Conservatory applicants must apply to Bard College and Bard Conservatory using two separate applications. The deadline for both applications is January 1.
All Applicants
Application Requirements
Two Degrees, Two Applications
Because all undergraduates in the Conservatory pursue a double-degree in music and an academic field, each applicant must submit two applications. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the requirements of each application.
The following required conservatory application materials may be uploaded directly to your Student Portal:
Performance and/or composition application
prescreening recordings (audio or video will be accepted)
a musical bio or resume
a recommendation from a professional musician (most usually your private instructor). Up to three musical recommendations may be submitted.
College Application
Deadline: January 1
All applicants applying to Bard Conservatory must submit a Regular Decision application to Bard College. Visit the Bard College website for a complete list of required application materials.
Please send all mailed materials to:
Bard College Office of Admission PO Box 5000 (Physical address: 30 Campus Road) Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000
TOEFL score of at least 600 (paper-based) or 100 (Internet-based test - IBT).
IELTS in place of the TOEFL, with a band score of no less than seven.
Duolingo English Test in place of the TOEFL or IELTS, with a test score of no less than 120.
In certain circumstances international students whose English language test scores fall below the above guidelines for admission may be required to take an English language intensive track during their first year at Bard, with the understanding that by the start of the second year these students will have achieved the required level of English-language proficiency.
The purpose of the English language assessment tests is for admissions and, upon acceptance, for placement purposes in our ESL courses. The results also provide a baseline for measuring progress throughout the first year of the student’s study of English. As part of the application process, each student needs to provide information about the schedule for taking these English language assessment test.
In their first year students in the English language intensive track will take a full 12 credit load of courses consisting of:
Studio Instruction (4 credits)
Chamber Music (2 credits)
Orchestral Studies (2 credits)
English as a Second Language (4 credits)
Additionally, with the consent of College and Conservatory faculty advisors, students may take a non-language intensive course in the college. (For example, classes such as math, foreign languages study, science, studio art, dance, music theory, or theater arts might fall into this category.)
In order to complete the double-degree program in five years, students will need to carry increasingly full schedules in subsequent years. For some majors, it may not be possible for students to graduate in five years.
Complete information about language proficiency requirements and application requirements for international students can be found at the Bard College admissions website.
Transfer Applicants
The Conservatory welcomes transfer applications from students currently attending other conservatories, liberal arts colleges, and universities. Applicants must submit a Bard College Transfer Application, in addition to the Bard Conservatory Application. Upon favorable review of the prescreening materials, invitations will be extended to audition at Bard College on an ad hoc basis. Please consult the Bard College admission page for general information on completing the transfer application.
Spring Semester: November 1
Fall Semester: March 1
Conservatory transfer applicants applying for the fall semester are strongly encouraged to submit their materials by the January 1 regular decision undergraduate deadline so that they may audition along with first-year applicants in early March.
