International Students

Bard College is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. The College encourages applications from foreign nationals and from U.S. citizens who have completed their secondary education abroad.

Applying

International students may apply using the Common Application. Candidates whose first language is not English must submit the result of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 600 (paper based), 250 (computer based), and 100 (Internet based). Bard College also accepts the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum band score of 7 in the academic module.  

Financial Aid

All foreign nationals must file a Declaration of Finances (issued by the College Scholarship Service of the College Board, or CSS) before a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) will be issued. The declaration and certificate are needed to obtain a visa.

Foreign students may be eligible, based on need and merit, for Bard scholarships and loans. Students seeking aid must submit the Declaration of Finances and the Foreign Student's Financial Aid Application (also issued by CSS). International applicants must submit all financial documents along with the completed admissions application. The admissions committee will not consider applications received without sufficient financial documentation.

The preferential deadline for International Student Financial Aid Application and Declaration of Finances is January 1st (postmarked on or before January 3, 2012).

Students are automatically considered for all Bard College grants or scholarships for which they may be eligible. Only the Distinguished Scientist Scholars (DSS) program requires a supplemental application.

Deadlines

International applicants who are applying for financial aid are not eligible to apply through our Early Action or Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) program. Decisions on international applicants with financial need are made by April 1st, no earlier.

International applicants not applying for financial aid may choose to apply early. Decisions for Early Action are made in mid-December.

Forms

• Common Application (Deadline is January 1st--POSTMARKED on or before January 3, 2012)
• Declaration of Finances (Preferential deadline is January 1st--POSTMARKED on or before January 3, 2012 )
• Foreign Student's Financial Aid Application (Preferential deadline is January 1st--POSTMARKED on or before January 3, 2012)

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