Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, USA
All courses are taught in English. Language study in German from beginner to advanced level is available throughout the programme. In addition, the college offers a handful of courses each year that are taught in German and cover topics related to contemporary German culture and society. All BA candidates must demonstrate intermediate proficiency in German (B1 level) by the end of their second year.
Students in their first year at Bard College Berlin complete an introductory course, called Language and Thinking, during the three weeks prior to the official start of the fall semester. The course provides students with tools to write well at the university level and to use writing as a resource throughout every stage of the learning process.
Spring transfer: 15 October
Early action international students: 1 November
Regular admission international students: 15 January
Fall transfer: 15 February
Late admission EU citizens/residents: 1 May
The on-campus comprehensive fee for the 2022/2023 academic year is 31,500 EUR per year (two semesters). The fee includes tuition as well as room and board in Bard College Berlin's student residences.
The BA degree in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought (HAST) allows students to gain thorough training in fields such as studio and performing arts, art history, politics, philosophy, literature, film, etc., while expanding their knowledge in their chosen major.
Over the course of their studies, HAST students ask: What is the good life (and how can we build a good society)? What are the aims of scientific research? What is the function and future of art?
Students can major in one of the following areas:
The "social thought" component of this programme refers to the core curriculum, which examines crucial historical, philosophical, and intellectual developments. Students engage with some of the most important texts, artefacts, and debates in the cultural legacies of Europe and the world.
In fall 2021, Bard College Berlin switched to fully in-person instruction again. Courses at Bard College Berlin take place in compliance with the COVID-19 safety regulations for Berlin universities.
Students take at least four courses per semester during their first three years of studies, and three courses per semester during the final year. Students may study abroad for up to two semesters in addition to completing an internship for academic credit as part of their studies. During the fourth year, students write a BA thesis under the close supervision of a faculty adviser.
Each student shapes his or her specialised academic profile through their chosen area of concentration, guided by faculty members who helps the student to develop a programme of study tailored to his or her interests and future plans. Within the elective component of the degree, students may choose from a wide variety of courses in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. All BA candidates must demonstrate intermediate proficiency in German (B1 level) by the end of their second year.
A detailed overview of the degree structure is available below.
Students may opt to spend up to two semesters abroad at one of our partner universities: https://berlin.bard.edu/academics/study-abroad/outgoing-exchange-students/.
Students have the option to complete an internship for academic credit: https://berlin.bard.edu/academics/internships/.
The on-campus comprehensive fee for the 2022/2023 academic year is 31,500 EUR per year (two semesters). The fee includes tuition as well as room and board in Bard College Berlin's student residences.
197 EUR per semester
The Berlin semester ticket is included in the cost of the semester contribution. This ticket provides unlimited access to public transport in the full BVG network.
Bard College Berlin seeks to assist qualified students who might otherwise not be able to afford an education at a private liberal arts college. Some form of financial aid from college and/or federal, state, or private programmes is currently received by 79% of all Bard College Berlin students. All scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, the candidate's contribution to the diversity of the student body, and financial need, in addition to the criteria listed for the individual scholarships. https://berlin.bard.edu/admissions/finances/
Students must have a high school diploma (or equivalent) by the time they enrol.
Required application materials include a completed online application form, a motivation statement, a writing sample, two academic letters of recommendation from teachers, official transcripts, and proof of advanced English proficiency for non-native English speakers (see below). Students who wish to share their creative work may also upload a creative portfolio.
Applicants must provide proof of English proficiency at level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. We accept the following tests:
TOEFL iBT (minimum score: 95)
TOEFL Essentials (minimum score: 10)
IELTS Academic (minimum score: 7.0)
Cambridge (CAE: A-C, CPE: A-C)
Duolingo English test (minimum score: 120)
Spring transfer: 15 October
Early action international students: 1 November
Regular admission international students: 15 January
Fall transfer: 15 February
Late admission EU citizens/residents: 1 May
Bard College Berlin offers a number of on-campus jobs for students: https://berlin.bard.edu/student-life/services-and-resources/student-jobs-and-opportunities/.
Students live on campus during their first two years of study. Most rooms are shared with at least one other student, and student halls of residence have shared bathrooms and showers. All halls of residence are equipped with free laundry facilities, a kitchen, a common room, and free wireless Internet.
https://berlin.bard.edu/student-life/campus-experience/housing/
Bard College Berlin is Germany's first private liberal arts university. On a residential campus in the former embassy quarter of East Berlin, it offers Bachelor's degrees and one-year undergraduate programmes in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. A faculty-to-student ratio of 1:5 allows the college to provide an immersive education of incomparable quality, based on small-group teaching and individual advising. Students also have access to global networks of study opportunities through partnership agreements and the Open Society University Network (OSUN).
In today's world, Berlin takes centre stage with a leading role in Europe and internationally – not only in public policy, but in the arts, education, and research. The city's dynamism is evident in the plenary chamber of the Bundestag (German parliament); in lecture halls of the city's major public universities; across tables in libraries and archives, independent research institutions, and cafés; in screening rooms and art galleries; and in the shopfront offices of Internet start-ups, design firms, and NGOs.
Berlin is a magnet for people who want to make a difference, and for people who are already doing so, including artists, scientists, politicians, diplomats, journalists, scholars, and students from every corner of the globe.
Bard College Berlin actively engages Berlin's cultural and intellectual abundance. Class excursions, internships, and language courses give depth and relevance to what students study, making the city both textbook and classroom.
