Boston University (BU) is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. The university is historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church, but describes itself as nonsectarian. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States (List of largest United States university campuses by enrollment) and one of Bostons largest employers.

BU is categorized as an RU/VH Research University (very high research activity) in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. In 2008-2009, BU had research expenditures of $350.4 million. BU is a member of the Boston Consortium for Higher Education.

Among its faculty and alumni, BU counts 6 Nobel Prize winners, including Martin Luther King, Jr. (Ph.D. 55), 22 Pulitzer Prize winners, and numerousQuantifydate=May 2010 Guggenheim (Guggenheim fellowship) and MacArthur (MacArthur Fellows Program) fellows.

The university offers bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees, and medical and dental degrees through 18 schools and colleges on two urban campuses. The main campus is situated along the Charles River in Bostons Fenway-Kenmore and Allston (Allston, Massachusetts) neighborhoods, while the Boston University Medical Campus is in Bostons South End neighborhood. BU also operates 75 study abroad programs in over 33 cities in over 20 countries, BU also has internship opportunities in 10 different countries (including the United States and abroad).

The Boston University Terriers compete in the NCAAs Division I. BU athletic teams compete in the America East, Hockey East, and Colonial Athletic Association conferences, and their mascot is Rhett the Boston Terrier. Boston University is well known for mens hockey, in which it has won five national championships.