The US Capitol building in Washington DC viewed from the lawn.

United States Applications open Closes 1 December 2026

Boston University Trustee Scholarship

The BU Trustee Scholarship is Boston University's most prestigious undergraduate award — covering full tuition (approximately USD 67,000 per year, or LKR 21M+) for four years of study at one of the top private research universities in the United States. Approximately 20 Trustee Scholars are selected from each entering class. Open to first-year international applicants including Sri Lankans, the award is renewable for all four years subject to continued academic distinction (typically a 3.5 GPA minimum). Selection is among the most competitive at any US university — recipients are typically valedictorians or A/L island-rankers with deep extracurricular records.

Fall 2027 entry: applications close 1 December 2026 (Trustee Scholarship + BU application)

Boston University

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Full Tuition (USD 67k/yr)

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Duration

4 Years (renewable)

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Awards

~20 per Year

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

Boston University — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

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What it covers

Full Tuition Coverage (4 Years). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

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Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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First-Time Freshman Applicant

Open to students applying to begin a Bachelor's at BU in Fall (September). Transfer students, current US college students, and graduate students are NOT eligible. Sri Lankan A/L finishers and IB Diploma candidates are the typical applicant profile.

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Exceptional Academic Record

BU expects island-top or class-top academic standing. For Sri Lankan applicants, this typically means 3 As at A/L (or distinction-level IB), with strong subject choices aligned with intended BU major. SAT 1500+ or ACT 34+ strengthens applications (BU is test-optional but Trustee finalists usually submit scores).

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Leadership + Service

Trustee Scholars demonstrate substantial leadership in school, community, or extracurricular activities — head prefect, captain of national-level sports teams, founder of community initiatives, top-tier debating/Olympiads. BU evaluates depth of impact, not just breadth of activities.

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International Applicants Welcome

Open to US citizens and international applicants. Sri Lankan citizens compete in the same pool — no separate quota. International students requiring an F-1 visa receive their I-20 once they accept the scholarship and confirm enrolment.

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Submit Common App by 1 December

Apply to BU via the Common Application by 1 December (early decision is November 1). Indicate your interest in the Trustee Scholarship in the application's BU-specific section. Required: transcripts, school report, two teacher recommendations, counsellor recommendation.

Submit Trustee Scholarship essay

In addition to the Common App essay, write a separate 600-word Trustee Scholarship essay responding to a specified prompt (varies year to year). This essay is reviewed by the Trustee selection committee.

Semi-finalist interview

Approximately 80-100 semi-finalists are invited to interview (virtually for international applicants) in February-March. Interviews are with BU faculty and current Trustee Scholars.

Decision + acceptance

Trustee Scholars are notified by late March, alongside their BU admissions decision. Successful applicants confirm acceptance by 1 May (US Universal Decision Day). F-1 visa and I-20 process follows.

Why Boston University?

BU is a top-tier private research university with ~17,000 undergraduates, located along the Charles River in Boston — one of the world's leading university cities (home to Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Northeastern). BU is particularly strong in communications, business, life sciences, international relations, and the College of Engineering. Sri Lankan alumni include senior corporate professionals across finance, tech, and consulting.

#108

QS World Ranking 2026

~17,000

Undergraduates

~20

Trustee Scholars / Year

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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