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For Begin in Berlin Families

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Welcome, Families!
Below are frequently asked questions from families of students studying in Berlin, as well as resources and tips for preparing your student for study abroad. Please contact the Begin in Berlin program if you have any questions that aren’t answered here.

Supporting Your Student’s Study Abroad

Parental support is important as students prepare for their study abroad experience and during their time away. Here are some things you can do before and during your child’s study abroad:

Supporting Your Student’s Study Abroad

  • Review the “Before You Leave” student checklist on this page with your student and assist them in completing these items before they leave for Berlin.
  • Develop a plan for handling family emergencies that may arise while your student is away.
  • Review the other resources found on this page and contact us with any questions ahead of your student’s departure.

The Study Abroad Experience

The Study Abroad Experience

Studying abroad can be one of the most transformative experiences of college life. Students undergo great personal growth as they are immersed, perhaps for the first time, in a different and exciting culture. They develop a global perspective and discover new personal and academic passions. They explore opportunities for civic engagement in their host countries, finding new ways to engage with the world and developing life-changing relationships. The study abroad experience is one of the cornerstones of the Bard education, and we are delighted that your student has chosen to take on this challenge.

Checklists and Resources
 

  • Supporting Your Student
    Family support is important as students prepare for their study abroad experience and during their time away. Here are some things you can do before and during your student’s study abroad:

    Supporting Your Student

    Family support is important as students prepare for their study abroad experience and during their time away. Here are some things you can do before and during your student’s study abroad:

    • Review the “Before You Leave” student checklist on this page with your student and assist them in completing these items before they leave for Berlin.
    • Read through the Student Handbook. Make sure your student does as well.
    • Develop a plan for handling family emergencies that may arise while your student is away.
    • Review the other resources found on this page and contact us with any questions ahead of your student’s departure.
  • “Before You Go” Checklist
    Please review the list below carefully to ensure that your student is ready to Begin in Berlin. Note: Be sure to have fully completed the Bard enrollment checklist before your student leaves for Berlin.

    “Before You Go” Checklist

    Please review the list below carefully to ensure that your student is ready to Begin in Berlin. Note: Be sure to have fully completed the Bard enrollment checklist before your student leaves for Berlin.

    1. Fill all needed prescription medications for the duration of your program. If you have a question about your medication in Germany, please contact [email protected]. 
    2. Visit the dentist for a checkup and cleaning (do not plan to go to the dentist in Germany).
    3. Check with your bank to make sure they do business in Germany and that your ATM card will work at German banks; alert them that you will be using your debit card in Germany for the period of your program.
    4. Make photocopies of:
    • Your passport photo page
    • Your ATM/credit cards
    5. If applicable, take and print out photographs of your musical instrument to demonstrate to German customs officers.
    6. We recommend bringing a small amount of local currency with you to be prepared once you arrive in Berlin for local travel or minor personal expenses.
    7. All student accommodations are double rooms in on-campus residency halls that have kitchen and laundry facilities. All students receive linens and bedding but must bring or purchase their own towels.
  • Resources for Families
    • Bard College Office of Financial Aid
    • Currency and Exchange Rate Information
    • U.S. Department of State (Germany)
    • U.S. Department of State (Advisories)
    • World Time Zone Information: Berlin
    • World Weather Service: Berlin

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do Begin in Berlin students travel to Berlin?

    How do Begin in Berlin students travel to Berlin?


    Begin in Berlin students are responsible for their own travel to and from Bard College Berlin. Reccommended flights to and from Berlin will be shared with admitted students.
  • Do we need to take any special action if our family receives financial aid?

    Do we need to take any special action if our family receives financial aid?


    Students receiving financial aid should be in contact with the Bard College Office of Financial Aid as they prepare for their time in Berlin. Financial Aid can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 845-758-7526.
  • What do we need to know about finances in Berlin?

    What do we need to know about finances in Berlin?


    Exchange rates fluctuate, but $1.00 is equivalent to about €0.84. Please see the currency converter in the resources section.

    Debit cards and credit cards are accepted in most places but are not as widespread as in the United States. We recommend that students always carry some cash, particularly for low-cost items, eateries (many of which do not accept cards), and public toilets (which carry a fee).

    Students should inform their bank and credit card companies that they will be spending time overseas and confirm that their cards will work in Germany. They should also consult their bank to find out if it has a partnership with a German bank (which may help them avoid ATM fees), and make sure they understand any fees and regulations before using cards overseas.

    A budget of $250 per month is a reliable estimate for personal expenses. On this budget students should be able to purchase personal care items, attend events, activities, and eat out occasionally. Dining out is often more affordable than in most U.S. cities.

  • Will my student have health insurance and access to counseling while studying in Berlin?

    Will my student have health insurance and access to counseling while studying in Berlin?


    All students will be enrolled in GeoBlue, an international health insurance plan, for the duration of the program at Bard College Berlin. This will cover students regardless of where they travel during the program. GeoBlue has a network of doctors and service providers close to campus. The cost of this insurance is covered by the campus health services fee for Berlin. However, all enrolled students must have health insurance for the full academic year, which is from August 1 until July 31. Because of this, students must either purchase the Bard College Student Health Plan or show proof of equivalent health insurance. 

    Please consult with your student’s personal care physician to verify that their prescribed medication is legal and available in Berlin. Not all medications that are common in the United States are legal in Germany. German law prohibits the mailing or shipment of drugs, including prescription medicines, to private persons in Germany from the United States or other foreign countries. Your student’s personal care physician may prescribe medication for the duration of the program. Your student should bring a copy of their prescriptions with them, as they may need to present it as they pass through customs. Be sure to keep any prescription medications in their original packaging. 

    There is a counselor who has office hours on campus once a week at Bard College Berlin, as well as a network of counselors available off campus through GeoBlue. 

    If you have questions, email [email protected].
     
  • Should my student bring their medications to Berlin?

    Should my student bring their medications to Berlin?


    Please consult with your student’s personal care physician to verify that their prescribed medication is legal and available in Berlin. Not all medications that are common in the United States are legal in Germany. German law prohibits the mailing or shipment of drugs, including prescription medicines, to private persons in Germany from the United States or other foreign countries. Your student’s personal care physician may prescribe medication for the duration of the program. Students should bring a copy of their prescriptions with them, as they may need to present it as they pass through customs. Be sure to keep any prescription medications in their original packaging.
  • What should we do about cell phone use in Berlin?

    What should we do about cell phone use in Berlin?


    Contact your cell phone provider to find out if your phone will work in Germany. If you know that it will work, also find out how much you will have to pay to use it. We suggest that students buy a German cell phone or “Handy” that runs off of prepaid cards. One good thing about cell phone use in Germany is that you are not charged for incoming calls. Many students buy European sim cards to use in their cell phone but the phone needs to be UNLOCKED. You can have your carrier unlock the phone, in person, at a retail branch of the carrier. 
  • How do we call Germany from the United States?

    How do we call Germany from the United States?


    011: U.S. exit code; must be dialed first for all international calls made from the United States or Canada

    49: Country code for Germany

    Example: 011-49- 30 43733 0 (to call Bard College Berlin’s main number)
  • What is computing like on campus? Should my student bring a laptop?

    What is computing like on campus? Should my student bring a laptop?


    Bard students have full access to Bard College Berlin’s campus computer network, which includes free wireless Internet access, free printing, and computer terminals on campus. However, computer terminals are limited, so we do recommend that students bring a laptop and a plug adapter.
  • Will U.S. electronics work in Germany?

    Will U.S. electronics work in Germany?


    Germany operates on the European voltage system (220v), not the 110v system used in America. Most electrical appliances intended for travel have a voltage converter already built in. To determine if an appliance will work in Germany, find the device’s voltage levels on its power adapter or near the power cord. If the device indicates a range between 110v and 220v, it should work in Germany with the use of a two-prong European plug adapter. 

    Adapters can be purchased at electronic or travel stores in the United States, and they are also readily available in Germany. If you purchase an adapter in the United States, make sure that it will fit any three-pronged plugs you are bringing with you and that it will fit into a German electrical outlet, which has two round holes for a receptacle. Laptop computers, digital cameras, and iPods should work with the use of a plug adapter, but items such as hair dryers and curling irons are generally easier to purchase in Germany than to bring with you.

  • What security precautions should we take?

    What security precautions should we take?


    Please read the sections on “Safety and Security” and “Local Laws” from the U.S. State Department’s country-specific information pages for Germany.

    Students and families should consult the site from time to time to remain up to date.

    For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution Updates.

    Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free within the United States and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8am to 8pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

    Please consult the Student Handbook for more information on safety and security.

  • How do I send my student a care package?

    How do I send my student a care package?


    Mail can be sent to Bard College Berlin’s main mailing address. Bard College Berlin staff will hold letters and packages and notify students of their arrival. Please send mail to:

    Student Name
    c/o Bard College Berlin
    Platanenstrasse 24
    13156 Berlin
    Germany

  • Can I visit my student while they study in Berlin?

    Can I visit my student while they study in Berlin?


    Yes! Bard College Berlin’s residential campus is located in Niederschönhausen in the historic borough of Pankow, in the northeast of Berlin. Please consult the academic calendar before planning your travel. Resources for booking local accommodations include:
    • Expedia.com
    • Hotels.com
    • Hotwire.com

    Click here for more information about getting to Bard College Berlin.

Begin in Berlin Quicklinks

  • Bard College Admission
  • Bard College Berlin