Graduate Degree Admissions Information

International Students

Berklee Online offers international students from over 164 countries the opportunity to study the renowned Berklee College of Music curriculum all without having to apply for a visa or leave their home country.  Our experienced International Credential Evaluation Team is here to help!

Graduate Course and Certificate Enrollment (level 500-600)

Proof of a credential comparable to a 4-year US Bachelor’s degree earned at an accredited/recognized institution is required to enroll in a graduate-level (level 500-600) course or certificate.

  • submit a copy of your academic record (transcript/grade report)
  • submit a copy of your degree certificate or title
Ready to submit your credential?
For any document not issued in English, please provide a literal, word-for-word translation, in a similar format to the original. Note: the translation does not need to be official and can be self-prepared.

For more information, please see our Course and Certificate Policies.

Graduate Degree Admissions Requirements

Provide a credential from an accredited/recognized institution that is comparable to a 4-year US Bachelor’s degree. To see if your international credential qualifies you to apply to the master’s program and to see which academic records you will need to provide as part of the application, please submit the Initial International Credential Review Request.

Ready to submit your records?
Submit Initial International Credential Review Request
For any document not issued in English, please provide a literal, word-for-word translation, in a similar format to the original. Note: the translation does not need to be official and can be self-prepared.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an academic record?
An academic record or transcript is a document issued by your school, examination board, or ministry of education that includes the following information:
  • Your name
  • Your program
  • Years of study
  • Courses, exams, modules you completed
  • Scores/grades that you earned
  • Credits earned (if applicable)
What documents do I need to submit to study at Berklee Online?
What documents you need to submit to Berklee Online will depend on a number of factors. If you are seeking to enroll in one of our graduate non-degree courses or certificates, please fill out the Credential Verification form. If you are interested in applying to our master’s degree program, please fill out the Initial International Credential Review Request form and we will assist you in determining what academic records are needed.
I completed my credentials in Canada and want to apply to the master’s degree program. Do I need to go through the initial credential review and evaluation process?
No, the initial credential review and evaluation processes are intended for degree applicants who studied outside of the US or Canada. Just make sure that any official transcript you submit as part of the application process is in English or accompanied by a certified literal English translation.
Are you going to let me know if I need to provide additional documents?
Yes! We will let you know if additional documentation is needed.
I only have one copy of my academic record, what should I do?
If you are applying to our master’s degree program, your best option is to either contact your ministry of education or your institution to see if you can get a certified true copy of your academic record or transcript.
What is an official record?
An official document is one provided by an issuing authority (Ministry of Education, institution, examination board, etc.) in a sealed envelope that has been stamped or signed across the back flap by the appropriate administrator. This should be sent directly by the issuing authority to Berklee Online. Should the issuing authority give you the sealed envelope with the appropriate document inside, you can send it to Berklee Online provided you have not opened the envelope or tampered with the seal. Do NOT send original, personal copies of your documents as these will NOT be returned.
Can official documents be sent electronically?
Yes! We will consider documents as official if they are sent directly to us by the issuing authority through email or via a secure electronic delivery service. Please note that records emailed to us by the student or forwarded from the issuing institution by the student are NOT considered official. Emailed transcripts can be sent to materials@online.berklee.edu and must come from an appropriate administrator using an email address affiliated with the institution. In those cases where a school or organization does not provide an official email address, please have your administrator provide a signed cover letter in English (on official letterhead, if possible) to accompany the email.
What kind of translation do you need?
All translations must be literal, word-for-word, complete, and in a similar format as the original. Self-prepared translations are only acceptable for the Credential Verification and Initial International Credential Review process. If you are applying to one of our degree programs, you will be required to submit a certified translation, which can be completed by your institution, an embassy, or a professional translation service.
What is the next step after getting my credential verified?
If you are enrolling in a graduate non-degree course or certificate, you will want to reach out to an advisor regarding the next step. If you are applying to one of our degree programs at Berklee Online, the next step would be to submit an application. As part of this process, you will need to provide official copies of your academic records and certified translations if the original documents were not issued in English.
How long does it take to get my credential verified?
The credential verification and initial credential review process takes approximately 7-10 business days, although additional time may be required.