The Bard International Student Organization's annual show.
Am I an international student?
If you are a non-US citizen living outside of the United States or living in the United States on a temporary visa, you are considered to be an international applicant. If you are unsure of your status, please contact [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you.
What if I am:
What if I am:
- an International Transfer student?
- a US citizen or US permanent resident living abroad? Your global experience is a valuable part of your narrative and will be given due consideration in the evaluation of your application.
Application Checklist for International Students
Required Materials:
- Apply using the Common Application or Coalition with Scoir. For International Transfer Students, please use this checklist.
- High School transcript sent directly by your high school to Bard College electronically (include mid-year senior grades if available at the time you apply.)
- School Report (form is generally completed by a high school counselor and includes a school profile.)
- Teacher recommendations: Three are required. We prefer that one recommendation come from an English or humanities instructor and one from a math or science instructor. In addition, a third letter of recommendation must come from a higher education counselor for students who have access to a college counseling office. For those without a higher education counselor, this letter of recommendation can come from another teacher or an advisor, administrator, coach or employer.
- TOEFL exam or IELTS exam or Duolingo English Test are acceptable English proficiency tests. All international applicants for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the approved English proficiency tests. Some applicants may waive their English proficiency exam requirement if they meet our waiver eligibility requirements. Please see the below section “What are the English proficiency requirements?” for in depth information on submitting your electronic test results to Bard, as well as the outlined criteria and process of submitting the English proficiency waiver request form.
- Completed Bard International Financial Aid Application (BISFAA). (Required, if applying for financial aid. This form can be found on the Applying for Financial Aid as an International Student page.) Note: No other financial aid form will be accepted. Please only submit the BISFAA)
- Students who submit their application by the application deadline have a grace period of 5 days from the deadline to submit supplemental materials such as portfolio materials or to encourage teachers and counselors to submit their recommendation letters.
International Transfer Students
Bard accepts international transfer students with the understanding that they will spend a minimum of two years at the College. Bard accepts transfer students for the fall and spring semesters.
What's required of an International Transfer Student?
Applicants who have completed one semester of college work may apply for admission in the fall as first-year students with the potential for advanced standing. Transfer students are expected to be familiar with Bard's distinctive curricular components, particularly Moderation and the Senior Project.
Application Checklist for International Transfer Students
Required materials:
- Apply using the Common Application or Coalition with Scoir.
- The College Report and college transcript are also required. A high school transcript is required unless the candidate will have completed an associate’s degree by the time of matriculation at Bard.
- Two Academic Recommendations: Both academic recommendations should come from college faculty. However, for those who have completed only one or two college semesters in circumstances where the classes have been large and contact with professors minimal, we will accept high school faculty recommendations.
- Artistic supplements are required for all transfer candidates seeking admission to the Photography Program. (Please click on the link below for artistic supplement details for this program.)
- Completed Bard International Student Financial Aid application (Required if applying for financial aid).
- All international applicants for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the accepted English proficiency tests. TOEFL exam or IELTS exam or Duolingo English Test are acceptable English proficiency tests. English proficiency test waivers are available for eligible students.
What are the English proficiency requirements (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo)?
Because we do not have a full-scale English as a Second Language program at Bard, it is critical that all students, domestic and international, have the appropriate level of English fluency before they arrive on campus. We read every application in full, placing particular stock in the writing, and recommendations and grades from English teachers.
TOEFL exam or IELTS exam or Duolingo English Test are acceptable English proficiency tests. All international applicants for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the accepted English proficiency tests. Students should only request results to be sent electronically to Bard College directly from TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, and not physical documents to be mailed. For TOEFL, Bard's institutional code is 2037. For IELTS, students should request their electronic results to be sent to Bard College Undergraduate Admission.
Waiver eligibility requirements are listed below:
Our test score guidelines are:
TOEFL exam or IELTS exam or Duolingo English Test are acceptable English proficiency tests. All international applicants for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the accepted English proficiency tests. Students should only request results to be sent electronically to Bard College directly from TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, and not physical documents to be mailed. For TOEFL, Bard's institutional code is 2037. For IELTS, students should request their electronic results to be sent to Bard College Undergraduate Admission.
Waiver eligibility requirements are listed below:
- Students who have attended a secondary school with full English instruction, for at least the 3 most recent years of their education, may request an English proficiency test waiver after they submit their application (for transfer students, at least 4 semesters of college work). Once students submit their application they will gain access to their Bard portal where an English proficiency test waiver form is available.
- Students who have grown up in a country where English is the primary language, may request an English proficiency test waiver after they submit their application.
- Other situations will be considered on a case by case basis.
Our test score guidelines are:
- TOEFL score of at least 100
- IELTS score of at least 7
- Duolingo English Test score of at least 120
English Language Test Waiver Information
If you are an international student and believe you are eligible for an English Language Test Waiver, you will have access to a waiver form on your Bard portal after you submit your application to Bard College. The Admission Office will review your waiver form and, if you meet the criteria, the Admission Committee will waive the English Language Test requirement, and will notify you of their decision.
Must Read: Bard Portal Information
Once you submit your Common Application or Coalition with Scoir, it may take 24 to 48 hours for us to confirm receipt of your application. Once we receive your application, you will be emailed a confirmation which includes the credentials to access your Bard Portal.
If you submit your application on the deadline date but still have required materials to submit, please note that you will have time to upload those application materials after that deadline date as long as your application has been submitted. It is important, however, that you submit those final materials as soon as possible after the deadline has passed as the admission committee cannot read incomplete applications.
Please do not mail or email any materials directly to the Admission Office unless instructed to do so. Use your Bard Portal and go to your Application Tab to upload and view submitted materials.
Please make a habit of visiting your Bard portal frequently to view your application and financial aid checklists and confirm that we have received all of the materials required to complete your application. We will also be posting information on your portal throughout the admission cycle so it is important to check your portal regularly.
If you submit your application on the deadline date but still have required materials to submit, please note that you will have time to upload those application materials after that deadline date as long as your application has been submitted. It is important, however, that you submit those final materials as soon as possible after the deadline has passed as the admission committee cannot read incomplete applications.
Please do not mail or email any materials directly to the Admission Office unless instructed to do so. Use your Bard Portal and go to your Application Tab to upload and view submitted materials.
Please make a habit of visiting your Bard portal frequently to view your application and financial aid checklists and confirm that we have received all of the materials required to complete your application. We will also be posting information on your portal throughout the admission cycle so it is important to check your portal regularly.
Any Questions?
Please click the questions below for answers to the most common questions asked about applying to Bard as an international student.
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What if I am both an international student and a transfer student?
Bard accepts international transfer students with the understanding that they will spend a minimum of two years at the College. Bard accepts transfer students for the fall and spring semesters.
Applicants who have completed one semester of college work may apply for admission in the fall as first-year students with the potential for advanced standing. Transfer students are expected to be familiar with Bard's distinctive curricular components, particularly Moderation and the Senior Project.
Although a personal interview is not required for incoming first-year students, it is strongly recommended for transfer candidates. Candidates should demonstrate their understanding of Bard's curriculum in their interview.
International transfer applicants must complete the transfer application via either the Common Application or Coalition Application with Scoir. International transfer applicants applying for financial aid must complete the Bard International Student Financial Aid Application (BISFAA).
For general information and deadlines for transfer students, please click here.What is Bard's policy on advanced standing and college AP credits?
Advanced standing or college credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses will be given for a grade of 5. Students who wish to request credit or advanced standing must submit the appropriate record of their grade to the Office of the Registrar.
The following international diplomas may be accepted for advanced standing: International Baccalaureate (IB), French Baccalaureate, Swiss Maturity, and German Abitur. Students who have earned A-level passes may enter with advanced standing.
Students may receive 4 credits for each IB and A-level subject—as well as other international high school programs, as determined by the registrar—to a maximum of one year of credit. To be eligible for credit, IB students must score 5 or above in individual subjects. A-level students must have an A or A* to receive credit. AP students must score a 5 on their AP exams to receive credit.
Any questions regarding exact transfer of advanced credit should be made after you have received an admission decision and directed to Peter Gadsby, the registrar ([email protected]).Discover More
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