Accepted Students
If you have been accepted to Berklee’s Campus in Valencia for the First Year Abroad program, there are a number of enrollment steps to complete prior to the start of the semester. Review the information below and check the next steps section in the admissions portal for a comprehensive list of action items.
Next Steps
Paying Your Tuition DepositTuition deposits for Berklee College of Music are due upon acceptance notification. This initial deposit is credited towards your first semester bill. This deposit confirms your intention to attend the college and secures your seat in the entering class.
To confirm your attendance, you will need to submit your tuition deposit through your admissions portal.
Pay Your Tuition Deposit
Passport and Visa informationAll students on the Valencia campus need a student visa unless they are a citizen or legal resident of the European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, or Switzerland. It is recommended that you have your passport ready at least four months before your program start date so you can apply for a visa. It can take several months to prepare your visa application and get your visa, so it is important that start the process as soon as possible. Follow the instructions on applying for a visa on the Passport and Visa website and email studyabroad@berklee.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Review and Manage Your Financial AidView your financial aid award by visiting Berklee's financial aid portal, NetPartner. You can check the status of your application, view a list of documents we've received from you and a list of the documents still outstanding, and see your financial aid award.
Students who are U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. are encouraged to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible for federal student aid consideration. Use Berklee's federal school code—002126—when prompted. For assistance with completing the FAFSA, please contact the studentaid.gov Student Support Center at 1-800-433-3243. Additionally, undergraduate domestic entering students must complete the CSS Profile for institutional need-based funding before the start of the program. Use the CSS school code—3107—when prompted.
If you have any questions regarding your financial aid package, please contact onestop@berklee.edu.
Housing Information and ApplicationFirst Year Abroad students are required to live in housing arranged by Berklee. We have secured spaces in the luxury residence Collegiate Marina Real. Learn more about your housing residence on the Valencia website.
As a Livensa resident, it is important to note that a security deposit of €250 is required from you in August before move-in. This deposit is refundable provided that everything is in the same condition as when you first received it.
Deposited students can expect to receive a housing preference form via email in April. This form will allow students to specify their preferred room type, request a particular roommate, or take a personality test to find a compatible roommate match.
Orientation InformationAll undergraduate students are required to attend orientation, on the Valencia Campus. Sessions will be designed to introduce you to everything that Berklee’s campus in Spain has to offer. These sessions are your first chance to meet your classmates, faculty, support staff, and the rest of the campus community.
Review our orientation page for details.
Review Health Insurance InformationAll Valencia students are automatically enrolled in and charged for the Berklee SHIP (School Health Insurance Program) but may waive participation by demonstrating they are enrolled in a health insurance plan that meets the requirements of their program.
Review information
Complete your Personal Student AgreementSoon after completing the form above you will receive a DocuSign email from Student Affairs giving you access to a personal Student Agreement, which you will need to complete and digitally sign. Most information in the Student Agreement will have been automatically populated with the information submitted in the Berklee Student Information form.
Questions?
Contact us at ad@berklee.edu.
Passports And Visas
Passport Requirement
All students must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after their program end date. It is recommended that you have your passport ready at least four months before your program start date.
Visa Requirement
Most students will need to obtain a visa to study in Spain.* A student visa is a type of long stay (or long term) visa that you apply for at a Spanish consulate or embassy. The visa gets stamped inside your passport. It is recommended that you start reviewing the visa instructions in April or May so that you have enough time to prepare your visa application..
All students must obtain their student visa before arriving in Valencia.
*Citizens and legal residents of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland do not need a student visa to study in Spain.
Applying for a Visa
You have two options to apply for your visa.
Option 1: Apply through Berklee
To apply through Berklee you must be a current student or legal resident in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont or Maine. You will need to provide a copy of your school ID or state ID (e.g. driver's license). If you do not have a U.S. passport you must also provide a copy of your valid U.S. immigration documents (e.g F-1 student visa and I-20, or permanent resident card).
You do not need to come to Boston to apply for a visa through Berklee.
Visa processing usually takes about eight weeks from the visa application deadline. Your passport will remain at the Spanish consulate in Boston and cannot be retrieved during this time.
The deadline to submit your complete visa application is May 12.
Step One: Gather the Documents on the Visa Application ChecklistSome of your documents may need to be notarized, translated into Spanish, and/or legalized with an Apostille of the Hague. See step two for more information.
All forms must be filled out with a pen. The consulate will not accept forms filled out with a pencil.
Required Documents for All Students:
- Passport (original and two copies of the photo/information page)
Make sure your passport is signed, in good condition, and valid for at least six months after your program ends. It must have at least two blank pages for the visa to be stamped inside. Scan or take a picture of your passport before submitting it with your visa application so you will have a copy for your records. - School ID or State ID (one copy)
Your ID must be from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont or Maine. The copy must be notarized. - Application For National Visa (original)
Fill out the Application for National Visa.
--Page 1: Fill out electronically - complete numbers 1-10, 12-16, and 18 (if applicable).
--Pages 2-4: Do not fill out (the required info is already completed for you).
--Page 5: Include the place and date you're signing the form (e.g. Boston MA, 1-May-2023). Sign and date the form! You must use a pen (no pencil). - Color Photo (original)
You can get a “passport photo” at most drugstores including CVS and Walgreens, or at a post office. Your photo must have a white background. Write your name on the back of your photo in case it gets separated from the rest of your documents. - Proof of Financial Means (one copy)
-Option 1: Parent/Guardian Financial Support Letter, parent bank statements, and student's birth certificate. The parent letter must be notarized. If the letter is notarized outside the U.S., it must also be legalized. You must also provide the same parent's last three bank statements.* A copy of the student's birth certificate is also required.
-Option 2: Student's bank statements from a U.S. bank: You must provide your last three bank statements.*
*All bank statements must have an ending balance of at least $700 multiplied by the number of months you will be in Spain. For example, if you will be in Spain for 4 months, each statement must have an ending balance of at least $2,800. - Consulate Authorization Letter (original)
Fill out the Consulate Authorization Letter. The letter must be notarized. - Consulate Disclaimer Form (original)
Sign and date the Consulate Disclaimer Form. - Payment for the Visa Fee (original)
The consulate in Boston only accepts money orders and cashier's checks. Personal checks are not accepted. You can get a money order from a post office or a cashier’s check from a bank. Address the money order to "Consulate General of Spain" and write your name in the “from” section. The visa fee is non-refundable.
Your visa fee depends on your passport country.
--USA: $160
--Australia: $420
--Canada: $92
--UK: $214 (if studying abroad for more than one semester)
--All Others: $85 - Immigration Documents (one copy)
Required only for Non-U.S. Citizens.
If you are an international student, you must provide a copy of your F-1 visa and I-20, or green card. Your I-20 must be signed (by you) on the first page. Your documents must be valid for at least six months after your program end date. The copies must be notarized. - Doctor's Letter (one copy)
The letter must be signed by an M.D. or D.O. and it must be on the doctor’s letterhead. It must say exactly this: “This medical certificate attests that (student’s full name) does not suffer from any illness that would pose a threat to public health following International Health Regulations of 2005.” - FBI Background Check (original and one copy)
Your FBI background check must be translated into Spanish and legalized. If you have lived outside the U.S. during the last five years, you must also submit background checks (translated and legalized) from the countries where you have lived.
Step Two: Get Your Documents Notarized, Translated and/or LegalizedRefer to the visa application checklist in step one to see which documents need to be notarized, translated, and/or legalized.
Getting a Document Notarized
To get a document notarized, the person signing the document must sign it in front of a notary public. The notary then adds their stamp/seal to the document. You can find a notary at many banks, law/insurance offices, and UPS stores.
Getting a Document Translated
Translations must be from a legal translator. Many students have used Southeast Spanish to get their translation and apostille.
Getting a Document Legalized (Apostille of the Hague)
If your document(s) need to be legalized, it must be done in the place it was issued (signed and/or notarized).
Legalizing documents issued in the U.S.
Federally-issued documents, for example an FBI background check, must be legalized by the U.S. Department of State. See Apostille Requirements for more information. Many students have used Southeast Spanish to get their translation and apostille.
Legalizing documents issued outside the U.S.
If your document was issued in a country that belongs to the Apostille of the Hague Convention, it must be legalized with an Apostille, in the country in which it was issued. Review the list of countries for instructions on how to get an Apostille in each country. If your document was issued in a country that does not belong to the Apostille of the Hague Convention, it must be legalized by a Spanish consulate or embassy.
Step Three: Submit Your Visa ApplicationSubmit your complete visa application to the study abroad office in Boston.
Option 1 - Schedule an in-person meeting with a study abroad advisor.
You must schedule an in-person meeting to submit your documents. Please do not submit your documents without an appointment.
Option 2 - Mail your documents to the study abroad office.
Mailing Address
Berklee Study Abroad
Attn: Tracey Mellor (MS-939-ISS)
1108 Boylston Street - Basement/Mail Center
Boston, MA 02215
*Be sure to use a trackable service (e.g. USPS priority mail, UPS, FedEx) and ensure that your package will arrive by the deadline.
Step Four: Wait for Your Visa
The study abroad office will retrieve your passport from the consulate once your visa is ready. You can either pick up your passport from the study abroad office or have it mailed back to you. You will receive more information approximately one week before your passport and visa are expected to be ready.
Option 2: Apply on Your Own
The steps below describe the general process for obtaining a student visa.
You must check with your Spanish consulate to find out their requirements and timeline for applying for a visa.
Step One: Find Your Consulate You must apply for your visa at the Spanish consulate or embassy that corresponds to your legal residence. In the U.S., for example, there are several Spanish consulates, and you will need to find the one that corresponds to the state you live in.
See here for a list of Spanish consulates and embassies.
Step Two: Confirm the Application Process for Your Consulate Some consulates require you to make an appointment to submit your student visa application, while others only accept applications by mail.
Some consulates require you to include a prepaid self-addressed envelope with your application so your passport and visa can be mailed back to you, while other consulates require you to bring your passport to the consulate in-person later to retrieve your visa.
Step Three: Prepare Your Visa Application Documents You must check your consulate's website for the specific documents necessary for a student visa application. The documents required by your consulate should be similar to those required to apply through Berklee. You may use the Berklee instructions as a reference, however you must follow the specific instructions of your consulate.
Proof of Acceptance and Spanish Health Insurance: These letters are included in your acceptance packet. Please email studyabroad@berklee.edu to request these letters if you did not receive them in the mail. They will be in Spanish. The acceptance letter includes confirmation of your housing in Valencia.
Step Four: Submit Your Visa Application Arrive to your consulate appointment early and with all the required documents, including copies. (If an appointment is not required, be sure to check your consulate's visa drop-in hours.)
- Remember, you will be asked to leave your passport at the consulate, along with the rest of your documents, while your visa is being processed.
- Be prepared to pay the visa fee. Only certain forms of payment will be accepted (see step three).
- Before you leave the consulate, ask how long it will take to process your visa, how you will know when it is ready, and how you can pick it up. (Most consulates do not require another appointment and will allow you to pick it up during their business hours.) Some consulates will mail your passport back you (if you provide a prepaid envelope). Each consulate has a different process, and you must confirm with them in advance.
Step Five: Get Your Visa
You will either go to the consulate to pick up your passport (with visa inside) or it will be mailed to you. Remember to ask about this process during your appointment (see step four).
Entering Spain (or any country in Schengen Area)
Get Your Passport Stamped
As you go through the passport control area upon entering the Schengen Area, an immigrations officer should stamp your passport. Make sure your passport gets stamped!
Once in Spain
Get Your Student Residency CardYou will need to apply for your student residency card within 30 days of your arrival into the Schengen Area. It will take approximately two months to complete the residency card process. Your residency card will be your national identification card while in Spain. It's valid for up to one year and renewable if you continue to meet the student visa conditions. You will receive information on how to apply for the residency card during orientation in Valencia.
Health And Travel Insurance
First Year Abroad students are required to be enrolled in MAPFRE health insurance, but may choose to waive the SHIP.
Berklee's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
The state of Massachusetts requires that students be enrolled in a health insurance plan that offers comprehensive coverage. All coverage must be in effect while you are enrolled at Berklee College of Music, even while studying abroad, and coverage must be compliant with state and federal regulations under the Affordable Care Act. We also recommend that your insurance plan provides coverage anywhere in the United States and abroad, and that it includes provisions for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.
All students are automatically enrolled in and charged for Berklee’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
Students may waive (decline) participation in the Berklee SHIP if they can demonstrate coverage with a comparable insurance plan that is consistent with existing state and federal requirements for students enrolled in colleges and universities in Massachusetts. The insurance coverage requirements for waiving the SHIP are not internal policies set by Berklee.
The waiver is completed online on the Gallagher Student Health website. You must complete an online waiver for each new academic year during which you do not want the institution's plan. Verbal waiver requests, letters, and copies of insurance cards will not be accepted. Should your waiver be denied, information on how to appeal a waiver denial will be available directly to students in the denial email. All decisions made by Gallagher Student Health are final. Berklee engages the professional services of Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk to: communicate to each eligible student how to request a waiver; notify students of the dates by which waiver requests may be made; and review whether or not waiver requests are compliant with Massachusetts regulations.
- For waiver information, FAQs, plan details, coverage and costs, please contact:
Gallagher Student Health & Special Risk Customer Service
+1 800-391-8057
gallagherstudent.com/berklee - For billing questions, contact:
The Office of Student Accounts
+1 617-747-2165
studentaccounts@berklee.edu - For questions about how to use SHIP or to locate your SHIP card, contact:
Berklee Health and Wellness
+1 617-747-6575
healthandwellness@berklee.edu
Spanish Health Insurance (MAPFRE)
Students will be covered by MAPFRE, a private health insurance provider in Spain. This coverage is included in the program fee and cannot be waived. Students will receive their insurance card during orientation in Valencia. MAPFRE is supplemental medical insurance that provides coverage throughout Spain and is the exclusive partner of the Berklee Medical Assistance Program in Valencia. Visit Health, Wellness, and Support Services to learn more about Spanish health insurance as well as medical, counseling, and disability services in Valencia.
Travel Insurance (for school-related trips)
Berklee also retains a travel insurance provider, UnitedHealthcare Global (UHCG), that offers specific coverage such as emergency medical evacuation or repatriation and travel assistance services for students during their year abroad, including during travel that is part of the academic program. There is no fee for this coverage. Download the UnitedHealthcare Global Welcome Kit for more information.
Travel Insurance (for personal travel)
For personal travel within Spain during their year abroad, students will be covered by Spanish health insurance (MAPFRE).
For personal travel outside of Spain, students are responsible for obtaining appropriate health and travel insurance. Students should check with their primary health insurance provider to determine whether they provide coverage for international travel. Alternatively, students can purchase independent insurance that includes medical coverage, trip and luggage protection, and more. See the Frequently Asked Questions section of Health, Wellness, and Support Services for more information.
Valencia Academic Calendar
Orientation
Congratulations, incoming students! Please refer to the information below for details about your required fall orientation in Valencia, and if you have a question that is not covered below, don't hesitate to contact us at studentaffairsvalencia@berklee.edu. We will email you a detailed schedule ahead of time with the definite days of orientation.
(*) Student Move-in and Check-in: Sunday, August 27 - Monday, August 28, 2023
(*) Orientation days: Tuesday, August 29 - Friday September 1, 2023
Before You Arrive
Before you arrive at Livensa Living (formerly known as Collegiate Maria Real), complete all necessary administrative requirements, including submission of your tuition payment, immunization records, high school transcripts, and health waivers.
To check the status of your administrative requirements:
- Log in to berklee.edu using the ID and password sent to you by Admissions.
- Select "Campus Tools," then "My Berklee" from the menu at the top right.
- Log in to MyBerklee, then select "Students" on the right.
- Select "Online Check-in Requirements" from the "Check-in" menu.
Any outstanding check-in requirements will be listed there. It is important to complete all of these requirements before you arrive. You will not be able to check-in until you have submitted all of your administrative requirements.
Please note that entering students cannot check-in online. Entering students must check in on campus when they arrive for orientation. For more information on the steps you need to complete prior to check-in, visit the First Year Abroad: Accepted Students page.
When You Arrive
Livensa Living (formerly known as Collegiate Maria Real) Residents
Useful information regarding life in Valencia as well as resources and services available to Berklee students from our campus will be provided to students virtually prior to their arrival in Valencia. Once students move into their residence hall, additional informative sessions (both virtual and in-person) will take place over the first couple of days. If you have questions about housing policies or the move-in process, visit First Year Abroad Housing or contact the Student Affairs Office.
Orientation Schedule
Orientation days are full of informative and fun events and activities to help you learn about Berklee, continue to get to know Valencia, and meet other new students. During the orientation program, students will acclimate to remote and on-campus services, foster community through engaging programming and individualized support, and build connections to the Berklee campus community.
You can find more information about Pre-arrival action items and Orientation Schedules for First Year Abroad Students here.
Accessibility and Accommodation
We are committed to welcoming and accommodating all entering students at our check-in and orientation activities. Participants who need assistance or accommodations to fully experience the week's events are encouraged to contact both the Student Affairs team Accessibility resources in advance as some accommodations take time to implement. We will provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations.
Valencia Administrative Offices
If you need to contact one of these offices to schedule an appointment during your orientation in Valencia, please do not hesitate to reach out to them in advance.
Academic Affairs in Valencia: academicaffairsvalencia@berklee.edu
Student Accounts Office in Valencia: studentaccountsvalencia@berklee.edu
Student Affairs in Valencia: studentaffairsvalencia@berklee.edu
Financial Aid Office: financialaid@berklee.edu
Accessibility Resources Office: accessibilityresources@berklee.edu
Admissions in Valencia: admissionsvalencia@berklee.edu
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