Summer Journalism Academy

A student completes and submits an online form plus a non-refundable $60 fee. The form requires:

• Student information, such as full name, email and postal address, education level, and current school;
• Parent or guardian information;
• School information, including names and emails of a journalism adviser and guidance counselor, if applicable;
• Choice of on-campus or learn-from-home as well as session dates; and
• A letter by the student explaining the student’s interest in journalism, 500 words maximum.

After submission, we notify all applicants within one week. If you don’t receive the notification, please check your spam or junk mail. Once you’ve received notification of acceptance, a non-refundable deposit is due within two weeks to hold your place in the session.

The deadline for on-campus was April 19, 2024 by 11:59 pm ET, and applications are now closed. The deadline for learn-from-home sessions is May 10, 2024 by 11:59 pm ET. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Sessions can fill up, so we encourage you to start the application process early. 

Yes. According to Boston University’s COVID-19 Vaccination policy, all on-campus students must be fully vaccinated according to the requirements made by Boston University. If a student is accepted to our on-campus program, they are required to provide documentation of their vaccination. For more information, please visit Boston University’s Back 2 BU website.

Summer Journalism Academy students who choose the on-campus option will stay in the Warren Towers residence hall, located next to the College of Communication. They typically share a dormitory-style room with one other student in the program; women and men occupy separate towers. A Boston University student serves as a residence hall advisor. Some common areas at Warren Towers are air-conditioned but dorms rooms are not. Students are encouraged to bring or locally purchase an electric fan to keep cool.

Security guards staff Warren Towers 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Boston University students are employed as assistants to live on each floor with students and accompany them on activity trips, such as a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts or Fenway Park. Students must return to their floor by 11 pm Sunday through Thursday nights, and midnight on Friday and Saturday. Boston University’s full-time professional police department is available to assist in the event of emergencies.

Students living in residence halls will move in on the Sunday their session starts. Students have the option to move out Friday afternoon after the certificate ceremony or the next day, Saturday, before 11 am ET.

Yes, we offer financial aid and scholarships to U.S. students who demonstrate a financial need.  Students applying for financial aid or scholarship will need to submit the following on or before April 5, 2024 at 11:59 pm

1. Online application for admissions
2. BU Summer Journalism Academy Financial Aid/Scholarship Application and supporting documents

To inquire about financial aid or scholarships or receive the financial aid/scholarship application, please contact us at busj@bu.edu.

The Summer Journalism Academy is designed and operated directly by Boston University’s College of Communication, home to BU’s Department of Journalism. Many academy instructors — all working journalists — also teach at the college. The curriculum was created by BU lecturers and faculty. On-campus students attending the academy stay in BU residence halls and attend classroom sessions inside the College of Communication on BU’s main campus.

We strongly encourage students not to participate in another college-level program while they are attending our program. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our summer program manager at 617-353-5391 or email us at busj@bu.edu.

Yes, they can apply to our learn-from-home program, only. We ask that parents/guardians schedule a phone call with our summer program manager to ensure this is the right fit. Email the summer program manager at: busj@bu.edu.

Application fees are nonrefundable, as are any applicable tuition deposits. Refunds for tuition and other fees are refundable minus $700 (equal to the reservation deposit) until June 3, 2024. After that date, no refund or reduction in the total charge, tuition, or service fees will be made, including for students who arrive to the program late, leave the program early, or are dismissed from the program due to a violation of the program guidelines.

Cancellation requests for the Summer Journalism Academy at Boston University should be emailed to: busj@bu.edu.

Failure to attend the academy session will result in forfeiture of the full registration fee.

The College of Communication reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the workshop due to low enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the College of Communication. In this case, applicants are entitled to a full refund of the application and registration fees.

The College of Communication will advise applicants at the earliest opportunity of changes to the scheduled workshop dates. The College of Communication is not responsible for travel fees, or any expenses incurred as a result of canceled programs.

TYPICAL DAY SCHEDULE: SESSION A

• 7 am U.S. Eastern / 10 am Pacific / 19:00 China Standard Time: Classroom: Instruction and activity focused on one skill.
• 8:30 am ET/ 11:30 am PT / 20:30 CST: Break
• 9 am ET / 12 pm PT / 21:00 CST: Newsroom: Story discussion and planning, followed by offline time for interviews, research and writing, as well as editing online with your in instructor.
• 10:30 am ET / 1:30 pm pT / 22:30 CST: Guest Talks, when scheduled.

TYPICAL DAY SCHEDULE: SESSIONS B & C

• 12:30 pm Eastern / 9:30 am Pacific: Classroom: Instruction and activity focused on one skill.
• 1:30 pm / 10:30 am: Break
• 2 pm / 11 am: Newsroom: Story discussion and planning, followed by offline time for interviews, research and writing, as well as editing online with your in instructor.
• 5 pm / 2 pm: Guest Talks, when scheduled.

You can search for and read selected stories reported by previous Summer Journalism Academy students at The Terrier.

No, the Summer Journalism Academy does not provide college credits.