Applying to Bard in Berlin

At the time of application, students must have a valid passport, be in the process of obtaining a new passport, or be in the process of renewing a current passport. According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the date of return to the United States.

All Begin in Berlin and Bard in Berlin Study Abroad Program participants are required by Bard Abroad to obtain a German residence visa/long stay visa for students before departing for their term abroad. Students who are non-US passport holders should apply early and contact our office when they start the application process. Non-US passport holders may require more time to obtain the appropriate travel documents, which must be in hand before departure. Students are responsible for obtaining the required documentation necessary to enter the country. All students must arrive on campus on the designated start date of the program. 

All students should notify Bard Abroad upon acceptance into the program if they have plans to travel around Europe before or after their program ends. Students must comply with European immigration rules, which have strict limits on how long one can remain in the Schengen area.

See the Costs / Scholarships tab on each page:
Bard in Berlin Study Abroad Program
Berlin Theater Intensive
Berlin Summer Studio

If a student chooses to withdraw from a Bard College international program, he or she must inform the Institute for International Liberal Education (IILE) in writing immediately.

In such an event, the following policies apply:

• The $500 program deposit is nonrefundable.
• If an accepted student chooses to withdraw before a program's commencement—the first day of the predeparture workshop—he or she will be responsible for paying any unrecoverable program costs that the IILE or the program has incurred on his or her behalf. Such costs may include, but are not limited to: prepaid meals, prepaid room or housing reservation deposits, airline deposits or airline tickets, bus rental fees, and payments for guides. Thus, even if the student has not yet paid the full program balance and does not attend the program, he or she may be responsible for paying these unrecoverable program costs. Therefore, it is in the student's best interest to notify the IILE immediately upon making a decision to withdraw in order to minimize unrecoverable expenses made on the student's behalf.
• If a student chooses to withdraw after a program's commencement—the first day of the predeparture workshop—for any reason, including academic or personal, no refunds will be given. In addition, any student who withdraws before completion of the program may not be eligible to receive academic credit from the program.
• If a student is required to return to the U.S. after a program's commencement—the first day of the predeparture workshop—due to serious illness, death, or death within the immediate family, IILE will make every effort to refund recoverable costs to the student.
• If a student is dismissed from a program due to behavioral, academic, legal, or other related issues no refunds will be given.

Notes:

• Students receiving financial aid should consult with the financial aid office at their home institution for information about how withdrawing from a program would affect their federal, state, and/or institutional aid.
• Because full refunds are often not possible, we strongly urge students to purchase either trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance for all or part of the full program cost, including tuition or tuition insurance. Policies vary widely in terms of covered expenses, price, and the timing of when policies must be purchased, so students should check directly with insurance providers for more details.
• All students participating in a Bard College program are required to purchase international health insurance that covers the time of the program and to provide proof of that purchase before departure.

Because student safety is of critical importance, Bard College reserves the right to cancel any Bard-sponsored program in a location or context that is considered unsafe by the College. Bard Abroad regularly reviews information provided by the U.S. Department of State and monitors other sources for information about the countries where students are or will be studying on Bard programs.

In such an event, the following policies apply:
If Bard College cancels a program because of safety concerns, an emergency, or an act of God prior to the commencement of the program:

• Bard Abroad will make every effort to refund recoverable program costs to the participants.
• Tuition will be refunded.

If Bard College cancels a program after it has commenced, from the day of the predeparture workshop, due to safety concerns, an emergency, or an act of God:                                                                                                

• Bard Abroad will make every effort to help students complete the academic work from the program and, depending on the circumstances, earn the intended academic credit from the program.
• Bard Abroad will make every effort to refund recoverable program costs to the participants. Unrecoverable program expenses (e.g., program deposits, airfare, excursion expenses, housing fees, other operating costs) may be refunded on a pro-rated basis.
• Tuition will not be refunded.

Notes:

• Bard Abroad will review individual cancellations on a case-by-case basis for students who are receiving financial aid from Bard or from their home institutions.
• Because full refunds are often not possible, we strongly urge students to purchase trip cancellation insurance and tuition insurance. Policies vary on when trip cancellation insurance and tuition insurance must be purchased, so students should check with insurance providers for more details.