- Founded
- 1999
- Students
- 307
- Programmes
- 3
- Taught in English
- 3
About Bard College Berlin, A Liberal Arts University
Bard College Berlin is a private German-American liberal arts university located in the Pankow-Niederschönhausen district of Berlin. Founded in 1999 as the European College of Liberal Arts (ECLA), it became Bard College Berlin in 2011 following a merger with Bard College in New York. The institution holds national-level accreditation in Germany from the Wissenschaftsrat and U.S. accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education via Bard College.
The college offers interdisciplinary bachelor's degree programmes in the humanities, practicing arts, and social sciences, taught entirely in English in small seminars with an average class size of 10 students. Qualifying graduates receive both a German BA and an American BA degree. With 307 enrolled students representing 71 nationalities, the institution is highly international by design.
Bard College Berlin makes no fee distinction between domestic and international students. The comprehensive annual fee for 2026-27 is €38,250 (on-campus, covering tuition, housing, meals, and health services), with 85% of students receiving some form of financial aid.
Dual German and American BA degree for qualifying graduates
307 students from 71 nationalities; 12:1 student-faculty ratio and average class size of 10
National accreditation by Germany's Wissenschaftsrat and U.S. accreditation via Middle States Commission
85% of students received financial aid in 2023-24; need-based packages cover 20-100% of fees
All programmes taught in English; German language study integrated throughout the curriculum
Residential liberal arts campus in Berlin with access to Erasmus exchanges and Bard global network
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 1999
- Students
- 307
- International
- Highly international student body: 71 nationalities among 307 enrolled students (BCB At a Glance); BCB describes itself as 'small yet highly international'.
- Faculties
- 1
- Programmes
- 3
Study programmes
3 accredited degrees at Bard College Berlin, A Liberal Arts University, 3 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–1 of 1 matching programme
Clear filtersAdmissions & fees
What it costs
Bard College Berlin is a private institution and charges tuition. The 2026-27 comprehensive fee is €38,250/year (on-campus, covering tuition, housing, meals, and health services) or €27,500/year (off-campus, covering tuition only). A mandatory Semesterticket (public transport pass) adds €453.60/year. The institution makes no distinction between domestic and international students for fee purposes. 85% of students received financial aid in 2023-24, with need-based packages covering 20-100% of fees.
Admission requirements
Applicants must be at least 18 years old by 1 August of the intended enrolment year. All application materials must be in English or German (with certified translations if needed). Non-native English speakers must demonstrate C1-level proficiency; accepted tests are TOEFL iBT 95+, IELTS Academic 7.0+, Cambridge CAE/CAE A-C, TOEFL Essentials 10+, or Duolingo English Test 130+. Required documents include a motivation statement (250-500 words), a graded writing sample, official transcripts from the last four years, and two academic recommendation letters. Applicants to the BA in Artistic Practice and Society must submit up to 10 digital samples of their artistic practice. No APS certificate requirement is mentioned for Indian, Chinese, or Vietnamese applicants (the institution uses its own application process independent of German public university admissions). There is no application fee.
Application deadlines
Immediate Decision Plan (BA in Artistic Practice and Society and BA in Humanities, Arts, and Social Thought): 1 November (notification via interview on 8 November). Early Action: 1 November (notification by 31 December). Regular Decision: 15 January (notification late March). Final Deadline (specific countries): 1 May (notification 1 June).
How international applicants apply
Direct application - BCB teaches fully in English and runs US-style admissions through its own portal; no uni-assist, VPD or hochschulstart involvement. Applicants choose first-year BA, transfer, Academy Year or Project Year routes on berlin.bard.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/ and apply with transcripts, essays and recommendations; contact [email protected]. Qualifying graduates receive both a German BA (institutionally accredited by the Wissenschaftsrat) and a US BA accredited via Bard College (Middle States Commission).
Languages of instruction
English (primary language of instruction for all programmes). German language study integrated throughout the curriculum from beginner to advanced level; students must reach B1 German by end of second year.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Bard College Berlin, A Liberal Arts University
3 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Berlin Scholarship
Named need-and-merit scholarship for BA and Academy Year applicants. Criteria include academic excellence plus a sustained interes...
Amount: Need-based award up to EUR 20,000
Deadline: Same as chosen admission round (Early Action 1 Nov / Regular Decision...
Bachelor, Academy Year
Named merit-and-need scholarships (multiple awards)
Beyond the Berlin Scholarship, Bard College Berlin offers several further named scholarships awarded on the basis of need combined...
Amount: Need-based, typically up to EUR 20,000 (varies by award)
Deadline: With the chosen admission round's Financial Statement deadline
Bachelor, Academy Year
Need-based Financial Aid (institutional)
Institutional need-based aid in the form of tuition waivers contributing toward tuition and fees, awarded regardless of nationalit...
Amount: Tuition waivers covering from 10% to 100% of the comprehensive fee
Deadline: With the admission round: Early Action 1 November; Regular Decision 10...
Bachelor, Academy Year (one-year program)
Student accommodation
What Bard College Berlin, A Liberal Arts University publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
The university's housing page
Deadlines and application forms are published here, and they change every intake.
Open housing pageRoom types mentioned
What that page describes. Availability varies by intake.
From the university
The campus is residential, with dormitories in a quiet, green neighbourhood supported by Student Residential Assistants available 24/7.
Campuses & locations
Platanenstrasse 24, 13156 Berlin - residential campus in a quiet, green neighbourhood of northern Berlin
Living in Berlin
Berlin is Germany's capital and largest city, combining a vibrant cultural scene with major political and economic institutions. The campus sits in the quiet residential district of Pankow-Niederschönhausen in northern Berlin, while the city centre offers access to the German parliament, Federal Chancellery, three opera houses, a philharmonic orchestra, and a dense network of galleries, cinemas, and theatres. Berlin's large student population and extensive public transport network make it highly liveable for international students.
Student life & support
The campus is residential, with dormitories in a quiet, green neighbourhood supported by Student Residential Assistants available 24/7. About a dozen student-led clubs drive community life alongside exchange students from the Bard global network and Erasmus participants. On-campus facilities include a library, cafeteria, lecture hall, and seminar spaces. The college provides career services, health and counselling support, disability accommodations, and a dedicated study abroad and internships office. The 12:1 student-faculty ratio and average class size of 10 foster a close-knit academic community.
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