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International Applicants
International Students at Bard GPS
Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability welcome applications from international students with a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. Our alumni include citizens of countries across Africa, Asia, South and Central America, and Europe.
The MS/MEd programs and the MBA program have different structures, and visa eligibility is different for each. Please read the information below carefully to confirm whether you are eligible to apply for your chosen degree.
Center for Environmental Policy
The Bard Center for Environmental Policy (CEP) programs are full-time residency programs and do qualify students for an F-status visa. The programs in the Center for Environmental Policy include:
International students applying to the Bard CEP degree programs (listed above) must be highly proficient in both reading and writing English. Financial Aid options are available for international students. Additional information on financial aid for international students can be found here.
Applicants follow the instructions below; and please plan well in advance to request transcripts, certified translations, and recommendations to ensure all materials arrive by the application deadline.
Before starting an application, applicants should review the admissions requirements carefully.
MBA in Sustainability
The hybrid structure of the Bard MBA program does not qualify students for an F or J status student visa. International students applying to the Bard MBA in Sustainability program must either be lawful permanent residents, temporary residents, asylees already in the US, refugees already in the US, or possess certain nonimmigrant statuses that allow for academic study in the U.S.
Please contact our Admissions Team to verify that your immigration status qualifies you for MBA enrollment prior to applying to the Bard MBA program.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLYING AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT:
Application Deadlines*
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Priority Deadline: November 15
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Rolling Admissions: November 16 – March 15
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Final Deadline for International Applicants: March 15 (to allow for visa processing)
*Please note: All applications are for fall semester start only.
Admissions Requirements for International Applicants
Here are the criteria we are looking for in strong international candidates for the program:
- GPA above a 3.2 US equivalent
- Proof of English proficiency: Students must either have completed their undergraduate study at an American college or university, provide official documentation from their university confirming that English was the language of instruction, or submit qualifying test scores. Scores must be equal to or above:
- TOEFL: 100+
- IELTS: 7+
- Duolingo: 120+
- Completion of 2 undergraduate or graduate science courses with a B- or better grade (biology, ecology, chemistry, environmental science, etc.)
- Well-written reflections that directly answer the prompts and demonstrate your interest in one of our MS or MEd degrees
- Strong recommendations
- Ability to finance the degree: While we provide scholarships that cover 60-90% of tuition for international students, we do not cover the full costs of attendance. To qualify for a US visa, you must be able to show you have between $25,000-$30,000 per year in funding in addition to the scholarship we provide. If a student does not have these funds available, we can not process their application.
GPS International Fellowship
All international applicants are eligible for our GPS International Fellowship. This fellowship covers 60-90% of tuition and is need plus merit-based. All accepted international applicants will be automatically awarded this fellowship if they qualify for the funding. Low-need international applicants will qualify for our GPS Fellowship which offers a 10-40% tuition discount.
Wangari Maathai Scholarship
Our Wangari Maathai Scholarship is awarded to one outstanding international student as part of the Wangari Maathai Scholars program each year. This program grants scholarships offering 30-90% tuition discounts to international students who shows promise of a leadership career in environmental policy based on a strong academic portfolio, professional experience, and high quality scholarship application.
Interested students should submit a application of no more than 500 words with their application to the program on the following topic:
Please define and explain leadership in the context of the sustainability challenges we face in the coming decades.
Applicants must be accepted to the Bard CEP masters program and have completed an International Application for Financial Aid in order to qualify. Applications are are reviewed as received, so early application to the program in encouraged.
Please note: This scholarship is received in place of the GPS Fellowship, not in combination with it.
Student Employment
On-campus student employment is available to all international applicants who wish to work while enrolled at Bard. Employment is only available during the first year (if enrolled in the two-year track). Student employees are paid $6,000 for the year.
Please note: International students are not eligible to work off campus per US immigration regulations.
1. Earn an Application Fee Wavier
Earn an $65 Application Fee Waiver by attending our Online Information Session for International Students. Check back - next date coming soon!
2. Start the Online Application
Create an account in our online application system and complete all required fields.
Applications can be accessed here.
3. Submit First Round Application Documents
Via the online application, submit the documents listed below.
- Proof of English Proficiency:
Students must either have completed their undergraduate study at an American college/university OR submit English proficiency test scores from one of the three testing agencies listed below. Scores my be equal to or above:
TOEFL: 100+
IELTS: 7+
Duolingo: 120+ - College transcripts (must show that applicant has completed two science courses e.g. ecology, biology, chemistry etc.). Applicants should submit original copies of transcripts as well as copies translated into English.
- International Financial Aid Application
Application must show that applicant has at least $20,000 per year in funding available for their studies at Bard GPS. The International Financial Aid Application can be accessed here.
4. Submit Second Round Application Documents
Applicants who advance to the second step in the application process will be asked to submit the following documents or information to complete their application.
Written Reflections: As part of your application, you will respond to three short prompts. These written reflections help us better understand your motivations, your alignment with Bard GPS, and your perspective on sustainability and justice. Each response should be no more than 500 words.
You will be asked to reflect on:
- Your career aspirations: What kind of impact do you hope to make, and what motivates you to pursue this path?
- Your program fit: Which degree program are you applying to at Bard GPS, and why is this program the right fit for your goals and values?
- A question of your choice:
- If you could instantly change one sustainability-related system or structure in the world, what would you change—and what would you hope happens next?
- What’s one thing you’ve seen, read, or experienced that fundamentally shifted your perspective on sustainability or justice?
- Who is a sustainability or justice leader you admire—and what lesson have you taken from their example?
Request Two Recommendation: As part of your application, you will need two recommendations, ideally from both an academic and a professional source. In the "Recommendations" section of the application, enter each recommender’s name and contact information. They will then receive an email with instructions to complete a short evaluation form that includes both ratings and open-ended questions.
If your recommender prefers, they may submit a traditional letter of recommendation instead of answering the open-ended questions. Both options are accepted.View Sample Recommendation Forms:
Submit a Resume/CV: A current resume or curriculum vitae highlighting your professional experience and relevant qualifications should be submitted with your online application.
Wangari Maathai Scholarship Application (if applying): See Financial Aid section above for more information.
5. Schedule GPS Admissions Assessment
All international applicants who advance to the third step in the admissions process, are required to complete the GPS Admissions Assessment. This assessment tests for the scientific, quantitative, and reading comprehension/analysis skills needed to succeed in our graduate programs. Applicants will be invited to complete the assessment after submitting the documents required in Step 4.
Please contact Margo Bogossian with any questions about the assessment.
6. Schedule an Admission Interview
The final step in the admissions process is a personal online interview with the Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability Admissions Committee. If you qualify for an admissions interview, you will receive an email notification with additional information.
Need Help? Contact our Admissions Office today!