The Presidential Scholarship is Boston University's main merit award for first-year students and one of only two BU scholarships open to applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents. It covers half of tuition and renews for up to eight autumn and spring semesters on a 2.0 GPA.
The value changed with the autumn 2026 entering cohort: BU now publishes half tuition, where older descriptions of this award quoted full tuition or a flat $25,000. Half tuition is the current figure.
There is no separate application. Students who want to be considered submit their admission application and credentials by 1 December. Beyond merit awards, Boston University states that international students are not eligible for need-based aid from the university, the state or the federal government, so this is the funding route to plan around.