How do Villanova and Boston University compare for study abroad opportunities?

The biggest practical tradeoff is breadth versus simplicity. Boston University has a much larger, more built-out global study system with its own centers and a wide menu of semester, summer, and internship-based programs, while Villanova tends to offer a more traditional study abroad experience that can feel easier to navigate within a smaller-school advising environment but usually gives you fewer built-in options. If study abroad is a major priority and you want it to fit into your plan with minimal improvising, BU usually has the stronger infrastructure.

BU is especially well known for integrating abroad into academics rather than treating it as an add-on. Because it runs many of its own programs, course approval and credit transfer can be more predictable, and students in fields like business, communications, international relations, and some social sciences often have multiple workable paths. BU also offers programs in different terms and formats, which helps if a full semester is hard to fit.

Villanova absolutely supports study abroad, and many students do it successfully. The advantage is that advising can feel more personal, and for students in majors with tighter sequencing, that kind of hands-on planning matters. The downside is that you may need to be more strategic about when you go and which requirements you can satisfy abroad, especially in more structured programs.

For flexibility across majors, BU has the edge. Larger universities with their own international programming usually make it easier to find major-compatible courses and alternatives if your first plan does not work out. Villanova can still work very well, particularly if you start early and your department is supportive, but it is less likely to feel plug-and-play.