Bard Abroad

Bard Abroad students take an architectural tour of Berlin as part of BCB's cultural program.

Bard College has long been known as an innovator and risk taker in the field of higher education. We believe that international education should be built upon meaningful partnerships based on the principles of mutuality and equality. Our groundbreaking study abroad programs, located in regions undergoing rapid political and economic transformation continue this tradition.

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Study Abroad Announcements

Updated on March 19, 2021

Study Abroad in Spring 2021 Semester

Students who have been approved to study abroad may continue to plan their Spring 2021 semester abroad. Bard College Berlin and Central European University are holding in-person classes and will continue to host students from Bard College and other North American colleges and universities. The Bard Globalization and International Affairs program is virtual for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. Due to visa restrictions we are unable to host students in St. Petersburg, Russia and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan at this time.

Due to COVID-19, students are required to know and abide by all local and national travel restrictions in place at the host country and program site. In recognition of the continued Level 3 U.S. Department of State and CDC travel advisories, the Bard Abroad office expects that students will confirm that the following conditions for their program are met:

Commercial flights are available from U.S. airports to the host country, airports and borders in the host country are open to students from the United States (or the home country of the student).
The host institution is open and holding in-person classes.
The host institution or program has implemented mitigation measures and can provide quarantine assistance, as needed.
The host institution or program is prepared to provide remote learning options, if required.
Students are provided a clear refund policy indicating dates and conditions for refunds of tuition, housing, and other program fees.
The United States (or the student’s home country) Embassy and Consulates in the host country are open.
The host country Consulates are processing visa applications and any required study permits for the spring 2021 semester for students from the U.S. (or the home country of the student).

The Bard Abroad staff is available to answer questions regarding these points.

Trish Fleming regarding Tuition Exchange, non-Bard programs
Leiah Heckathorn regarding Bard College Berlin and Central European University (Vienna)

Study Abroad in Fall 2021 Semester

Students who have been approved to study abroad may continue to plan their Fall 2021 semester abroad. Bard College Berlin and Central European University will continue to host students from Bard College and other North American colleges and universities. The Bard Globalization and International Affairs program will be in person for Fall 2021.

We are making tentative plans to host students in St. Petersburg, Russia - pending the renewal of visa processes and changes to travel restrictions. Our program with the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan will resume when AUCA reopens for in-person learning.

Due to COVID-19, students are required to know and abide by all local and national travel restrictions in place at the host country and program site. In recognition of the elevated U.S. Department of State and CDC travel advisories, the Bard Abroad office expects that students will confirm that the following conditions for their program are met:

Commercial flights are available from U.S. airports to the host country, airports and borders in the host country are open to students from the United States (or the home country of the student).
The host institution is open to American students and holding in-person classes when possible.
The host institution or program has implemented mitigation measures and can provide quarantine assistance, as needed.
The host institution or program is prepared to provide remote learning options, if required.
Students are provided a clear refund policy indicating dates and conditions for refunds of tuition, housing, and other program fees.
The United States (or the student’s home country) Embassy and Consulates in the host country are open.
The host country Consulates are processing visa applications and any required study permits for the fall 2021 semester for students from the U.S. (or the home country of the student).

Bard in the World

Bard College offers numerous opportunities to engage with students and faculty from all over the world, both on the main campus in Annandale and through exchanges with our global partners.

Explore Our Programs

Announcing the Bard Global Bachelor of Arts

Learn more about the GBA

The Global Bachelor of Arts

The Global BA (GBA) offers students the opportunity to go beyond the traditional study abroad experience and immerse themselves in multiple cultures and environments while pursuing a coherent liberal arts curriculum with expert faculty at multiple institutions and studying with students from all over the world.

Bard Abroad stands together with the Bard Center for Civic Engagement in asserting that Black Lives Matter

Read full statement

The Bard College Center for Civic Engagement Statement on Recent Violence Against Asian American Communities

To Read the Full Statement

Bard Abroad & Social Distancing

While the locations of our students may have changed, our commitment to international education has not. To continue international experiences while practicing social distance, the Bard Abroad team has compiled some of our favorite books, movies, and shows as well as virtual city & museum tours and performances from around the world. These virtual experiences have been gathered onto two Google Maps, one internationally focused and another US-focused.

Throughout the year we will continue updating the maps with new finds as well as suggestions from you all! And remember, we may be "alone" but we are alone together.

Upcoming Events

4/13
Tuesday

Photo courtesy of Al-Quds Bard, February 2019
Apply for the 2021/22 Fellowship Opportunities at Al-Quds Bard College

Wednesday, March 10, 2021 – Thursday, April 15, 2021
Structured as a multifaceted fellowship year, the fellowship provides an opportunity for expected and recent BA and MAT graduates of Al-Quds Bard College for Arts and Sciences (Abu Dis), Bard College (Annandale), and other institutions in the Bard International Network to gain hands-on experience with the first dual-degree program between US and Palestinian institutions of higher education. AQB emphasizes student-centered learning, the development of independent inquiry, and the free exchange of ideas and AQB Fellows play an important role in facilitating such an environment on campus.

Application deadline: April 15, 2021

To learn more about the fellowship opportunities and apply, click here.
4/15
Thursday

The Reception of Shostakovich’s Music

Thursday, April 15, 2021
A lecture with Vladimir Orlov (Associate Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Smolny) of St. Petersburg University)
Online Event 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
It is well-known that Joseph Stalin, leader of the USSR, left the performance of Shostakovich's opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District in great outrage in 1936, which was followed with the first serious attack against Shostakovich. But underneath this, what was the real perception of the communist ideology by the composer? Did he actually stay aloof (like Andrei Volkonsky), comply cynically (like Sergei Prokofiev) or genuinely believe in it (like Alexander Davidenko)?

The lecture will discuss Shostakovich's examples of Soviet music, namely his ballets (The Bolt, The Golden Age), operas and other compositions and their up-and-down reception by the Soviet public and officialdom.

Join via Zoom

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Online Event
4/16
Friday

Bard-Smolny Student Game Night, Fall 2018
Bard-Smolny Peer Language Cafe

Friday, April 16, 2021
Online Event 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
Join Smolny students every Friday to practice your Russian and discuss relevant topics in society! Weekly meetings resume February 12.

Join via Zoom

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 Online Event
4/29
Thursday

Yanliang Pan, Bard-Smolny Spring '20
War and Peace: International Conflicts at the Time of Pandemics

Thursday, April 29, 2021
A lecture with Daria Pushkina (Academic Director of Bard-Smolny Program, Associate Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Smolny) of St. Petersburg University)
Online Event 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
What is international security? How did the international community's understanding of a security threat change (or did not) during the current pandemic? What are the major conflicts in the world at present and how do current international organizations manage (or fail) to deal with them?

Join via Zoom

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Online Event