School Info, Enrollment & Policies

Change Name or Mailing Address

Students looking to change the name that appears on their Berklee Online record must complete the Official Name Change Request Form. Please note:

• For legal name changes, documentation (marriage certificate, court documents, license, social security card, etc.) is required in order to update your name of record.
• Preferred name changes do not require documentation and will only update a student’s name within their course(s) and communication with Berklee Online.

All students must have a current mailing address on file with Berklee Online. Important documentation is regularly sent out via mail, with documents including:

• 1098-T federal tax forms
• Letters regarding enrollment status
• Refunds
• Certificates
• Other important information

Students wishing to update their mailing address will need to complete the Change of Address Form.

Course Participation

Prompt and regular online participation is required to complete all Berklee Online courses successfully. The weekly lessons are cumulative; therefore, it is imperative that students stay current with their coursework and assignments. In addition, student-to-student communication and collaboration are essential elements to the overall Berklee Online educational experience, and students who fall behind in their course work not only miss out on the cumulative curriculum but the community aspect of their courses as well.

It is recommended that students begin their course(s) promptly when the semester begins. If a student does need to start the course a few days late, they should contact the instructor via a private message and/or e-mail as soon as possible after the course has opened.

If students plan to be away from their courses, they should inform their instructors via a private message and/or e-mail, and make every effort to continue working on the courses while away. If this is not possible, they should make a plan with their instructors to catch up upon returning.

Submitting required work in a course late may result in grade penalties. It is important that students review the grading information provided by their instructor. Students should contact their instructors as soon as possible to determine what, if any, arrangements can be made for the specific situation. Instructors may issue a failing grade for failure to submit required work in a course. The grade of “F” will be recorded for failure to complete or properly withdraw from courses.

Early Release of Lessons

Students may request early access to upcoming lessons under limited circumstances. Please note that students requesting early access to lessons as part of an accommodation due to an illness or disability should complete the Berklee Online Accessibility Resource for Students Request Form here.

Students are only allowed to submit one request per semester for a maximum of two weeks of early access. Requests cannot be requested prior to the semester beginning. All requests will be reviewed and approved under limited circumstances, such as travel, military obligations, or other foreseeable events that may prevent a student from accessing the course.

Requests from a student to work ahead without a valid reason will not be approved. It is expected that a student takes into account their other obligations prior to enrolling in a course. It is also expected that a student reviews the start and end dates of a semester, as needing to finish early is not a valid reason for early access.

Courses running for the first time as well as courses that are undergoing major updates will not be eligible for early release of lessons.

Completion of material ahead of schedule does not alter grading timelines. Final grades and transcripts will not be available until the semester has officially ended. Instructors are not required to grade assignments before their respective deadlines.

To request early access to a lesson, a student should fill out the Early Release Form. The request will be reviewed and a decision made within 2 business days.

Course Changes

Skip Semester Policy

Students who wish to skip a semester in their certificate program need to complete the Certificate and Individual Course Postponement/Withdrawal Form (log in required). Students must specify the semester they will be returning to their coursework when completing the form. Students who are unsure when they can return to their coursework can request to be marked inactive by sending an email to registrar@online.berklee.edu.

Please note that students who skip four or more consecutive semesters will become inactive. Please see below for more information.

Course Change Policy

Students may request to transfer their enrollment to an alternate course (provided there is room in the course of choice) through Friday of the second week of the semester. After this time, a student cannot change into an alternate course for the current semester. To request a course change, students should send an email to registrar@online.berklee.edu.

Four (4) week courses: Students can transfer their enrollment into a four (4) week course (provided there is room in the course of choice) through Friday of the first week of the semester. After this time, a student cannot change into a four (4) week course for the current semester.

Course Transfers

Students enrolled in a certificate program course as well as an individual course for credit or non-credit can request to transfer their course to a future semester. Unfortunately we are unable to indefinitely postpone an enrollment. Students are required to confirm the semester they wish to move their course to when submitting their request.

Four (4) week courses: Students have until Friday of the first week of the semester to request to transfer their course to a future semester.

Requests must be submitted by completing the Certificate and Individual Course Postponement/Withdrawal Form (log in required). For the exact dates, please visit Important Semester Dates.

Students enrolled in an individual course can transfer their enrollment for four consecutive semesters, or one academic year. After that time, the student will be withdrawn from the course and issued a refund of the tuition. Please note: Students who have transferred their enrollment after the semester begins and are later withdrawn will be eligible for a maximum refund of 25% of the tuition paid. If the student wishes to re-enroll in the course, they will be required to pay the tuition prices in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

Changing the Credit Status of a Course

Students can request to change their enrollment from non-credit status to for-credit and vice versa through week ten (10) of the semester. To do so, please send a request in writing to the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office at registrar@online.berklee.edu. Requests must be received by 12:00 p.m. EST on the Friday of week ten (10) of the semester. After this time, a student will not be able to change from non-credit status to credit status or change from credit to non-credit status.

Please note: Four (4) week courses are only offered for credit and cannot be changed to non-credit.

Instructor or Section Requests

Requests for a specific instructor or to be placed in a specific section will not be accepted. All students are assigned at random to a section prior to the semester beginning. All instructors are Berklee faculty and/or widely-recognized experts in their field. Additional instructors not listed on our site may be added to support additional sections.

Certificate Program Changes

Transferring from One Certificate Program to a Different Certificate Program Prior to Completion

If a student finds that the certificate program they are enrolled in is not the right one for them, the student can transfer to another certificate program. To do so, send an email to registrar@online.berklee.edu for approval. Students may transfer any successfully completed courses that are required in the new certificate program. The tuition difference, if applicable, must be paid prior to taking the first course in the new certificate program for those students who have selected to pay the full amount of their program up front. Students who change their program will be charged tuition prices in effect at the time of the program change.

If the new program has fewer requirements, any tuition paid for future courses that are no longer required will be refunded back to the student.

Upgrading to a Higher Level Certificate Program

Students who wish to upgrade from a lower-level certificate program to a higher-level certificate program (i.e., upgrading from a Professional certificate program to an Advanced Professional certificate program) can do so at any time by sending a request in writing to registrar@online.berklee.edu. Students who upgrade prior to officially completing their original program will only receive the higher-level certificate. In this instance, a student will not be charged an additional registration fee.

Students who wish to upgrade after having officially completed their original program will be required to pay the $175 registration and technology fee for the higher level program. The student will need to request to have any completed courses waived into the new program. Students may do so by sending an email to registrar@online.berklee.edu. Please click here for more information on waiving previously completed courses into a program. In this instance the student, will retain the original certificate and will receive the higher level certificate upon successful completion of all requirements.

Course Waivers

Applying a Credit-Bearing Berklee Online Course Toward a Certificate Program

Students can request to move a credit-bearing course into their Berklee Online certificate program through week ten (10) of the semester. To do so, please email the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office at registrar@online.berklee.edu. Requests must be received by 5:00pm EST on the Friday of week ten (10) of the semester. After this time, the student will not be able to move the course into the certificate and will need to request a waiver once a final grade has been posted. If a waiver is approved, the student will not be required to retake the course. The tuition of the waived course will be deducted from the total tuition of the certificate program. Previously paid individual course registrations fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

All courses taken prior to enrolling in a certificate program are eligible to be waived provided they were taken for credit, a passing grade was received, and the courses are a requirement or elective in the certificate program. Courses enrolled from another Berklee Online account, non-credit courses, and CEU courses cannot be waived into a certificate program. We require that students use only one e-mail address/account associated with their course schedule.

If a student is not enrolled in a certificate program, the student must pay the $175 certificate registration and technology fee and enroll in the certificate prior to week ten (10) of the last course in their program. Requests should be sent to the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office at registrar@online.berklee.edu and must be received by 5:00pm EST on the Friday of week ten (10) of the semester. After this time, the student will not be eligible to receive the certificate.

Upgrading to a Higher Level Program

Students who wish to upgrade from a lower level program to a higher-level program can do so at any time by sending a request in writing to registrar@online.berklee.edu.

Students who upgrade prior to officially completing the original program will only receive the higher-level certificate. In this instance, students will not be charged an additional registration fee.

Students who wish to upgrade after having officially completed their original program will be required to pay the $175 registration and technology fee for the higher level program. Students will need to request to have any completed courses waived into the new program. Students may do so by sending an email to registrar@online.berklee.edu.

Applying a Completed Berklee Online Certificate Program Toward a Certificate Program of Higher Value

Students who have successfully completed a certificate program can apply the courses to a higher-level program. Berklee Online will waive the completed courses in the new program. Students will retain the original certificate and be awarded the second certificate once they complete the program.

Note: Students cannot apply courses taken as part of a completed certificate program to a certificate program of the same level. Students cannot apply courses taken as part of a completed higher level certificate towards a lower level program.

Moving from a degree program to a certificate program

Students who withdraw from degree program or who are dismissed for any reason can opt to pursue a certificate program. Students will need to enroll in the certificate program they wish to pursue and request to have their previously completed Berklee Online courses applied towards their certificate program through completion of a waiver form. Only courses taken with Berklee Online for which students received a passing grade are eligible to be waived into their certificate program. Courses taken on campus at Berklee College of Music, transferred in from outside institutions, or those awarded credit through prior learning are not eligible to be used towards a certificate program. Students cannot apply courses from a completed Berklee Online degree program to a certificate program.

To apply for a waiver, send a request in writing to the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office and include your name, the certificate program you are enrolled in, and the course you would like to have waived. Requests for a waiver can be emailed to registrar@online.berklee.edu.

Inactive Status

Students enrolled in a certificate program who do not enroll in a course within their program for four consecutive semesters, or one academic year, will have their program placed on an inactive list. Any prepaid tuition will automatically be refunded to the student. Please note: Students who have transferred their enrollment after the semester begins and are later marked inactive will be eligible for a maximum refund of 25% of the tuition paid. Should students choose to re-activate their program, they will be required to pay the tuition prices in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

Inactive students who wish to enroll again can send an email to the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office at registrar@online.berklee.edu.

Substitutions

Students may be allowed to make substitutions in a certificate program, as follows:

• Professional certificate programs: one substitution allowed
• Advanced Professional certificate programs: up to two substitutions allowed
• Graduate Certificates: no substitutions are allowed

The substitutions must not compromise the academic integrity of the program. The substituted course(s) cannot be worth fewer credits than the original requirements.

Requests to substitute a required course(s) must be in writing and sent to the Academic Advisors, who will review and either approve the desired change or make alternate suggestions of approved courses.

Requests can be sent to advisors@online.berklee.edu.

The request must include the following:

• Program in which the student is enrolled
• The name of the required course and the name of the course that would be used as a substitution
• The reason for the substitution

Students will be charged the tuition price that exists for the course(s) when the substitution is made. The student will be responsible for paying any additional tuition amounts that may be due.

Graduate Certificates and Individual Courses

Proof of Bachelor’s Degree

Students pursuing a graduate certificate or enrolling in a graduate course must provide documentation showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution by submitting the Credential Verification Form (log in required). Students are not able to begin their graduate certificate program and/or graduate course until the appropriate documentation has been received, evaluated, and approved.

Students who have received their undergraduate degree through Berklee Online do not need to submit any documentation. Students who have earned their degree through Berklee College of Music’s campus program need to submit the Credential Verification Form but are not required to submit their transcripts.

Students who have not submitted documentation or have submitted documentation that is not sufficient prior to the end of the first week of the semester will have their enrollment and tuition/fees transferred to the next semester. If a student has not supplied approved documentation within one year of enrolling in the course or program their tuition will be refunded minus the registration fee.

Proof of Bachelor’s Degree from US or Canada:

Students who completed their bachelor’s degree in the US or Canada will need to provide a copy of their undergraduate transcript verifying degree conferral.

If the student’s transcript is issued in another language besides English, the student will be required to submit a literal, word-for-word English translation.

Unofficial copies of transcripts are acceptable for graduate certificates and graduate courses. Students who go on to apply for the master’s degree programs are required to provide official copies of their transcripts when completing their application.

Please note that copies of diplomas or copies of graduate-level transcripts will not be accepted in lieu of undergraduate transcripts.

Proof of Bachelor’s Degree from International Institutions:

Students who completed their bachelor’s degree outside of the US or Canada will need to provide a copy of their academic record or grade report from their post-secondary institution. All institutions must have the proper recognition/accreditation. This document typically includes the following information:

• The student’s name


• A list of classes, subjects, modules, and/or exams the student completed as part of their bachelor’s program


• Marks or grades the student received in those areas


• Date the student’s bachelor’s degree was awarded

If the student’s academic record/grade report does not include the date the degree was awarded, the student will need to provide a copy of their diploma to confirm degree completion.

For any document not issued in English, the student will need to provide a literal English translation in addition to a copy of the original document. Please note that the translation does not need to be official and can be self-prepared provided it is literal, word-for-word and in a similar format to the original.

Unofficial copies of academic records or grade reports are acceptable for graduate certificates and graduate courses. Students who go on to apply for the master’s degree programs will be required to submit official or certified true copies of their postsecondary academic records and certified literal English translations when applicable.

All international credentials will be assessed in relation to US standards. It is possible that a student may have completed what is considered to be a bachelor’s degree within a particular country but this credential is not considered comparable to a US bachelor’s degree. As such, only those students who have a degree equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree will be eligible to complete graduate-level coursework at Berklee Online.

Special Note on Bachelor’s Degrees from China: students who received their bachelor’s degree in China will need to provide a Graduation Certificate (毕业证书), a Degree Certificate (学位证书), and a copy of their official transcript (成绩单). In rare cases, we may also request a verification report (认证报告).

Ready to submit an unofficial copy of your transcript?

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Moving from a graduate certificate/individual graduate course to a master’s degree

Students who wish to pursue a master’s degree through Berklee Online after having taken graduate level courses or a graduate certificate with Berklee Online are required to apply to the program. As part of the application process, students need to provide official academic transcripts. More information on applying for a master’s degree with Berklee Online can be found here.

Berklee Online graduate courses can be applied toward the master’s degree program provided students have been accepted and the courses are part of the requirements of their degree program.

Changing from a graduate course/certificate program to an undergraduate course/certificate program

Students who find they are not prepared for a graduate level course or program can opt to change to an undergraduate course or program during the first two weeks of the semester. To make this change students should send an email to registrar@online.berklee.edu..

Credit Transfer Policy

Berklee College of Music is accredited by New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.). Students who want to transfer Berklee Online credits to other colleges or universities should check with their home institutions. Berklee Online credits are accepted at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Many Berklee Online courses may be used to fulfill a student’s requirements towards a degree or diploma at Berklee College of Music provided they have applied and been accepted. More information can be found on the Online Course equivalencies page. All courses taken through Berklee Online will affect your GPA. Courses taken through Berklee Online are Berklee courses and cannot be removed from your transcript.

Taking courses with Berklee Online does not constitute or affect acceptance into Berklee College of Music in Boston. To learn more about applying for an undergraduate degree or diploma from Berklee College of Music, please contact the Admissions Department at admissions@berklee.edu or by calling 1-800-BERKLEE or 617-747-2221.

Transferring Non-Berklee Online Credits into Berklee Online

Credits taken at other institutions cannot be transferred into any of the certificate programs currently offered at Berklee Online.

Definition of Credit Hour

Most Berklee Online courses are 3-credit offerings. Students earn 1 course credit for every 15 hours of instruction over 12 weeks. There is also the expectation that 15 hours of instruction require 30 hours of additional course work over 12 weeks.

Grading

Each letter grade has a grade point equivalent as listed. To calculate GPA, multiply each grade point equivalent by the number of credits for each class, total all products, and divide by the number of credits from all graded courses.

Students enrolled in non-credit courses will receive letter grades on assignments throughout the semester. At the conclusion of the course a grade of satisfactory or unsatisfactory will be issued. Non-credit courses are not eligible for an Incomplete grade.

Failing Courses within a Certificate Program

Failed required courses must be retaken for a passing grade in order to successfully complete a certificate program. Substitutions will not be allowed for a failed required course. Full tuition must be paid for any course that needs to be retaken. Under no circumstances will a certificate be issued unless all academic requirements within a given program are met.

Failed elective courses can be retaken or replaced with an alternative elective of equivalent academic credit.

If you have any questions please contact the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office at registrar@online.berklee.edu

Repeat Course Policy

Students may enroll in and receive a grade for a course taken for a second or subsequent time. Only the highest grade will be computed in the cumulative GPA. The repetition of a course will not eliminate the previous grade from the student’s record, nor will any additional credit toward a certificate be earned by repeating a course.

Students repeating a course are not permitted to submit the same work for credit that was submitted in a previous course. Submitting the same work in multiple courses is considered self-plagiarism and could result in a violation of the code of community standards.

Additional tuition and fees will apply for all repeated courses.

Grade Disputes

If a student feels they have been issued a grade that does not accurately reflect their performance in their course they should first reach out to their instructor to discuss their concerns. If they are unable to resolve their issue with the instructor, the student should submit the Berklee Online Policy Appeals Form, which can be found here.

The appeal must be received prior to the end of the following semester to be considered. Any appeal received after this time will not be eligible for review.

Incomplete Grading Policy

Under limited circumstances, a student may request a grade of Incomplete (“I”) from a course instructor in the final two weeks of the semester. The decision to grant the request rests entirely with the instructor of the course provided all of the criteria listed below is met. A request for an Incomplete grade by the student can only be considered by the instructor when all of the following conditions are met:

• the student initiates the request for an Incomplete grade by the last day of the semester;
• the student must have completed through week 8 of the semester and be passing the course at the time of the request;
• attendance in the course by the student has been satisfactory;
• a health condition, family or personal emergency, or other unavoidable documented emergency legitimately prevents the student from completing the required course work by the last day of the semester;
• the required work can reasonably be completed by the end of the following semester (whether or not the student is enrolled in that semester); and
• the Incomplete is not based on the student’s failure to complete work during the semester or used as a means to complete additional work in order to raise the grade in the course.

Please note:

• Grades of “I” are not calculated into the GPA.
• A grade of “I” is not a passing grade. A student will not receive credit for the class until a passing grade is submitted.
• A grade of “I” is not given as a substitute for a failing grade
• The course cannot be used as a prerequisite for another course until a passing grade is submitted.
• A grade of Incomplete that is not resolved by the last day of the following semester automatically changes to a grade of F.
• A student who has an approved accommodation is responsible for all coursework and does not have blanket permission to extend timelines on all assignments. In addition, a student who receives a time extension accommodation is not automatically granted an incomplete and must meet the criteria above to receive an incomplete grade.
• Non-credit courses are not eligible for an Incomplete grade.

Withdrawal Policies

Students looking to withdraw from a course, semester, or certificate program must complete the Certificate and Individual Course Postponement/Withdrawal Form (log in required).

Requests to withdraw will not be accepted over the phone. Students enrolled in a certificate program or individual course are not administratively withdrawn due to non-participation. Notifying an instructor does not constitute an official request to withdraw from a course. If you are unable to complete the Certificate and Individual Course Postponement/Withdrawal Form, or have questions regarding this process, please email us at registrar@online.berklee.edu.

Students who request to withdraw from a course after the Friday of the second week of the semester will be issued a W grade. All withdrawals from courses need to be received prior to 5pm EST the Friday of week eight (8) of the semester. No withdrawals will be accepted after this date. A failing grade will be issued unless the withdrawal request is received by the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office prior to the Friday of week eight (8) of the semester of a given course.

Four (4) week courses: Students who request to withdraw from a course after the Friday of the second week of the semester will be issued a W grade. All withdrawals from four (4) week courses need to be received prior to 5pm EST the Friday of week three (3) of the semester. No withdrawals will be accepted after this date. A failing grade will be issued unless the withdrawal request is received by the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office prior to the Friday of week three (3) of the semester of a given course.

If a student is requesting an exception to the withdrawal policy for medical reasons, please see the Medical Withdrawal/Transfer section below for information on this process. If a student feels they have extenuating circumstances other than medical reasons and wish to request an exception to our withdrawal policy, the student can submit an appeal by completing the Berklee Online Policy Appeals form, which can be found here.

Please note students are expected to have reviewed the computer requirements for each course and to have purchased required materials in advance of the course beginning. Computer or software issues are not cause for an exception to the withdrawal/refund policies. If a student is experiencing issues with their hardware or software, they can contact Berklee Online’s Student Support via telephone at 617.747.2146 option 3 or by email at support@online.berklee.edu, or try to make alternate arrangements to continue active participation with their course.

The withdrawal policies for the Berklee Online Masterclasses can be found here.

The withdrawal policies for the Online Summer Programs can be found here.

Military Deployment

If you are suddenly deployed while pursuing a certificate program or taking an online course, Berklee Online will work with you so you may continue your studies. Contact the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office at registrar@online.berklee.edu for more information.

Medical Withdrawal and Transfers

Students who need to delay their online course or certificate program for medical reasons may be eligible to transfer their course(s) to a future semester. A medical withdrawal or transfer will be considered only if accompanied by a written verification from a medical doctor on letterhead stating the student cannot complete the semester due to an illness or disability. Please note the doctor’s note must be in English and in an uneditable format to be considered. The transfer will not be allowed if a student fails to submit medical documentation to the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office prior to the end of week eight (8) of the semester.

Four (4) week courses: Students who need to delay their online course due to medical reasons need to submit medical documentation to the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office prior to the end of week three (3) of the semester.

For the exact due date for a medical transfer please visit the Important Semester Dates.

To request a medical withdrawal or transfer, please complete the Certificate and Individual Course Postponement/Withdrawal Form (log in required).

Refund Policies

• By 5pm EST Friday prior to the start date of a course: 100% refund of current course minus the registration and technology fee.

• By 5pm EST Friday of the first week of a course: 50% refund of current course minus the registration and technology fee.

• By 5pm EST Friday of the second week of a course: 25% refund of current course minus the registration and technology fee.

Refunds will be based on when the withdrawal is received in writing. No additional refunds on courses in progress will be given after the second week of the semester. Students can find the withdrawal and refund dates on the Academic Calendar. The registration and technology fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Please note that all refunds will be provided in United States dollars (USD). Berklee Online cannot be held responsible for any currency rate fluctuations between the date of purchase and the date of the refund. Students who have transferred their enrollment after the semester begins and later request to withdraw will be eligible for a maximum refund of 25% of the tuition paid.

If a student withdraws from a certificate program and later wishes to re-enroll in the certificate program, the student will be required to pay all applicable fees including, but not limited to, the registration and technology fee.

For students who elect to withdraw from a course or program and are due a refund, the refund will be processed within two to three weeks of receipt of a refund request.

Students should be aware of the following details:

If a student’s payment was made by check, then the refund will be issued in the form of a check.

If payment was made by credit card, every attempt will be made to process the refund back to the card used within 30 days. If payment was made by PayPal, every attempt will be made to process the refund back to the PayPal account used within 30 days. In the event that we are unable to do so, the refund will be issued in the form of a check.

If payment was made using a Berklee Online eGift card, a refund will be issued back to the eGift card. eGift Cards are not redeemable or refundable for cash. Please refer to our eGift Card Terms and Conditions as well as our eGift Card FAQs for more information.

Credit Balances

Students who are granted a loan by a third party institution may receive a disbursement check larger than the actual tuition amount due. Berklee Online will notify the student of any overpayment of tuition via email and will refund students for any overpayments within two to three weeks after receiving a written request for a refund. Requests can be sent to finance@online.berklee.edu and should include a current, valid mailing address for receipt of the refund check.

For overpayments or adjustments resulting in a credit balance on a student’s Berklee Online account, these credit balances may be used to pay for future courses or can be refunded upon request. Refunds in this instance will be in the form of a check. Students who have a credit balance on their account can view this information on their Berklee Online home page. It will be listed as “Berklee Online Funds” and will be located on the right hand side under School Links. Refund requests can be sent to finance@online.berklee.edu and should include a current, valid mailing address for receipt of the refund check.

Accounts that have credit balances on them for more than one year will automatically be refunded to the student.

Return Of Unearned Military Tuition Assistance

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student using military tuition assistance withdraws, they may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the U.S. Department of Defense policy, Berklee Online will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds will be returned to the service member’s branch of service (Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force). In instances when a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, Berklee Online will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.

A student’s official withdrawal date is used to calculate the percentage of TA earned. A student’s official withdrawal date is the last date of attendance. The return calculation is based on the formula listed below.

Note: The formula used to recalculate a student’s percentage of earned and unearned TA is separate from Berklee Online’s refund policy.

Withdrawal Policy-Wisconsin Residents Only

The following withdrawal policy applies to residents of the state of Wisconsin only.

All withdrawal requests should be sent to the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office and should include the following information:

• Your full name
• The course you are enrolled in
• Your reason for withdrawing

Requests to withdraw should be emailed to registrar@online.berklee.edu.

All requests for a withdrawal must be received prior to the Friday of week seven (7) of the semester. No withdrawals will be accepted after this date. A failing grade will be issued unless the withdrawal request is received prior to the Friday of week seven (7) of the semester of a given course.

Refund Policy-Wisconsin Residents Only

The following refund policy applies to residents of the state of Wisconsin only.

Wisconsin students have the right to cancel their enrollment within three (3) business days and receive a full refund. Students who withdraw before completing 60% of the semester are entitled to partial refunds, prorated in accordance with Wisconsin state policies. The pro-rata refund is calculated by the number of class days remaining in the semester after the last day completed, divided by the total number of class days, rounded down to the nearest 10%. The pro-rata refund percentage will be applied to tuition and other required costs paid by the student for the semester. No additional refunds will be given on courses in progress after this time period.

Withdrawal Policy-Maryland Residents Only

The following withdrawal policy applies to residents of the state of Maryland only.

All withdrawal requests should be sent to the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office and should include the following information:

• Your full name
• The course you are enrolled in
• Your reason for withdrawing

Requests to withdraw should be emailed to registrar@online.berklee.edu.

All requests for a withdrawal must be received prior to the Friday of week seven (7) of the semester. No withdrawals will be accepted after this date. A failing grade will be issued unless the withdrawal request is receive prior to the Friday of week seven (7) of the semester of a given course.

Refund Policy-Maryland Residents Only

The following refund policy applies to residents of the state of Maryland only.

Students who withdraw before completing 60% of the semester are entitled to partial refunds, prorated in accordance with Maryland state policies. No additional refunds will be given on courses in progress after this time period. Please refer to the chart below:

Accessibility Resources for Students

Berklee Online is committed to creating usable, equitable, and inclusive learning environments while providing equal educational opportunity and full participation for students with disabilities outlined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Accommodations are determined on an individual, case-by-case basis. A student’s accommodation plan will remain in place for the duration of their time at Berklee Online. If a student would like to request a change to their accommodation, they may contact Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students to request that change. Please note, that accommodations on file with the campus are not transferred to Berklee Online. Campus students must complete the Berklee Online accommodation process to receive course accommodations for their online courses.

​​It is the responsibility of a student with disabilities to complete the following steps to be considered for accommodations at Berklee Online.

Academic Accommodations

How To Get Started

1. Students with disabilities who desire to access accommodations for their online courses shall initiate their request by completing the Berklee Online Accessibility Resource for Students Request Form here before or during the first two weeks of the course. Reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed continually through the beginning of week 10 of the semester; any accommodation request submitted after the deadline will be reviewed and processed for the following semester. Accommodations are not retroactive and only start once approved and processed.

2. You will be asked to submit documentation of your disability or disabilities and outline the specific needs and course accommodations. Please see the supporting documentation guidelines below.

3. After the completed form and documentation have been reviewed, the Office of Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students will contact the student regarding appropriate next steps. Students are highly encouraged to contact instructors to facilitate the implementation of the identified accommodation.

Supporting Documentation Guidelines

The following documentation criteria will be used:

• The documentation must state the functional diagnosis as they pertain to academics.
• The documentation must tate recommendations for academic accommodations.

All documentation must:

• Be signed by the treating clinician and be written on official letterhead


• Be recent except in cases of neuropsychological testing done as an adult


• Be complete (all pages included) except in cases of neuropsychological testing where students might prefer to omit personal background or history

No pictures of prescription medication or after-visit hospital summaries will be accepted.

The Office of Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students requests the information needed to understand the connection between the barrier described, the student’s disability, and the requested accommodation. When there is not adequate information to make a decision, additional information will be requested.

Please contact The Office of Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students at accommodation@online.berklee.edu.

The Office of Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students will provide appropriate academic adjustments on a case-by-case basis and will not necessarily incorporate all requested academic adjustments/ services.

Typical accommodations and services include but are not limited to:

• Extended time on course assignments and exams
• Flexibility with attendance
• Ability to view all course content
• Exempt from participating in live chat sessions
• Alternative format textbooks

Please note that Berklee Online does not provide student tutoring services or student assistance programs. All Berklee Online courses will have the course content written down ahead of time, and access to notes and written materials are all provided in our learning system. In addition, all courses are designed to support text-to-speech software. Videos also have a text option available for students, and all videos are automatically archived.

Student Rights & Responsibilities

Rights

• To not be denied access due to a disability, according to the law
• To receive reasonable accommodations that provide equal opportunity
• To have access to auxiliary aids/assistive technology as available to other students
• To receive assistance from the Office of Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students in removing academic and attitudinal barriers
• To not be discriminated against due to a disability or receive any retaliatory discrimination, as protected by law

Responsibilities

• To identify to the Office of Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students by completing the Request Form
• To provide documentation of disability
• To initiate specific accommodations by following the procedures and policy outlined in Berklee Online’s Accommodations Approval Process
• To provide professors with reasonable notice in which to implement the accommodations
• To assume personal responsibility for requesting additional assistance if needed
• To follow online disability policies and procedures to receive accommodations

Extended Time on Assignments Policy

Extended time on individual assignments may be a reasonable accommodation. This accommodation allows for flexibility in assignment deadlines. In general, the amount of time approved for the extension is up to one additional week from the official assignment posted deadline. If more time is warranted when an unexpected disability-related health flare-up occurs that prevents the student from completing the assignment more time can be granted with the approval of Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students. When Extended Time on Assignments is listed on the accommodation, instructors, and students are asked to follow up directly during the first two weeks of every semester to create a reasonable timeline and to set up a plan for the assignment extension.

There are some situations in which the due dates of assignments/projects cannot be adjusted/extended according to the nature of the course in such cases, meeting established deadlines would be an essential requirement for the course, and Withdrawal or Incomplete grades may be appropriate options. Instructors are required to consult with Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students before making such a decision.

Extra time on assignments as an accommodation does not mean:

• Open-ended deadlines
• Permission to submit work all simultaneously at the end of the course
• Permission to submit assignments at the student’s convenience
• Submit assignments after answers have been posted or other students have received feedback on their work

Who receives this accommodation?

Students with disabilities dealing with various impairments may be approved for this accommodation.

Student Responsibilities

Students must initiate a conversation with the instructor during the first two weeks of every semester or before the assignment is due. Students should contact Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students if they have concerns with the instructor’s decision.

Accommodations are not meant to be retroactive. Missed assignments that occur prior to the instructor receiving the accommodation letter are not covered. Those missed assignments should be handled in accordance with the course assignment policy.

Adjusted deadline date must be established with the instructor. Assignments cannot be submitted whenever desired. Extra time on assignments as an accommodation does not mean open-ended deadlines.

Students will adhere to the agreed-upon plan and complete work within the agreed-upon alternate timeline.

Instructor Responsibilities

Initiate a conversation with the approved student (s) during the first two weeks of every semester or when the Office of Berklee Online Accessibility Resources for Students has notified you. Instructors who have questions about how to best incorporate this accommodation into a class or who do not believe an assignment extension is reasonable should consult with Berklee Online Accessibility Resources before making a final decision

Points to consider in making a final decision include: Assess the average time all students are expected to spend on the project/assignment relative to the deadline and if this particular student’s situation necessitates an extension beyond the approved accommodation deadline extension. Instructors are NOT required to "fundamentally alter " the integrity of course content.

How to Contact Berklee the Office of Online Accessibility Resources for Students
We invite you to contact us at accommodation@online.berklee.edu.

Transcript Requests

Berklee Online now offers an online transcript request service. Official undergraduate and graduate electronic (eTranscripts) and paper transcripts can be ordered online through our transcript partner, Parchment, an authorized delivery agent specializing in secure transcript exchange.

*An eTranscript is an official transcript that has been digitally signed and certified, and can be downloaded as a PDF document through an emailed link. This is the most secure and quickest delivery method, but make sure the college or organization that is being sent your transcript accepts electronic transcripts before ordering.

Sending Your Transcript to Berklee College of Music Campus or Boston Conservatory at Berklee?
Students wishing to have their transcripts sent to the Berklee College of Music campus registrar or admissions office or to the Boston Conservatory at Berklee registrar or admissions office should not submit a transcript request through Parchment. Instead, fill out the Berklee College of Music Credit Transfer Request form, which can be found here.

Important Information:

• To access the Official Transcript Request, students will need to log into their Berklee Online account. Students who do not remember their login information can send an email to support@online.berklee.edu.
• Transcripts contain confidential academic information and are released in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), and therefore transcript requests will not be processed without a legal signature (or secured electronic authorization).
• Normal processing time for a transcript is 7-14 business days from receipt of order; delivery times may be extended during times of high volume.
• During the online transcript ordering process, you will have the option of attaching files to your order to be forwarded along with your transcript.
• Transcript orders on hold for 90 days or more are automatically cancelled.
• Berklee Online does not provide unofficial transcripts. Non-degree students wishing to view their grades can do so on their home page. Degree students can view their grades at my.berklee.edu.
• For questions or additional information about Berklee Online transcript request service, contact the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office at registrar@online.berklee.edu.

Official Transcript Request

Enrollment Verification

To obtain an enrollment verification letter, please complete the Enrollment Verification Request Form below. A signature and date are both required. Please allow up to 5-7 business days from receipt of request to process enrollment verification.
Enrollment verification cannot be provided for future semesters. However, confirmation of registration can be provided if student is registered for an upcoming semester.

Enrollment verification cannot be processed if you have an outstanding financial obligation to Berklee Online.

All enrollment verification documentation will be provided in US Dollars.

Enrollment Verification Form

Replacement Certificate

Should a certificate be lost, stolen, or damaged, a replacement certificate may be requested by completing the Replacement Certificate Request Form.

A replacement certificate may also be requested if your name has changed by submitting the Replacement Certificate Request Form and the Official Name Change Request Form.

Replacement certificates will be issued with the current certificate design and office holders’ signatures (President and Dean).

Apostille Request

An apostille is a special certification that guarantees the authenticity of a U.S. document (i.e., a diploma or transcript) when they are used outside the U.S. Some countries require that a Berklee College of Music document has this authentication.

Students wishing to formally request an apostille need to complete the Apostille Request Form and upload a copy of any documents for which they would like to receive an apostille. Once copies of the documents are received, the processing time will be approximately 4-6 weeks. Please note delivery may be delayed due to international shipping times. Fees for certification and shipping costs will be confirmed at the time the request is reviewed. 

The Apostille Request Form can be found here.

Pro Tools 101/110 Final Exam and Course Completion

Pro Tools 101 Final Exam

Students enrolled in the Pro Tools 101 course with Berklee Online will be given the opportunity to take the Pro Tools 101 final exam through Avid. This exam is optional.

Berklee Online students must successfully complete the course to be eligible to take the final exam with Avid and receive the Pro Tools 101 certificate of completion. The result of the final exam will not have any bearing on the grade issued for the course.

Students who take Pro Tools 101 with Berklee Online as non-credit or CEU cannot transfer this course into a certificate program, but may still take the Avid final exam.

Once you have passed the 101 exam, you will have access to download and print a PDF copy of your Avid Pro Tools User Certificate from Avid’s portal.

Pro Tools 110 Final Exam

Students who have successfully completed the Pro Tools 101 exam as well as the Pro Tools 110 course successfully will have the opportunity to take the Avid Pro Tools 110 Exam online and receive the Pro Tools 110 certificate of completion. The result of the final exam will not have any bearing on the grade issued for the course. Please note that you will only have access to take the PT110 exam after you have passed the PT101 exam.

Students who take Pro Tools 110 with Berklee Online as non-credit or CEU cannot transfer this course into a certificate program, but may still take the Avid final exam.

Once you have passed the 110 exam, you will have access to download and print a PDF copy of your Avid Pro Tools User Certificate from Avid’s portal.