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Transfer Applicants for the BA Programs

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Questions about your application?
The Admissions Office is always happy to schedule a call to talk about your application. Feel free to write us at [email protected] to request an appointment for individual advising with a member of the Admissions Office.

Application Deadlines

  • Transfer Admission
    Bard College Berlin accepts transfer applications each semester, and students can begin their studies in Fall or Spring.
  • Spring Transfer
    • Application/Financial Aid Application due: October 15
    • Notification: December 1
    • Deposit due: December 15
  • Fall Transfer
    • Application/Financial Aid Application due: February 15
    • Notification: April 1
    • Deposit due: May 1

Application Materials

Applicants for transfer must have completed at least one semester of university by the time of their expected enrollment at BCB. All application materials should be in English or German, or should be submitted together with certified English translations.

Online Application Form

Bard College Berlin does not charge an application fee.
We are now accepting applications for entry in Fall 2023. Applicants can apply by filling out and submitting the Common Application online form for transfer students (add Bard College Berlin). Alternatively, transfer applicants may use Bard College Berlin's own application form to apply.

Motivation Statement

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

A strong motivation statement will address the following points:

  • Why you want to leave your current institution 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
Applicants using the Common Application will type this statement directly into the “Questions” section.

Graded Writing Sample

The graded writing sample should be an essay in English that you submitted as an assignment for a class or university course. It should include your instructor’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. Journal-style entries or personal reflections are less helpful to the Committee.

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.

Official High School and University Transcripts

Transfer applicants should arrange to have official records of university coursework as well as their high school records sent to Bard College Berlin. Transcripts 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 submit an official translation along with the original transcript. 

Students using the Common Application can request a transcript by adding their college adviser and high school guidance counselor, and having them submit their university transcript and 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 and/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 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 send their letters 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

SAT/ACT Standardized Testing (optional)

Standardized Testing
Bard College Berlin does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission. 

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

Credit Transfer and Advising

All transfer students who are accepted into the college receive a preliminary credit transfer estimate with their letter of admission. This overview lays out an estimated number of credits that can be transferred from previous university study to a specific concentration at BCB. What’s more, virtually any course taken at a prior college or university can be counted towards a transfer student’s elective course credits, regardless of the subject matter. The credit transfer estimate helps many transfer students answer the crucial question of how long they will need to complete their BA degree at BCB. 

Because of the multidisciplinary nature of BCB’s core curriculum, many transfer students may wonder where they will "begin" in BCB’s core course sequence. All transfer students who enroll in the college take part in an individual advising meeting with BCB’s Registrar to discuss upcoming course selections and the overall outlook of their curriculum at BCB before the start of classes. After the meeting with the Registrar, the college’s examination board undertakes a final review of the transfer student’s past university coursework before officially transferring credits from another institution. The Registrar is there to answer any questions incoming students may have about the credit transfer process.

Housing

It is common for transfer students, especially those transferring in from abroad, to live in one of BCB’s on-campus residence halls. Incoming students who have not yet completed two years of university-level study are required to live in the residence halls until they have completed their second year of university. Students can opt to live on campus longer than is required of them, should they wish to do so. In addition, many exchange students with years of prior university experience join our campus each semester. This ensures that transfer students are part of a larger cohort of students with a similar level of university experience.

Student Life

Transfer students also take part in BCB’s vibrant and multifaceted campus life. Activities ranging from casual ping-pong and football matches to experimental theater festivals are some examples of activities that students have undertaken at BCB, all of which are open to both first-year and transfer students. Examples of student clubs founded or co-founded by transfer students include the life drawing club and the postdramatic performance collective. Students also participate in civic engagement projects, often with funding from BCB’s civic engagement grants for student initiatives. 

Senior Thesis and Research Colloquium

As the final component of a BCB student’s program of study, the senior thesis is just as crucial for transfer students as it is for four-year BA students at the college. Because transfer students can graduate in either the fall or spring semesters, the senior research colloquium is offered each semester. For example, if a transfer student is graduating in the fall semester, then they will be placed into the senior research colloquium in the previous spring semester. This ensures that transfer students are able to complete their thesis within their individual degree timeline.

Chat with a Current Student

Want to learn more about the transfer student experience at Bard College Berlin? Using the Unibuddy platform, you can chat directly with our student ambassador Helene. The Unibuddy platform is a great way to ask questions you may have about the transfer process and the BCB experience as a whole. You can also contact the admissions office directly via email ([email protected]), or sign up for an individual advising with one of our admissions counselors at [email protected].

Prospective Transfer Student FAQs

Q: In which languages can documents be submitted? 
We accept documents such as transcripts or letters of recommendation in English or in German. 

Q: Do my documents need to be officially translated? 
Yes, in order for application documents such as transcripts or letters of recommendation to be considered official, they need to be translated by an official (notarized) translator. 

Q: Can I submit my transcripts or letters of recommendations myself?
No. Please have your high school transcript submitted by your high school counselor, teacher or principal and 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 and university officials directly to BCB either through the application form or by email to [email protected]. 

Q: Why do I need to send my high school transcripts and diploma? 
BCB is accredited in the United States and in Germany and awards two degrees upon graduation to qualifying students. In order for us to evaluate your eligibility for the German degree, we need information about your high school qualification. 

Q: Can my recommenders send the letter of recommendation to the admissions office directly? 
Yes, letters of recommendation can be sent directly to the admissions office email address at [email protected].

Q: How do I send in my English proficiency test scores? 
If you are taking the TOEFL or IELTS, you can have the results sent to Bard College Berlin. The Bard College Berlin TOEFL code is 8527. If you are taking the Duolingo language test, you can have results shared with Bard College Berlin electronically through the "Send Results" tool available on the Duolingo platform after you receive your results. 

Q: 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 | Financial Aid." 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 admissions 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]. 

Q: Where can I upload my portfolio?
If you opt to include a portfolio (not required) you can upload it directly in your applicant portal. 

Q: Where do I upload my complete financial statement form?
You can upload your complete financial statement form, along with all supporting documentation directly in your applicant portal. We encourage you to complete your application for financial aid within a week after submitting your application for admission. 
 
Q: How do I send my FAFSA information to BCB?
Please select Bard College NY (school code 002671) as the recipient of your FAFSA information. 

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.
 

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Bard College Berlin, A Liberal Arts University gGmbH

Mailing address: Platanenstrasse 24, 13156 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 43733 0
Fax: +49 30 43733 100
Email: [email protected] 
[email protected]

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Bard College Berlin is institutionally accredited at the national level in Germany by the Wissenschaftsrat.

In the United States, Bard College Berlin is accredited through
Bard College by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Qualifying students receive both a German BA and an American BA. 
© 2023 Bard College Berlin, A Liberal Arts University gGmbH
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