BU Student Link → MyBU Student: Registration, Grades & Everything You Need (2026)

Log in with your BU login name and Kerberos password + Duo authentication.

If you're searching for "BU Student Link," here's the backstory: Boston University replaced its legacy Student Link system with MyBU Student (student.bu.edu) as part of a major student information system (SIS) migration in 2024.

The transition was significant - and not entirely smooth. The old Student Link ran for nearly two decades and had a dated but familiar interface. MyBU Student is built on Oracle Campus Solutions with some Salesforce integration, offering a modern web interface but introducing a learning curve for students and staff who were used to the old system.

What stayed the same:

• Same core functions (registration, grades, financial aid, billing)
• Same login credentials (BU login + Kerberos + Duo)
• Same university policies and deadlines

• Completely redesigned interface
• New navigation structure
• ShareLink replaced Authorized Payer Access (for parent billing access)
• Better mobile responsiveness
• New degree audit format
• Different URL: student.bu.edu instead of bu.edu/studentlink

Registration is still the most stressful thing you'll do on the portal. Here's the updated process:

Registration priority (who goes first):

Registration appointments are assigned by class standing based on credits completed:

• Seniors (96+ credits) register first
• Juniors (64-95 credits) register next
• Sophomores (32-63 credits) after that
• Freshmen (0-31 credits) register last
• AP/IB/transfer credits count toward your total, which can bump you up a tier

1. Check your enrollment appointment time on MyBU Student
2. Clear any holds on your account (health compliance, library fines, financial)
3. Plan your schedule using BU's course search or third-party tools like Coursicle
4. Have 2-3 backup courses for every time slot - popular classes fill in minutes
5. Note the course registration numbers (CRNs) for each section
6. Meet with your academic advisor if required (some colleges mandate it)

1. Log into student.bu.edu 5 minutes before your appointment
2. Navigate to Registration
3. Enter CRNs one at a time and submit
4. Verify your schedule after adding all courses
5. Screenshot your final schedule immediately

• Join the waitlist if available (not all courses have them)
• Check back during the add/drop period (first 10 class days of the semester)
• Email the professor directly requesting an override - this works more often than students think
• Search for open sections of the same course or alternative courses that fulfill the same requirement

• Forgetting to clear a hold before your appointment
• Not having backup courses ready
• Trying to register on your phone instead of a laptop
• Missing time conflicts between lecture and discussion sections

Final grades: Posted on MyBU Student after the grading deadline, usually 1-2 weeks after finals end. Navigate to Academics > Grades.

Unofficial transcript: Available on MyBU Student under Academics > Transcript. Shows your full academic record including semester and cumulative GPA.

Official transcript: Ordered through the Registrar's Office (costs $10 per copy). Required for grad school applications, some employers, and professional licensing. MyBU Student links to the ordering system.

GPA calculations:

• BU uses a 4.0 scale
• A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D = 1.0, F = 0.0
• GPA is weighted by credit hours (a 4-credit course affects GPA more than a 2-credit course)
• Withdrawal (W) doesn't affect GPA but shows on transcript
• Pass/Fail (P/F) doesn't affect GPA
• Repeated courses: only the higher grade counts toward GPA (but both attempts show on transcript)

MyBU Student is where you manage all things money:

Viewing your bill:

• Navigate to Financial > Student Account
• Shows tuition, fees, housing charges, meal plan costs, and all credits/aid applied
• Bills are generated for each semester with payment deadlines typically mid-August (fall) and mid-January (spring)

• View your complete aid package under Financial > Financial Aid
• See scholarships, grants, federal/private loans, and work-study allocations
• Accept or decline loan offers (you must actively accept - they don't auto-apply)
• Track disbursement dates
• Upload required verification documents

• To let parents or guardians view your billing and make payments, set up ShareLink through MyBU Student
• This is the new system that replaced the old Authorized Payer Access
• Parents get their own login (they don't use your credentials)
• ShareLink only grants billing access, not academic records (FERPA)

• Full payment by the semester deadline
• Nelnet monthly payment plan (zero-interest, ~$55 enrollment fee per semester)
• Direct deposit for refunds - set this up immediately to avoid waiting for paper checks

The Degree Audit on MyBU Student shows exactly where you stand on graduation requirements. It's one of the most important tools on the portal and dangerously underused.

What it tracks:

• BU Hub requirements completed and remaining (the university-wide general education program)
• Major/minor requirements with specific courses still needed
• Elective credits counted toward your degree
• Total credits vs. what you need to graduate (128 for most programs)
• Writing requirements (WR 100/120 and upper-division writing)

1. Navigate to Academics > Degree Audit
2. Run an audit for your current program
3. Look for any requirements showing as "Not Satisfied"
4. Use "What If" analysis to see how changing your major/minor would affect remaining requirements

Common surprises:

• Hub units that you thought were covered by a course but weren't
• Prerequisites you haven't taken for a required course
• The Hub's "cross-college" requirement catching students who stay within one college
• CAS language requirement (4 semesters or equivalent) surprising students who didn't plan for it

Types of holds:

• Health compliance hold: You haven't uploaded required immunization records to Patient Connect (bu.edu/shs). This blocks EVERYTHING.
• Library hold: Overdue books or unpaid fines at Mugar or any BU library.
• Financial hold: Outstanding balance on your student account. Even small amounts ($5 library fine) can trigger this.
• Academic/advisor hold: Your college requires an advisor meeting before registration. Schedule it early - advisor calendars fill up fast before registration periods.
• Title IX hold: Required training not completed. Check BU's compliance portal.

"The site is slow during registration"

Expected. Thousands of students hit the system simultaneously. Don't spam the submit button (it can duplicate actions). Have your CRNs ready to enter quickly.

"I accidentally dropped a class"

During add/drop period, you can re-add it if there's still space. After the deadline, petition through your college's Dean's Office - approval isn't guaranteed.

"My financial aid isn't showing up"

Aid packages are typically finalized by mid-July for fall and mid-December for spring. If it's past those dates and nothing shows, contact Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965.

"Registration says prerequisite not met"

If you're currently taking the prerequisite, the system may not recognize it until the grade is posted. Contact the department for an override.

The migration from Student Link to MyBU Student in 2024 wasn't seamless. Some known issues that may still affect students:

• Navigation confusion: The layout is completely different from the old Student Link. Functions you could find in 2 clicks now sometimes take 4-5. This improves as you learn the new layout.
• Degree audit formatting: The new audit looks different from the old one. The information is the same, but the visual layout takes getting used to.
• Mobile experience: While better than the old Student Link on mobile, some functions (especially registration) still work best on a desktop browser.
• Loading times: The new system can be slower than the old one during peak usage periods.

'I miss Student Link. Not because it was good, but because I knew where everything was. MyBU Student has the same info but I spent the first month clicking around trying to find things.' - Senior, CAS

'The degree audit on MyBU Student actually works better than the old one. The "What If" feature is really useful if you're thinking about adding a minor.' - Junior, Questrom

'Set up ShareLink for your parents early. It's the new authorized payer system. They'll call you every month asking about the bill otherwise.' - Sophomore, SHA

'Screenshot your schedule after registration. Every time. When the system goes down during the first week (and it will), you'll have a backup.' - Senior, ENG

'The financial aid section is actually easier to navigate in the new system. I can see exactly what's been applied, what's pending, and when refunds are coming. The old system was more confusing for that.' - Junior, CAS

'I had a health compliance hold I didn't know about that blocked my registration. Check for holds BEFORE your registration appointment, not the morning of.' - Sophomore, CGS