General questions about ECLA of Bard
When and where was ECLA founded?
ECLA was founded in Berlin as a non-profit association in 1999 under the leadership of Stefan Gutzeit. More details on ECLA’s history are available here.
What does “Liberal Arts” mean?
Liberal arts refers to an approach to education that promotes reflection and engagement on the part of the individual student, in a collective conversation with peers and teachers. Like many of the founding liberal arts programmes in the United States, ECLA of Bard offers a core curriculum that introduces students to the key texts of the humanities and the social and natural sciences. Its distinctive feature is that it concentrates on the ways in which objects, concepts and convictions of value have been formulated and challenged over time, and on the relationship between questions of pressing contemporary concern and the traditions of human intellectual inquiry. More information is available here.
Who finances ECLA of Bard?
For much of its history ECLA was supported by the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation. Bard College now bears fiduciary responsibility for ECLA of Bard (see Governance).
What is the relation to Bard College?
ECLA merged with Bard College in 2011 and is now a satellite campus of Bard, as well as a state-recognized university in Germany.
How large is ECLA of Bard?
ECLA of Bard is and will remain a small college. Currently, ECLA of Bard has 82 students enrolled in all of its programmes.
Prospective students
Who should I contact if I have further questions about ECLA of Bard in general?
Prospective students are welcome to contact the Admissions Office with any questions they may have: admissions@ecla.de
APPLICATION PROCESS AND ENROLMENT
How can I apply?
Details on how to apply are available here.
Is there an application fee?
ECLA of Bard does not charge an application fee.
What are the educational requirements for the programmes?
All applicants to ECLA of Bard must have a high school degree and be fluent in English. Details on the application requirements are available here.
What are the application deadlines?
Please consult the admissions section for our application deadlines (How to apply).
What kind of high school diploma does one need to have?
All applicants must have a secondary school qualification. The Admissions Committee considers all high-quality applications. The type of diploma you have may affect whether you matriculate into the German or American BA programme.
Is there a minimum GPA or SAT requirement?
ECLA of Bard does not specify a minimum GPA or SAT score, although a strong academic record is important for consideration. Other features taken into consideration by the Admissions Committee include extracurricular engagement, suitability for the programme, and interest in the programme.
Are interviews a part of the admissions process?
Occasionally the Admissions Committee will conduct phone interviews with applicants, but candidates do not need to plan to travel to Berlin for an admissions interview.
How high are the fees/living costs?
Details on tuition and living expenses are available here.
Is it possible start in the spring semester?
No, all programmes start in the fall semester.
Are late applications possible?
Students should apply by the stated deadlines. We accept applications each year in the spring for fall enrolment. Late applications will only be considered if slots are still available.
Can I defer enrolment?
Accepted students may ask to defer matriculation for one year. This request must be made in writing to the Admissions Office, accompanied by a short paragraph outlining the plan for the coming year.
If my application was rejected, can I reapply the following year?
Reapplication is permitted. Applicants should be able to demonstrate significant academic progress or have gained experience that is relevant to studying at ECLA of Bard.
Can I schedule a visit? Is there an open day?
Check our website for announcements about Open Days. It is also possible to schedule a campus visit at your convenience. Contact admissions@ecla.de to arrange a visit.
Is it possible to take individual courses at ECLA of Bard?
No. Only students enrolled in one of our programmes may register for courses.
Who should I contact if I have further questions about the application process?
Contact the Admissions Office: admissions@ecla.de
DEGREE PROGRAMME
Which degrees does ECLA of Bard offer?
ECLA of Bard currently offers one degree: the Bachelor of Arts in Value Studies.
How can I find out whether I qualify for either the US degree, the German degree or both?
Contact the Admissions Office if you have questions about the degree for which you are eligible: admissions@ecla.de
What can I do with a degree from ECLA of Bard?
With a Bachelor of Arts in Value Studies from an accredited institution, you may apply to graduate programs in disciplines such as literature, philosophy, public policy, and art history. If you launch your career after graduation from ECLA of Bard, you will be qualified for entry-level positions in many types of organizations. You might take a traineeship at a museum, a junior associate position at a consulting firm, or a job at a nongovernmental organization. With a degree from an English-language program, you will have the skills to work internationally. Read more about what former ECLA of Bard students are doing now: Alumni
FINANCES
How high are the tuition fees?
For the 2012-2013 academic year the tuition fees are 13,500 euro per year. Room and board for students living on campus is 4,000 euro per year. Students living on campus pay a comprehensive fee of 17,500 euro per year.
Who qualifies for financial aid?
Financial aid is granted on the basis of a student’s financial need. To determine this need, ECLA of Bard asks students to submit a Financial Statement with information about their and their family’s financial situation. Only BA students are eligible to apply for financial aid and scholarships.
What does “need-blind admission” mean?
“Need-blind” admission means that students are admitted to ECLA of Bard solely on the basis of the quality of their application, not their financial situation. Financial aid applications are reviewed only after students have been deemed suitable for admission to the programme.
Where/how can I apply for financial aid?
You can apply for financial aid here.
Do you offer scholarships?
Yes. You can find out more here.
OTHER
Do I need to purchase textbooks?
Students may borrow textbooks for the duration of the semester. At the end of the semester they also have the option to purchase the books.
Do I need to have my own computer?
It is highly recommended that students bring a laptop or personal computer with them to ECLA of Bard. There is a computer room on campus that students may use.
What is the weather like in Berlin?
In Berlin you will need clothes and shoes for all four seasons. Temperatures range from -15 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius in the fall and winter and from 15 degrees Celsius to occasionally over 30 degrees Celsius in the spring and summer. It rains and snows fairly often. Boots and a good winter coat are an important investment for surviving winter in Berlin.
Admitted/current students
PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS
What are the requirements for a B.A. in Value Studies?
- Core Courses – The core modules (Greek Civilization, Medieval Literature and Culture, Renaissance Art and Thought, History and Philosophy of Science, Origins of Political Economy, Modernism) must be taken in sequence. The last two modules can be taken in either the third or the fourth year.
- Language requirements – B.A. students must be proficient in the German language at a B1 level by the end of their second year of study. This can be done through courses at ECLA of Bard or through an exam.
- Concentrations - Students choose one concentration in the first year from the three possibilities (Art and Aesthetics, Literature and Rhetoric, Ethics and Politics), and must take the two concentration seminars for that concentration in that year, the first in autumn, the second in spring. In the second year, they choose a second concentration and again take the two concentration seminars linked to that field, one in autumn, one in spring. At the end of the second year, students choose their concentration of priority, in which they will take 3 electives, 2 at advanced level. In the second concentration, they take 2 electives, 1 at advanced level.
- Requirements on the electives – Students take 8 courses in the elective component, up to 3 of which may be 3 sequential language courses. Courses in the elective component will belong to one or more of ECLA of Bard’s fields of concentration, or to additional fields and topics covered by instructors. Students must take one course in the area of mathematics/natural sciences.
- Requirements concerning the thesis - The BA thesis module consists of a research project chosen by the student in advance of his/her third year and culminating in the BA Thesis written in the final semester, a research colloquium in which students take part in one semester, which consists of exchanges with peers and professors concerning their own work and instruction in research methods and procedures, and individual meetings throughout the year with their thesis advisor. The subject of the thesis is chosen from the student’s major concentration field or will be an interdisciplinary project grounded in this field.
Is there a prescribed order to take the courses? Are there prerequisites for certain electives?
The core courses must be taken in the chronological sequence specified in the Study and Examination regulations. The two concentration seminars which are the fundamental requirements for each concentration must also be taken in sequence. Advanced electives usually require that the concentration seminars in the field in which the elective is offered have already been taken, but students may be able to take the course on the permission of the instructor.
What are the requirements for the AY programme?
The requirements for the AY programme are ECLA of Bard’s first two modules in the core component, Greek Civilization and Medieval Literature and Culture. Otherwise, AY students can take electives, language courses and (space permitting) concentration seminars.
What are the requirements for the PY programme?
PY students may take any of ECLA of Bard’s core courses, electives or up to two language courses. The fundamental requirements of the PY programme are the research colloquium in the fall semester (which provides an introduction to research methodologies and guidance in preparation of the independent project) and the independent project, which involves weekly meetings with the project supervisor.
Can I transfer credits from other universities in Berlin?
If you have previously studied at a Berlin university (or at any other university) you can apply to transfer credits towards your ECLA of Bard BA. Otherwise, ECLA of Bard students can register as a ‘Nebenhörer’ (auditor) at Berlin universities and receive credits for their work which are valid for the BA degree. Students should be sure that their assignments for the course they are taking will be evaluated in order to receive credits for the course.
Can I transfer credits from other universities abroad?
Credits from any university can be transferred on application to the ECLA of Bard examination board.
Where can I go in my third year? Which exchange programmes does ECLA of Bard participate in?
ECLA of Bard participates in the Erasmus programme, and has a number of cooperations with universities around the world which are reviewed and updated annually. Please ask the Director of Academic Administration for details or (if you are a current ECLA of Bard student) consult the list of partnership agreements through the login function of the website. ECLA of Bard students can also study during their third year at Bard College, NY, or other colleges within the Bard network.
Do I have to do internships? Can I get credits for internships?
It is possible to do an internship and receive credits towards the degree programme, as long as the internship is done in conjunction with ECLA of Bard’s internship course.
Whom can I ask if I have further questions about the degrees?
Prospective students with general questions about the structure of the degree should contact the Admissions Office (admissions@ecla.de)
Current students with questions about their degree plan or courses should contact the Registrar (registrar@ecla.de)
Other questions about the content and structure of the degree should be directed to the Director of Academic Administration (f.schnuettgen@ecla.de)
FINANCIAL MATTERS
Can I pay by the year/semester/month?
ECLA of Bard offers individual budget plans, it is an alternative payment system that allows student accounts to be paid in up to 10 installments. For more information about the terms and provisions of the budget plan contact the Financial Aid Office.
How/when can I apply for a revision of my financial aid package?
Please consult the Student Handbook for more information on a revision of financial aid.
Whom can I ask if I have further questions about financial aid?
Please contact the Financial Aid Office:
Call +49 30 43733 103 or send an email to Finaid@ecla.de.
INSURANCE
Do I have to have insurance? If so, what types?
Yes. If you wish to study in Germany you must have health insurance. Without it, you cannot be officially enrolled in a course of study and all students are required to provide proof of insurance when matriculating.
In addition, ECLA of Bard recommends that you have a valid liability insurance in Germany (Haftpflichtversicherung, approx. €80/year).
How can I find out whether my insurance is valid in Germany?
Students from most European countries already have state health insurance that is valid in Germany. They must simply bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with them to demonstrate this, and to access health care services. Some other European countries have social security agreements with Germany, and must bring documentary proof of their state health coverage in order to be exempt from obtaining German health care insurance.
Students with private health insurance in Germany or in their own country can usually obtain exemption from taking out health insurance. They must bring with them proof of their insurance policy (letter, contract, and/or insurance identity card) and fill out a waiver form (Befreiung der Versicherungspflicht).
Students requiring health insurance are free to register with any statutory health care provider or with a private health care provider in Germany. Please note however, that if you choose to take out private health insurance, you cannot revert to state health care insurance.
If the country of origin has reciprocal arrangements with the Federal Republic of Germany (EU and EEA countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey), the applicant's national health insurance provider should be asked for advice concerning the best arrangement for them while they are abroad. A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will guarantee coverage in the event of medical emergencies or when urgent medical treatment is required abroad. Holders of the EHIC card are exempted from the German requirement to be insured with a recognised state health insurance provider in Germany. Sometimes taking out additional insurance cover is advisable. Applicants should inform themselves with the insurance authorities in their home countries.
How much is insurance in Germany and what does it cover?
All students requiring health care coverage can obtain it at ECLA of Bard through the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), one of the best state health insurance providers. The monthly cost for TK coverage in 2012-2013 is €78. Please note that in addition to the monthly fee of the Techniker Krankenkasse, or that of other statutory health providers in Germany, there are certain fees you will have to pay directly to the medical service providers when you seek medical treatment. These are:
- Practice Charge (Praxisgebühr) – you will be charged 10 € for your first visit to a doctor and for your first visit to a dentist. Your subsequent visits to the same doctor or the same dentist in the same quarter of the year will be free of charge. You may also subsequently visit other doctors in the same quarter of the year without paying the practice charge again by using a referral (Überweisung). You will also be charged this fee again if you go to the emergency room.
- Prescription Charges – when buying prescription drugs, please note that there is a minimum charge of 5 € and a maximum charge of 10 € you have to co-pay.
- Hospital Treatment – for each day in hospital (no more than 28 days per year) you will be charged 10 €.
More information on the health insurance requirement for students:
DAAD site - http://www.daad.de/deutschland/in-deutschland/regeln/en/8839-health-insurance/
Whom can I ask if I have further questions about insurance?
Please consult Katharina Meyer if you have further questions about insurance (k.meyer@ecla.de)
HOUSING, FOOD, TRANSPORT AND CAMPUS JOBS
Who qualifies for living on campus?
First- and second-year B.A. students are given priority on dorm rooms. Academy Year, Project Year, and B.A. students in their 3rd or 4th year are expected to live off-campus.
Do I have to live on campus?
ECLA of Bard provides on-campus housing for first- and second-year B.A. students. Students are encouraged to live on campus, but may choose to live off campus if they wish.
What are the dorms like?
A typical room in a dorm includes the following furniture and equipment: bed (with linen), desk, chair, wardrobe, shelves, lamps. Bathrooms are shared and are located on every floor in dorms W15 and W16, and at basement level in dorm K24. In addition, all dorms have a kitchen (with all necessary appliances) and a common room (for reading, listening to music or get-togethers). Every dorm provides laundry facilities and access to Internet. You can find out more here.
What services does the cafeteria provide? When is it open?
Off-campus students may eat lunch five days a week in the cafeteria. On-campus students may eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the cafeteria.
What transport services does ECLA of Bard provide?
Berlin has an excellent public transport network with tram stops just a few minutes’ walk from ECLA of Bard. Students in Berlin may purchase transport tickets at a discounted rate.
Where can I find out more about campus life?
Please follow this link.
Whom can I ask if I have further questions housing, or food?
Please refer here for questions about housing, and here for questions about food.
Is it possible for students to work on campus?
A limited number of student jobs on campus are available each semester. The limit for student employment is 10 hrs a week.
Diversity statement
ECLA of Bard is a very diverse educational environment. The university encourages and accepts ethnic, cultural, and sexual diversity among its students, faculty and staff.
