Catalogue

Bard Abroad

bard.edu/bardabroad

Bard and Open Society University Network Study 
Abroad Programs 

Bard offers a variety of international study programs through the following partner institutions.

Al-Quds Bard (AQB) College for Arts and Sciences: AQB’s undergraduate program is a four-year, dual-degree program with a curriculum that is similar to Bard’s: it includes the Language and Thinking Program, First-Year Seminar, Moderation, and a Senior Project for all students. Majors include biology and premedicine, computer science, economics and finance, environmental studies, human rights, literature, media studies, political science, and urban studies. The language of instruction is English. Due to visa restrictions, semester study away at Al-Quds Bard is not possible at this time.  

American University of Central Asia (AUCA): Bard students may study for a semester or year abroad at the American University of Central Asia. The university is located in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, in the heart of Central Asia. Majors include anthropology, economics, European studies, international and comparative politics, journalism and mass communication, psychology, sociology, and software engineering. Most classes are taught in English; some are taught in Russian. An intensive Russian-language track is available for students who wish to improve their Russian language skills outside of the European context. The student body is international; languages offered include Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Kyrgyz, Russian, and Spanish. Bard students pay a program fee plus housing and other expenses; financial aid applies. Bard also offers a summer practicum in Bishkek, in partnership with AUCA’s Tian Shan Policy Center, and a six-week Russian language intensive for students from Bard and other American colleges and universities. Learn more at bard.edu/bardabroad/auca.

Bard College Berlin: A Liberal Arts University: In 2011, Bard assumed leadership of BCB, one of Europe’s earliest liberal arts education programs. At BCB, students of more than 60 nationalities and a select international faculty work together in small classes and tutorials that encourage thoughtful dialogue. The language of instruction is English, and German language instruction is available. Under Bard, the curriculum has expanded to include the Arts and Society Program, Liberal Arts Berlin, Migration Perspectives Semester, and Begin in Berlin study abroad programs, as well as a summer intensive in theater. A German language intensive is held during January intersession. Courses in economics, art, and history take advantage of BCB’s location in one of the world’s most artistically vibrant and historically layered cities. BCB is an active participant in local and international initiatives to provide access to higher education for displaced students, including Syrian, Afghan, Ukrainian, and other refugees in Berlin. Flexible programs allow for visiting students to study at BCB for a semester, a year, or more. Students may participate in internships in a variety of fields. For additional information, visit bard.edu/bardabroad/berlin.

Central European University (CEU): Central European University, a Budapest- and Vienna-based institution of postgraduate education in the social sciences and humanities, now offers a small undergraduate program at its Vienna campus. CEU is a new model for international education, a center for the study of contemporary economic, social, and political challenges, and a source of support for building open and democratic societies that respect human rights and human dignity. Faculty members from 45 countries teach courses in English across 50 academic programs at CEU, which attracts approximately 1,300 students each year from 105 nations across six continents. Administered through the College, Bard’s program allows students from Bard and other undergraduate schools to take courses for credit at the CEU campus in Vienna; Bard financial aid applies. Upon completion of their undergraduate studies, students who qualify may apply up to 8 credits of semester abroad coursework toward one of CEU’s master’s degree programs in the social sciences or humanities.  For more information, go to bard.edu/bardabroad/vienna.

Open Society University Network (OSUN) Student Exchange: Bard College coordinates student exchanges at the undergraduate level for the Open Society University Network. Students may apply to study at OSUN partner institutions, including the American University of Bulgaria, Brac University in Bangladesh, and Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, among others. OSUN student mobility provides a range of scholarship options to students who wish to study or conduct research that aligns with OSUN themes, with a focus on opportunities that include institutions in the Global South, in addition to funding for students from across the network to study and do research at Bard and the BGIA program. For more information on OSUN opportunities for Bard undergraduates, see the “Open Society University Network” chapter in this catalogue. 

 

Tuition Exchange Programs

Students participating in a Bard Tuition Exchange program apply through Bard to enroll directly as a student in the partner university. Students pay their regular Bard tuition, minus financial aid, and are responsible for paying room, board, and fees to the partner university. Participation in exchange programs may be based upon availability, language proficiency, and the desired field of study.  

American University in Cairo (AUC): The American University in Cairo, Egypt, was founded in 1919 by Americans devoted to education and community service in the Middle East. Today, fully accredited in Egypt and the United States, AUC is the region’s premier English-language university. Its 5,500 undergraduates, who come from Egypt and more than 100 other countries, follow an academic program rooted in liberal education. The language of instruction is English. Bard students take courses throughout the curriculum and may also study Arabic at all levels. 

Center for University Programs Abroad (CUPA) Paris: Students in the CUPA program enroll directly in the University of Paris system, allowing them to pursue studies at a number of different universities, grandes écoles, and specialized institutes. Courses are taught in French and priority is given to applicants majoring in French. 

Fulbright University Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City: Bard College is proud to partner with Vietnam’s first not-for-profit, independent, liberal arts undergraduate program. Areas of study include art and media, Vietnam studies, literature, psychology, integrated sciences, engineering, mathematics, statistics, computer science, and data science. Student exchanges commenced in 2023. 

HFBK (Hochschule für bildende Künste) University of Fine Arts Hamburg: Bard College and HFBK have a department-specific agreement, allowing one Bard student in the Studio Arts or Photography Program to be nominated each year to spend the spring term at HFBK. Each fall, an HFBK student attends Bard. 

Humboldt University in Berlin: Humboldt has an active international program. The university’s enrollment of 36,000 includes more than 4,000 foreign students, many from Eastern Europe. The vast majority of courses at Humboldt are taught in German, and Bard students are free to study a wide variety of subjects. Priority is given to students majoring in German. Humboldt also offers a small number of courses in English, which students are free to take with the permission of their German adviser at Bard. Intensive German classes are available prior to the beginning of the Humboldt semester.  

Kyoto Seika University in Kyoto, Japan: Kyoto Seika is a small, innovative university with faculties in the arts and humanities. Courses are offered mostly in Japanese. It is an ideal exchange opportunity for Bard students who are majoring in the Studio Arts or Film and Electronic Arts Programs, and who have taken the equivalent of one year (or more) of college-level Japanese. They may spend a semester studying painting, ceramics, printmaking, textile design, papermaking, video and media arts, sound design, illustration, and other disciplines with distinctive Japanese traditions. 

Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea: A comprehensive private institution, Kyung Hee is one of South Korea’s top universities. It has a mission of democratization and strong ties to the United Nations. Semester exchange students from across the globe choose from a variety of courses, all taught in English, and may study the Korean language as well.  

Pitzer College International Programs in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nepal, Southern Africa: A number of Pitzer College’s semester-long study abroad programs are open to Bard College students via Tuition Exchange. The programs feature homestays and study of the local language. Pitzer in Southern Africa is based in Botswana and South Africa. The program in Costa Rica includes in-depth research opportunities at Pitzer’s Firestone Center for Restoration Ecology. The program in Quito, Ecuador, allows students with advanced Spanish to enroll in up to two courses at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and also includes a study trip to the Galápagos Islands. The Nepal program has an integrated curriculum enabling students to interact closely with the people and cultures of this Himalayan country in a time of great transition. 

University College Roosevelt (UCR) in Middelburg, Netherlands: UCR is a liberal arts honors college associated with Utrecht University. Students at UCR tailor their own academic programs to fit their individual interests. This approach reflects the belief that today’s most complex problems can no longer be solved with a monodisciplinary approach. Classes are taught in English in a wide variety of subjects. 

University of Trento (UniTrento) in Trento, Italy: The University of Trento is a top public teaching and research university in the heart of the Dolomites in northern Italy, with roughly 17,000 students, 600 professors, and a wide variety of disciplinary fields from the sciences to the humanities. The majority of courses are taught in Italian. At least one year of Italian language study is recommended for students wishing to study at UniTrento. 

Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan: Among the most well-regarded universities in all of Asia, Waseda consists of 13 undergraduate schools and 21 graduate schools. At least one year of Japanese language study at Bard is recommended for students wishing to study at Waseda. Students can choose from a variety of English-language courses and may also study Japanese. Priority is given to students majoring in Asian Studies. 
 

Additional Study Abroad Options 

 

Language Intensives