Project Year Applicants

Online Application Form

Bard College Berlin does not charge an application fee.
Applicants can submit their application by filling out the Bard College Berlin Online Application form.

Please create an account, 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. Please indicate in the application your interest in being considered for the Project Year program specifically.

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 complete the Project Year program 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 a community in Berlin

In the Bard College Berlin Application Form, the essay must be uploaded as a PDF file.

Graded Writing Sample

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

The graded writing sample may be on any topic, though we recommend selecting a sample that is related to the academic disciplines offered at Bard College Berlin. Whenever possible, the Admissions Committee prefers to see writing samples that analyze a text or research a topic, and is primarily interested in seeing the type of writing you have been doing at university, as well as how it was evaluated by your instructor.

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.

Alternative Essay

If you do not have a suitable graded writing sample, please fill out this form to receive an alternative essay prompt.

Project Proposal

Project Year applicants should submit a project proposal that outlines their individual project. A strong proposal will address the following points:

• Description of the proposed project
• Possible academic supervisors (refer to the Faculty section of the website for information on faculty expertise)
• Motivation for applying to the Project Year program and how it fits with your future plans

In the Bard College Berlin Application Form, the project proposal must be uploaded as a PDF file.

Official University and High School Transcripts

Applicants should arrange to have official university transcripts, as well as their high school records, sent to Bard College Berlin. Transcripts and school records are considered official if they are sent by representatives of the institutions, 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 have your transcripts officially translated. 

Applicants whose coursework is still in progress should have a record of their most recent grades submitted to Bard College Berlin. Any offer of admission will be conditional upon proof of graduation. 

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 professors/teachers who are familiar with your academic work. The Admissions Committee will accept letters of recommendation in English or German.

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

When you send a request, the recommender will receive an email with instructions and a link to the application system where they can enter their name and contact information, and submit their letter. Recommenders may upload a letter as a PDF or type a letter directly into the space provided. Alternatively, they can forward their letters directly to [email protected]. 

Please note that there is no required format for the letter of recommendation. If a recommender would like to use a recommendation form, please find the Bard College Berlin recommendation form here:
Download the Recommendation 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
 

Test	Minimum Required Score
IELTS Academic	7.0
Cambridge	CAE (A-C), CPE (A-C)
TOEFL (iBT)	95
TOEFL Essentials	10
Duolingo English Test	120

Prospective Student FAQs

Q: How do I apply to Bard College Berlin?
A: Bard College Berlin accepts applications for the Project Year through the BCB application portal.

Q: Who should consider the Project Year at Bard College Berlin?
A: The Project Year is a one-year academic program in which students conduct individual research with a faculty member in order to deepen their academic knowledge of a topic and write a thesis project, as well as take a few additional undergraduate courses of their choosing. Students who have already completed or are about to complete an undergraduate degree and aim to work on a research topic for further graduate applications or professional advancement are encouraged to apply for the Project Year. Project Year students often take advantage of the academic expertise and research interests of Bard College Berlin faculty, as well as the academic, cultural and artistic resources of Berlin, to develop an academic project toward further graduate study or work in the arts, education, academia, publishing, government, NGOs and others.

Q: Can I submit my transcripts or letters of recommendations myself?
A: No. Please have your university's registrar's office submit your most recent university transcript. Recommendation letters and required education records should be submitted by your recommenders and school/university officials directly to BCB either through the application form or by email to [email protected]. 

Q: Does Bard College Berlin offer financial aid to Project Year students?

At this time, Bard College Berlin does not offer any financial aid or scholarships to Project Year students.

Q: Do I need to speak German?
A: You do not need to speak German to be admitted to and study at Bard College Berlin.

Q: Do I need to speak English?
A: Yes. The majority of 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. These scores must be supported by official documentation.

Q: How can I visit Bard College Berlin?
A: You can schedule a campus tour by completing the online form available at this link. If there is no appointment available, please contact the Admissions Office in advance ([email protected]) to request a campus visit.

Bard College Berlin also hosts Open Weeks. Open Weeks are a fantastic opportunity to learn more about life at Bard College Berlin. You can attend a class, get to know faculty, meet other prospective students, and speak with Admissions Office representatives. Learn more about upcoming Open Weeks here: Connect with Us.