charlestown
- Freedom Trail, USS Constitution ship (free)
- Nubian Square. One of the centers of Black Boston
- African restaurants: Ethiopian, Nigerian…
- Jamaica Plain: Very diverse neighborhood with fun small shops and great restaurants
- Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum, and the Emerald Necklace
- East Boston and Chelsea. Strong Latin American presence
Parks
- The Emerald Necklace circuit of parks. Many parks connected to each other, going through downtown, Back Bay, Fenway, Brookline, Jamaica Plain. Designed by a famous architect (F. L. Olmsted)
- Charles River Esplanade
- Mount Auburn Cemetery and Arboretum. Beautiful gardens and a tower with great views
Movie theaters
Beaches
- Easier access: Carson Beach, L Street Beach, M Street Beach.
- Beauty: Nahant beach
Check water quality in recent news.
Travel guides
Travel Outside Boston
The MBTA commuter rail has a flat fee of $10 for unlimited use during the whole weekend. It can take you to:
- Salem
- Beautiful coastal town with a rich history.
- Peabody Essex Museum. Art and culture museum. Ticket includes visits to Salem's historic houses. Discounted admission through the Boston Public Library. Highlight: reconstructed Chinese house from the 1700s.
- Many attractions related to the witch trials. A couple have a historical perspective; most are oriented to entertainment (like haunted houses and horror museums) or esoteric services (tarot and palm readings, astrology…).
- Rockport
- Providence, Rhode IslandWaterFire events, RISD museum (art and design), State Capitol (free access during office hours, free tours available)
Other possible day trips:
- Boston Harbor Islands. There is a discount with the Boston Public Library
- Provincetown. Beautiful views and beaches, many art galleries and strong GLBT presenceTransportation: ferry from downtown Boston (fastest), bus, drive.
- Special weekends and events
New York City
- Train. Best option. It can be cheap if you buy tickets several weeks in advance.
- Bus:
Weather
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