Degree Students
The Berklee Study Abroad program offers Berklee Online degree students the opportunity to study at our international campus in Valencia, Spain. In Valencia, students will experience the rich culture of the Mediterranean, gain global perspective, and develop the skills to excel in the international music industry.
The program focuses on music technology, music business, and performance, yet the curriculum is broad enough to offer students from all majors the opportunity to progress in their programs and meet their graduation requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be in good academic and financial standing in your Bachelor of Arts degree program at the time of applying and remain in good standing each semester leading up to the start of the program*
- You must have completed one semester of Berklee coursework at the time of applying and at least 30 total credits completed by the program start date
- You must be at least 18 years old by the program start date
- You must maintain full-time enrollment (12-16 credits) while abroad
*Please note: Admission to the program may be revoked if a student becomes ineligible due to academic or disciplinary standing before the start of the program. Students in this situation will be responsible for any non-refundable fees related to the program.
What Should I Take to Prepare to Study Abroad?
Because the Study Abroad program is designed for those students between semester 3 and semester 6 of their academic program, many of the courses available in Valencia have specific prerequisites. In order to be better prepared for the curriculum, we recommend completing the following courses before beginning Study Abroad:
- OLART-111: Intro to College Writing, or transfer equivalent
- OLMSC-101: Intro to Music Production
- OHARM-110: Getting Inside Harmony 1, OHARM-101: Music Theory 101, OCOMP-110: Music Theory and Composition 1, or external equivalent
- OEART-115: Basic Ear Training, or transfer equivalent
Planning ahead for Study Abroad and want to know how it could fit into your major? Check out sample schedules for each degree major!
What Are My Next Steps?
Step 1: Determine if You Are Eligible
Review the eligibility criteria (above). Keep in mind that you will not have the option of enrolling part-time while in the study abroad program. You will also need to resolve any and all holds prior to submitting your application.
If you do not meet the requirements at the time of applying, your application may be denied or deferred to a later semester.
Step 2: Contact Your Advisor
Most students opt to pursue study abroad between their third and sixth semesters at Berklee; however, the optimal time to go will depend in part on your major, your remaining degree requirements, and a variety of other factors. We recommend reaching out to your academic advisor to help you determine the best time to apply: advisors@online.berklee.edu or 617-747-2146 ext 1.
Step 3: Submit the Application Questionnaire
Once you have spoken with your advisor and confirmed your eligibility, you may fill out the Online Application Questionnaire available on the Berklee Study Abroad Admissions webpage.
Step 4: Complete Study Abroad Course Advising Form
Review the course offerings at Valencia. Once you have identified the courses you wish to take, please submit the Study Abroad Course Advising Form. We will review this form to verify that the courses you wish to take will align with remaining degree requirements and are appropriate for your level.
You will receive an email within 7-10 business days with additional information regarding whether your coursework has been approved. If you are having difficulties selecting appropriate coursework, please reach out to studyabroad@online.berklee.edu.
Once your Study Abroad coursework has been approved and finalized, we will submit the Academic Review Form on your behalf. You will receive a confirmation email once the form has been submitted.
You will be contacted with your Study Abroad admissions decision once both the Application Questionnaire and the Course Advising process have been completed, and the Study Abroad advisor has submitted the Academic Review Form on your behalf.
Be sure to make note of all important dates and deadlines!
What Happens After I am Admitted?
Review the next steps listed on the Study Abroad Once Accepted webpage.
Registration Form: After you have confirmed your spot and submitted your deposit, the Campus Study Abroad office will provide you with a registration form in order to actually register for your Valencia Study Abroad coursework. This will need to be submitted to studyabroad@online.berklee.edu to sign off on your coursework.
Important note: if you make any registration changes after this process, it is your responsibility to notify studyabroad@online.berklee.edu to confirm that the new courses will still apply to your program. Neglecting to contact us with changes could result in completing courses that do not count towards your degree requirements.
Degree FAQs
Yes, provided you are a current Berklee Online Bachelor of Arts degree student and you meet all of the eligibility criteria.
Students can apply to study in either the Fall or Spring terms, or for a full Fall-Spring academic year. Due to the structure of the program, it is not possible to study Spring-Fall.
Please note that Valencia follows a different academic calendar than Berklee Online.
No. When studying at the Valencia campus, Berklee Online students must pay the study abroad tuition and fees.
No. There is no insurance requirement for Berklee Online. All study abroad students will be enrolled in MAPFRE and UHCG during the program. Please see the Health and Travel Insurance page for more information.
Yes! Berklee Online Pell Grant degree students will be considered for the Gilman Scholarship. Grants notifications will be sent by email after the study abroad application deadline. Berklee Online students may also request additional aid through Student Financial Services (SFS). In order to be considered for the Gilman Scholarship or other aid, you must have the appropriate documents on file with SFS. You may also be eligible for outside study abroad scholarships. Please see Scholarships and Financial Aid for more information.
Once you have identified the courses you would like to take, please fill out the Study Abroad Course Advising Form to verify that the courses you plan to take will fulfill remaining degree requirements. If you have questions or need help selecting courses, please contact studyabroad@online.berklee.edu.
You can pay the study abroad program deposit online. Please see Program Deposit for more information.
Please visit the Valencia site to see an overview of next steps! Remember, while most of your forms will need to be submitted to the Study Abroad or Valencia Academic Affairs Offices, a few of them will require you to coordinate with the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office.
No, the Valencia Study Abroad program requires a full-time status of at least 12 credits. Please note that while 12 credits equates to only four courses at Berklee Online, many of the courses offered in the Study Abroad program are only 1-2 credits, which means that enrolling full-time could mean taking more than six courses in Valencia.
Studying abroad is meant to be an immersive experience. As such, students do not have the option of enrolling in Berklee Online courses while attending the program in Valencia.
Berklee Online students participating in this program will be charged the Berklee Study Abroad Program rates and be held to Valencia campus policies while abroad.
Students must be enrolled at full-time status, taking a minimum of 12 Berklee Valencia credits, to be eligible for financial aid.
For further information regarding tuition, fees, and payment options, please contact the Office of the Bursar. For information regarding financial aid and grant opportunities, please contact the Berklee Financial Aid office. Please note that the Berklee Online payment plan is not available to students studying at the Valencia campus.
