Transfer Applicants

Transfer Credit

A student transferring from an accredited institution usually receives full credit for work completed with a grade of C or better in courses appropriate to the Bard curriculum. Specifically, no transfer credit will be given for courses that are dissimilar from those offered at Bard. For example, “fashion design” per se is not offered at Bard, therefore the Registrar's Office would not grant transfer credit for a fashion-design class. Also, credits will not transfer from online or distance learning classes, nor will they transfer from college algebra or lower level math courses. Regardless of course credit eligibility, a maximum of 64 transfer credits can be granted. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 64 credits at Bard, for a total of 128, in order to receive a Bard degree. Transfer credits for online classes are not accepted at Bard College.

Application Checklist for Domestic Students 

Required materials:

• Apply using the Common Application.
• 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.
• 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.)

Application Checklist for International Students

Application Checklist:

Required materials:

• Apply using the Common Application.
• High School transcript (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 (Two are required: We prefer that one recommendation come from an English or humanities instructor and one from a math or science instructor.)
• TOEFL  exam or IELTS exam or Duolingo English Test  (For English proficiency requirements, see below.) All international applicants who speak a foreign language other than English as their primary language must submit a completed TOEFL exam or IELTS exam or Duolingo English Test.  
  • ​Students who attend High Schools with full English instruction may request to be considered for a TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo waiver by emailing admission@bard.edu, Subject: International Applicant - TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo waiver
  • 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.)
    Photography Supplemental Requirements

Optional materials:

• In addition to the TOEFL or IELTS or Duolingo requirement, we recommend participating in the optional English Proficiency supplements with one of our two service partners: IntialView or Vericant. (See below for more information.)
• Completed Bard International Financial Aid application (Required, if applying for financial aid. This form can be found on the Applying for Financial Aid as an International Student page.)