First-Year BA Applicants

Online Application Form

Bard College Berlin does not charge an application fee.

We are now accepting applications for entry in Fall 2025. Students using the Common Application for other university applications are welcome to apply to Bard College Berlin via the Common Application Form. Alternatively, applicants can use the Bard College Berlin Online Application Form to apply.

Please create an account on either one of these application platforms, and follow the steps indicated in the registration form by filling out the required information carefully. After registration, log in with your credentials and complete the application form.
 

Motivation Statement

The motivation statement is one of the most important components of your application. This should be a brief essay about why you want to study at Bard College Berlin. It’s also an opportunity for the Admissions Committee to get to know you better. Your motivation statement should be between 250 and 500 words in length.

A strong motivation statement will address the following points:

• Why you want to study at Bard College Berlin
• How the academic offerings at Bard College Berlin fit with your aspirations and future plans
• Your interest in being part of an international community in Berlin

Graded Writing Sample

The graded writing sample should be an essay written in English that you submitted as an assignment for a class. It should include your teacher's comments and the grade you received for the assignment. 

We recommend selecting a sample on a topic that is related to the academic disciplines offered at Bard College Berlin. For the Graded Writing Sample, the Admissions Committee asks applicants to submit an essay or research paper displaying analytical ability rather than a creative writing piece. If you do not have a graded writing sample of this nature, please opt to write the alternative essay. You can request to receive the alternative essay prompts to your email address via this form.

The graded writing assignment must be typed. It must be uploaded as a PDF attachment, and the size of the file should not exceed 500 KB. If you need to reduce the size of your PDF file, you may wish to use a free online service to do so.

Official Transcript or School Reports

Applicants should arrange to have an official record of courses and grades of their last four years of high school, as well as any university coursework, sent to Bard College Berlin. Transcripts are considered official if they are sent by representatives of the institutions, such as teacher, principal, or counselor, and not the applicants themselves. 

The Admissions Committee will accept transcripts in English or German. If you do not have transcripts in either of these languages, you must submit an official translation along with the original transcript. 

Applicants whose coursework is still underway should submit their most recent transcript or school record. Any offer of admission will be conditional upon receipt of a final transcript and proof of graduation.

Students using the Common Application Form can request a transcript by adding their guidance counselor, and having them submit the school report. Schools and universities may also submit official transcripts electronically to [email protected], or have them mailed to the following address:

Admissions Office
Bard College Berlin
Platanenstrasse 24
13156 Berlin
Germany

Two Letters of Recommendation

All applicants are asked to submit at least two academic letters of recommendation as part of their application. Letters should be written by teachers or professors who are familiar with your academic work. The Admissions Committee will accept letters of recommendation in English or German. Recommenders may also opt to use the recommendation form available below.

In order to request a recommendation letter, you will be able to add your recommenders in the relevant section of the Common Application or in the Bard College Berlin Online Form.

Proof of English Proficiency (if applicable)

Applicants who are not native English speakers must provide proof of English proficiency at C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

If you are currently enrolled at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction or have completed at least one year of high school courses with full instruction in English, you do not need to submit an English proficiency test result.

Please refer to the table below for an overview of the tests we accept and the required scores. Applicants should arrange to have official test results sent by the testing center to Bard College Berlin.

Bard College Berlin TOEFL Code: 8527
 

Portfolio

Submission of a digital portfolio with samples of personal artwork is required for applicants to the BA in Artistic Practice and Society.
For all other applicants, a creative portfolio is optional.

A portfolio should consist of a collection of materials, such as drawings, paintings, collage, samples of creative writing, video work, or other examples of creative and artistic work by the applicant. Please combine these materials in a single digital file, and upload your portfolio in the "Supplementary Materials" section of the application.
 

Interview

The application interview is an optional part of the application process at Bard College Berlin.

However, the Admissions Committee strongly encourages that applicants to Bard College Berlin request an interview after the completion of their application.
The interview will be conducted online, and will take up to 30 minutes.

SAT/ACT Standardized Testing

Bard College Berlin does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission, and submission of test scores is optional. However, we welcome score submission from students pursuing a US high school diploma.

If you decide to take a standardized test and send us the scores, please use the following institutional codes:
SAT: 4422
ACT: 6930 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply to Bard College Berlin?
Bard College Berlin accepts applications through the Common Application or our own application portal. You can find these links and learn more about the application process and deadlines in the How to Apply section.

When will I receive access to my BCB applicant portal? 
Within 24 hours of submitting your application, you will receive an email with the subject line "Thank You for Applying." This email will include information about setting up your applicant portal. It is very important that you access your portal and note down your login information, since your applicant portal will serve as the space where your admission and financial aid decisions will be released. If you do not receive the aforementioned email, please check your spam folder and if it is not there, please email the admissions office at [email protected]. 

Can I submit my transcripts or letters of recommendation myself?
No. Please have your high school transcript submitted by your high school counselor, teacher or principal. Recommendation letters and required educational records should be submitted by your recommenders and counselor/teacher/principal directly to BCB either through the application form or by email to [email protected]. 

Does Bard College Berlin accept transfer students?
Yes. Transfer students can apply for Fall or Spring semester entry. See application deadlines here: Transfer Students.
Upon admission, each transfer student will receive a statement of estimated transfer credits.

Does Bard College Berlin offer financial aid?
Yes. In the academic year 2023-24, 79% of Bard College Berlin students received financial aid. Financial aid is available for BA, Transfer, Academy Year, and Project Year students.
Financial aid packages at Bard College Berlin are need-based and contribute to the cost of tuition and fees. Financial aid is awarded in the form of tuition waivers covering from 20% to 100% of the comprehensive fee. Find out more about financial aid at Bard College Berlin here: Financial Aid.
For information about particular scholarships, which are offered on the basis of need and merit, in conjunction with other criteria, click here: Scholarships.

How do I apply for financial aid?
To apply for financial aid, complete our financial statement form and upload it in your applicant portal or send it digitally to our financial aid office ([email protected]) before the application deadline.
It is important that you complete this form and provide supporting documentation within one week of submitting your application for admission, and no later than the application deadline. Please note that this form also requires official supporting documentation, such as tax returns. Without a complete financial statement and documentation, Bard College Berlin will be unable to award any aid or scholarship.
For more information, including the financial aid forms, click here: Financial Aid.

How do I send my FAFSA information to BCB?
Please select Bard College NY (school code 002671) as the recipient of your FAFSA information.

When will I find out about my admission and financial aid decisions?
The date of your admission notification depends on the round in which you submitted your application. Click here for more information: Application Deadlines BA; Application Deadlines Transfer. 
The sooner you submit your financial aid form, the sooner you will know about your financial aid offer. Financial aid notifications are sent shortly after your admission decision.

Do I need to speak German in order to attend BCB?
You do not need to speak German to be admitted to Bard College Berlin. We do require all students to achieve B1 German competence by the end of their second year. This can be accomplished through German language classes at Bard College Berlin or elsewhere, or a proficiency exam.

Do I need to speak English?
Yes. All courses at Bard College Berlin are conducted in English, and students must demonstrate C1 proficiency in order to enroll at Bard College Berlin. Students who do not speak English as a native language (or have not studied at an English-language school) must submit documentation to confirm their level of English.
We require a minimum TOEFL score of 95 or an IELTS score of 7.0 for admission to Bard College Berlin. Further test scores are also accepted. Please refer to the "Proof of English Proficiency (if applicable)" section on the application requirements checklist above for more details. Applicant test scores must be supported by official documentation.

What programs do you offer?
Bard College Berlin offers four-year bachelor of arts programs in the humanities, social sciences, and practicing arts. Find out more about our BA degree programs here: Degree Programs.  
Bard College Berlin also offers one-year study programs: Academy Year and Project Year. Find out more about one-year programs here.

How can I visit Bard College Berlin?
You can schedule a campus tour by completing the online form available here. If there is no appointment available, please contact the Admissions Office in advance ([email protected]) to inquire about availability at a different time.
Bard College Berlin also hosts Virtual Open Days. Open Days are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about life at Bard College Berlin. You can also meet our current students, and speak with Admissions Office representatives. Learn more about upcoming Open Days here: Connect with Us.

Abitur Equivalency

All students admitted to Bard College Berlin qualify for the US university degree on the basis of their national high school diploma, regardless of their eligibility for the German BA degree.

At Bard College Berlin, qualifying students can earn both an American and a German BA degree. To be eligible for the German BA degree, students must have a secondary school qualification that is considered equivalent to the German Abitur. These requirements are determined by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK), and the Anabin website should be contacted for the most accurate information. For applicants’ convenience, we have provided short overviews in English on Abitur equivalency for qualifications we see frequently. If you do not see your qualification here and would like more information, please contact the admissions office ([email protected]).

American High School Diploma
IB Diploma

Secondary School Qualifications Equivalent to the Abitur
Secondary school qualifications that permit entrance to university in the following countries are generally considered equivalent to the Abitur. Contact the Admissions Office for further details.

Austria (Reifeprüfungszeugnis from a Gymnasium)
Bulgaria (Diploma za sredno obrazovanie; Gimnazija)
Croatia (Svjedodzba o drzavnoj maturi)
Czech Republic (Vysvedceni o maturitni zkousce; Gymnazium)
Denmark (Bevis for Studentereksamen (stx))
Estonia (Gümnaasiumi loputunnistus)
Finland (Ylioppilastutkintotodistus)
France (Baccalaureat)
Greece (Apolytirio from a Lykio plus Vevaiosi Prosvasis)
Hungary (Erettsegi Bizonyitvany)
Israel (Te'udat bagrut)
Italy (Maturita)
Latvia (Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu)
Lithuaina (Brandos atestatas)
Moldova (Bacalaureat from a Liceu)
Netherlands (VWO)
Norway (Vitnemal videregaende opplæring)
Portugal (Certificado Nivel Secundario de Educacao)
Romania (Bacalaureat)
Serbia (Diploma from a Gymnasium)
Slovakia (Vysvedcenie o maturitnej skuske from a Gymnasium)
Slovenia (Spricevalo o splosni maturi)
Spain (Titulo de Bachiller + PAU)
Sweden (Slutbetyg Gymnasieskolan)
Switzerland (Matura)