First Year Abroad: Accepted Students

Accepted Students Passports and Visas Health and Travel Insurance Valencia Academic Calendar Orientation

Accepted Students

If you have already been accepted to Berklee College of Music's First Year Abroad program for the upcoming fall, then there are a number of things that you need to do prior to check-in. This section of the site is designed to help you make a smooth transition.

Acceptance Expiration

Your acceptance is dependent on the successful completion of any outstanding schoolwork. Admission to the First Year Abroad program on the Valencia campus is only valid for the fall semester that you were accepted.

If you do decide to defer your acceptance, you must submit a written request to refund or transfer your tuition deposit to a later semester. Your refund or transfer request must be received by the college no later than May 1.

Next Steps

Pay Your Bill

Your bill is due on August 1. Go to my.berklee.edu and log in using your onepass credentials to view and pay your bill.

If you don’t know your credentials or are having trouble logging in, you may contact our Student Computer Support Center for help at 8800@berklee.edu or 617-747-8800.

Check Your Passport

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 so you can apply for a visa.

Learn More About Passports and Visas

Apply for a Student Visa to Study in Spain

First Year Abroad students need a long-stay (or long-term) student visa to study in Spain. The visa application process requires the student to present documentation at their corresponding Spanish consulate.

Who Needs a Visa?
All students on the Valencia campus need this visa unless you are a citizen or legal resident of the European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, or Switzerland.

Timeline
It can take several months to prepare your visa application and get your visa. You should have your visa completed by August 1.

Learn More About Passports and Visas

Submit Your Immunizations

As a part of your completion of your acceptance process, all entering and transfer students must submit a completed Berklee Entering Student Immunization Form and submit it to Magnus Health, Berklee’s provider for collecting, managing, and tracking immunization information. You should receive an email from Magnus Health to the email address that is connected to your application with information on how to access your Magnus Health account. This step in your acceptance process cannot be completed until Magnus Health emails you with your login credentials. Please be aware that it may take up to a week from your admittance to the school for your Magnus Health account to be active. Go to the Berklee Health & Wellness Immunization Requirement page for more detailed information about submitting your immunization requirements to Magnus Health. You may retrieve an Entering Student Immunization Form and submit your immunization documentation online at https://secure.magnushealthportal.com/.

Special Notice: All immunizations must be completed before arriving in Spain, as some immunizations will not be available there.

Timeline
The entire immunization process can take up to 16 weeks. You should have this completed by August 1.

If you are an entering student and have questions about your immunizations or immunization requirements, please contact the Magnus Help Desk.

Magnus Help Desk Number: 877-461-6831, or for callers outside of the U.S.: 919-502-7689
Magnus Help Desk Email: service@magnushealthportal.com

Student ID Photo Submission

Please visit the Student ID Photo Submission web page to submit your photo for your Berklee I.D. electronically. The web page includes rules that must be adhered to for the photo to be accepted. Use your onepass credentials to log in to be able to access the web page.

Timeline
Complete photos are due by August 1.

Submit your ID Photo

Student Agreement Submission

Enrollment at Berklee's Valencia Campus is subject to students' revision and agreement to a number of terms and conditions that relate to student life at the Valencia campus.

Timeline
All First Year Abroad students will need to complete these student agreements and email them to StudentAffairsValencia@berklee.edu by August 1.

Complete your agreement

Submit Personal Contact Information

All Valencia students are required to provide personal information for various administrative tasks such as processing your health insurance, creating your Valencia Campus Intranet accounts and IDs, etc. You will need to upload a scanned copy (or photo) of your passport.

Timeline
Submit the form as soon as possible so we have all the information we need for the various tasks. We need this information no later than August 1.

Submit your info

Submit Your SAFO Form

Submit the online "Student Acknowledgement of Financial and Other Obligations (SAFO)" form. All students are required to submit this electronic agreement acknowledging their financial obligations before they will be allowed to check-in for the semester.

You can find the link to the SAFO form under the Check-in section on my.berklee.edu. Log in using your onepass credentials and be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page, check off the box which states that you have read and agreed with the three disclosures, and then click SUBMIT.

If you don’t know your credentials or are having trouble logging in, you may contact our Student Computer Support Center for help at 8800@berklee.edu or 617-747-8800.

Complete Your Ear Training Assessment

The Ear Training Assessment, required of all entering* students for the Fall 2019 (September) semester, is now available. We ask that you complete this 20-minute assessment as soon as possible.

Complete your Ear Training Assessment

*Students who previously attended the 12 Week Summer Program, or are part of our Berklee Global Partners Network, are exempt from taking this assessment.

Review Your Check-In Requirements

All restrictions on your account must be cleared before you will be allowed to check-in for the semester. Go to my.berklee.edu and log in using your onepass credentials to view the "Semester Check-In" in the Check-In section.

If you don’t know your credentials or are having trouble logging in, you may contact our Student Computer Support Center for help at 8800@berklee.edu or 617-747-8800.

Review Transfer Credit

As an admitted Berklee student, you may also view a transfer-credit evaluation from the Office of the Registrar. Go to my.berklee.edu and log in using your onepass credentials and click on "View Transcript/Transfer Credit Awarded."

If you don’t know your credentials or are having trouble logging in, you may contact our Student Computer Support Center for help at 8800@berklee.edu or 617-747-8800.

TOEFL Requirements

Applicants to the degree program, whose first language is not English, are required to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or the Pearson PTE score to complete their application for admission. We recommend a TOEFL IBT score of 72 or higher or an IELTS score of 6 or higher.

Orientation

Orientation
One week before classes start, all First Year Abroad students are required to attend orientation on the Valencia campus to introduce you to everything that Berklee’s international campus in Spain has to offer. During this week, you’ll not only get to meet your classmates, faculty, and support staff, but also the rest of the campus community at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Learn More About Orientation

Apply for Financial Aid

Whether you are attending Berklee in Boston or doing your first year abroad in Valencia the process of applying for aid is the same. You and your family begin the process of applying for need-based financial aid by completing two forms: the CSS/Financial Aid Profile and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Both applications gather information about your family's financial situation and enable you to be considered for a range of federal, state, and institutional funding.

Learn More About Student Financial Services

Housing

Housing is mandatory for all First Year Abroad students.

Learn More About Housing

Submit Proof of High School Graduation

Submit proof of high school/secondary school completion
Please  submit your proof of high school graduation (either your official high/secondary school diploma or final transcript that includes a graduation date and an official signature and seal). Students who did not submit proof of secondary school completion as part of their application must submit a general report of their credential evaluation through a certified credential evaluation service. Transfer students should submit their most recent transcript to update their transfer credit records. Some documents may already have been submitted during the application process.

Timeline
It can take up to three weeks to order, submit, and process your documents. The office of admissions must receive them no later than August 1.

Buy a Laptop

Students participating in the First Year Abroad program will need to purchase their own Apple laptop prior to their arrival in Valencia. Please review Bring Your Own Laptop for information on Apple models that meet the acceptable criteria.

All students are required to purchase the Entering Student Software Package. The charge for this package will be automatically billed to your student account and must be paid in full along with all other student charges. Workshops to help students install and register these applications will be available during orientation.

Learning to record audio is an important part of becoming proficient with music technology. Berklee has state-of-the-art facilities equipped with the latest audio hardware and software where you will learn about and use music technology. For use outside of classes, Berklee strongly encourages students to own their own audio interface. Options to purchase an interface from Berklee on the Valencia campus may become available. More information will be forthcoming.

Learn More About Buying Your Laptop

Additional Steps

Don't forget to continue checking your application portal to review additional details.

Passports and Visas

Important Message About Visas

We highly recommend that you immediately begin researching the visa application process by getting in contact with your corresponding Spanish consulate as soon as possible. The process varies at each consulate, so it is important to know the exact requirements at your consulate.

Passport Requirement

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. Once approved, the visa gets stamped inside your passport.

*Citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland do not need a visa to study in Spain.

Applying for a Visa

The following information describes the general process for obtaining a student visa. You must check with your Spanish consulate to find out the exact requirements for your visa application. It is recommended that you start preparing your visa application at least four months before your program start date.

Step One: Find Your Consulate

You must apply for your visa at the Spanish consulate that corresponds to your legal residence.

Spanish Consulates in the U.S.:
Boston: for residents of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Chicago: for residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Houston: for residents of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Los Angeles: for residents of Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Southern California.
Miami: for residents of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
New York: for residents of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
San Francisco: for residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Pacific islands (Guam, American Samoa, Mariana Islands, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands), and Northern California.
Washington DC (Embassy): for residents of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and DC.

Spanish Consulates outside the U.S:
See here for a list of Spanish consulates and embassies.

Step Two: Schedule an Appointment at Your Consulate

Most consulates require you to make an appointment to submit your student visa application.* Be sure to select an appointment that allows you enough time to prepare all the required documents in advance. You should also allow enough time for the consulate to process your visa. (Many consulates take four to six weeks to process a visa, though some may take longer.)

Be sure to select a student visa appointment (not business or tourist visa).
It is important to check often for appointments since new ones may become available as other people cancel.
Most consulates will keep your passport for the entire time your visa is being processed. Some may allow you to hold on to it if you have upcoming travel plans. If you do hold on to it, keep in mind that you will need to bring it back to the consulate so they can stamp the visa inside your passport.

*Some consulates operate on a drop-in basis and do not offer appointments.

Step Three: Prepare Your Application Documents

The following is a list of documents generally required for a student visa application. You must check your consulate's website for the specific documents necessary for a student visa application. Some of your consulate's requirements may not be included on this list.

Some of your documents may need to be translated into Spanish and some may require legalization with an Apostille. See more information below.*

Passport: Make sure it is signed, in good condition, and valid for at least six months after your program ends. It must have at least one empty page for the visa to be stamped inside. Tip: Scan or take a picture of your passport before submitting it with your visa application so you will have a copy for your records.
Driver's License or ID: You'll need an ID to prove that you reside in the jurisdiction of your consulate.
Application For National Visa: This form is available on your consulate's website. You can use this sample application for national visa as a guide when filling out your form.
Color Photo(s): Check with your consulate about the photo requirements. These are often the same type of photos required to get your passport.
Proof of Financial Means: You'll need to provide evidence of sufficient funds for your entire stay in Spain. Many consulates ask for a notarized letter from a parent and/or bank statements. You must check with your consulate to see what the letter should include and what amount is required on the bank statements.
Acceptance Letter, Program of Study, and Proof of Health Insurance: These letter are in Spanish. The acceptance letter includes confirmation of your housing in Valencia. (Berklee will provide these documents in your acceptance packet.)
Medical Certificate: A letter from a doctor (M.D.) stating that you do not have an illness that poses a threat to public health in accordance with international health regulations. The letter should be on the doctor's letterhead and it must be written exactly as indicated by your consulate.
Background Check: This is a criminal record certificate. In the U.S. some consulates require a background check from the FBI, while others will accept background checks from the state police (not local police). Most consulates require a background check from each of the countries/states you have lived in for more than six months during the past five years.
Payment for the Visa: Check with your consulate to see what the fee is and what forms of payment are accepted.
Immigration Documents: If you are not a citizen of the country where your consulate is, you'll need to include your immigration documents. (For example, if your consulate is in the U.S. and you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need to include your student visa and I-20, green card, or other documents.)
Other Documents : It's crucial that you include any other documents required by your consulate, as listed on their website.
Copies : Most consulates also require copies of the visa application documents. Don't forget your copies!

*Translations: Check with your consulate to see which documents need to be translated into Spanish. Some consulates require translations to come from a certified/sworn translator authorized by the Spanish government.

*Legalizations (Apostilles): Check with your consulate to see which documents need to be legalized. Documents must be legalized in the place they were issued (signed and/or notarized). Most documents must be legalized with an Apostille of the Hague.

Legalizing documents issued in the U.S.

State-issued documents, for example a Massachusetts background check, must be legalized in the state where the documents were issued. 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. (Scroll to the bottom of the page to find links to each state, for state-issued documents.)

Legalizing documents issued outside the U.S.
If the 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 the 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 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).

When you get your passport back, you'll notice that your new visa is only valid for 90 days. Don't worry! That's normal. Once you get to Spain you will apply for a residency card, which will be valid for up to a year (see below).

Entering Spain (or any country in Schengen Territory)

Enter Spain

As you pass through immigration upon entering the Schengen Area, an immigrations officer will stamp your passport. Make sure your passport gets stamped.

Once in Spain

Get Your Student Residency Card

From the time you enter the Schengen Area, you have 30 days to apply for your student residency card, which will be your national identification card while in Spain.

It will take approximately two months to complete the process and get your student residency card, which is 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 before orientation.

Health and Travel Insurance

Students participating in First Year Abroad must have primary health insurance. The program provides supplemental Spanish health insurance as well as travel insurance for school-related trips. Students are responsible for obtaining appropriate insurance coverage for personal travel.

You must have primary health insurance.

Students must enroll in Berklee's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or waive it by demonstrating comparable coverage. Read more about the Berklee SHIP.

You will have Spanish health insurance.

Students will be covered by MAPFRE, a private health insurance provider in Spain, while they are enrolled in the program. This coverage is included in the program fee and cannot be waived. Students will receive their MAPFRE insurance card during orientation in Valencia. MAPFRE provides coverage throughout Spain. Visit Health, Wellness, and Support Services to learn more about MAPFRE health insurance as well as medical, counseling, and disability services in Valencia.

You will have travel insurance for your trip to and from Valencia, and for school-sponsored travel during the program.

Berklee’s travel insurance provider, UnitedHealthcare Global (UHCG), covers students during their travel to and from Valencia (at the beginning and end of the program) and 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.

If you will travel for personal reasons before, during, or after the program, you are responsible for obtaining appropriate health and travel insurance.

For personal travel inside Spain during the program, you will be covered by MAPFRE. You will not be covered by UHCG.

For personal travel outside of Spain during the program, you will not be covered by MAPFRE or UHCG. You should check with your primary health insurance provider to see if they provide coverage for international travel. Alternatively, you can purchase independent insurance including 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.

Student Move-in and Check-in: August 30 - 31, 2020
Orientation week: September 1 - 4, 2020

Before You Arrive

Before you arrive to Collegiate, 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

Collegiate Residents

Once moving in, other orientation sessions relating to general life in Valencia 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 week is full of informative and fun events and activities to help you learn about Berklee, get to know Valencia, and meet other new students. The orientation schedule will contain a full week of activities, including:

information sessions presented by various Berklee offices and departments,
social activities with other students, and
many more fun events to welcome you and your new classmates to Berklee.

You will receive a detailed schedule with descriptions and locations for all orientation sessions and events before orientation and you can find additional information below.

All activities and sessions are open to parents and families of First Year Abroad students, with specific sessions dedicated to addressing important information for parents as they plan the year ahead with their students. We encourage all parents and families to attend these sessions.

Accessibility and Accommodation

We are committed to welcoming and accommodating all entering students and their families at our check-in and orientation activities. Participants who need assistance or accommodations to fully experience the week's events are encouraged to contact the Student Affairs team well in advance as some accommodations take time to implement. In consultation with the Accessibility Resources team, 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

Registrar in Valencia: registrarvalencia@berklee.edu

Bursar’s Office in Valencia: bursarvalencia@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

Important Links

If you need a student visa to study in Spain, view important additional information about the process of obtaining your visa.
Download the Policy Handbook for Students.
Download the Valencia Student Handbook (to be uploaded soon).
Visit the First Year Abroad: Accepted Students page and the Next Steps page on your applicant portal to see the what you should complete prior to orientation.

Check-in/Orientation in Valencia FAQs

Click on a question below for answers to frequently asked questions about orientation at the Valencia campus.

What are the dates of orientation?

Please refer to the Academic Calendar or the orientation schedule for information regarding the fall, spring, or summer orientation week schedule in Valencia.

When I arrive on campus for orientation, what should I do first?

If you are living in the Collegiate Marina Real residence hall, your first step will be moving into it. Once you are moved in, you’ll need to follow the orientation schedule and any updates from the Berklee staff who will be there helping you settle in.

What do I need to bring to check-in?

Prior to your official check-in, you need to make sure you have completed, printed, and signed your student agreements to hand out to Berklee staff during orientation, and completed all required steps as stated on the First Year Abroad: Accepted Students page and the Next Steps section of your application portal.

I will be arriving late to orientation. Who should I notify?

Orientation is mandatory. We highly encourage you to plan to arrive on the first day of orientation for check-in, but we understand that sometimes this is not possible. Please contact studentaffairsvalencia@berklee.edu for information on the steps you will need to take if you check in late.

What is the orientation week schedule going to be like?

When you check in, you will receive a printed schedule of the week's events, and we encourage you to participate in as many planned events as possible. In addition to required academic and administrative tasks, the week is filled with opportunities to interact with faculty, learn about Berklee programs and services, and connect with fellow entering students in Valencia.

How can I review the policies for my liberal arts transfer credits before I check in?

Please refer to the Transfer Credit section of our website. For specific questions, you may contact the Office of the Registrar directly at registrar@berklee.edu.

Do I need to bring my own laptop?

Yes. Students are required to bring their own laptops. For more information about what type of laptop you need, visit our Technology Requirements for Entering Students Page.

When can I pick up my required software package?

You are required to purchase the Entering Student Software Package from the college, which will provide you with the tools you need to succeed in your Berklee coursework and in your career. Because this suite is offered as a package, you must purchase the full package even if you already own some of the software included in it; for this reason, please refrain from purchasing music software in anticipation of attending Berklee.

Software bundle registration codes and installation instructions will be sent to students’ Berklee email addresses during Orientation Week. Pro Tools iLoks will be distributed to students once they arrive to campus. For students who have problems installing the software bundle, there will be scheduled "office hours" with Technology Services in the first weeks of the semester for students to receive support.

Do I need to purchase books?

Students are not required to buy textbooks before they arrive on the Valencia campus. The Valencia library will have copies of all required and suggested books for classes. Depending on the class, however, some students will be required to buy Berklee workbooks. If that’s the case, these workbooks should be purchased (via credit card only) during the first weeks of classes at the library. Faculty will notify students if they have to buy these workbooks on the first day of class.

Are practice rooms open during orientation week?

Yes. Practice rooms will be open during orientation, and they will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Information on locations, hours of operation, and rules and procedures for using practice rooms will be given during orientation.

Where can I ship my belongings prior to classes beginning?

The Collegiate Marina Real residence hall can only hold a limited amount of belongings from future residents. Should any student want to ship any belongings prior to their arrival date, they will need to contact them directly for approval.

If I or my family require special assistance due to a medical, physical, or disability-related reason, will Berklee be able to provide the necessary assistance?

We are committed to welcoming and accommodating all entering students and their guests at our orientation week activities. As some accommodations take time to implement, participants who require special assistance in order to fully experience the week's events are encouraged to contact both the Accessibility Resources and the Student Affairs Office in Valencia well in advance, and we will do our best to provide you with the appropriate assistance.

Where do I stay during orientation?

The Collegiate Marina Real. If you will be living off-campus and will not be ready to move into your apartment or house, please refer to our temporary housing options for locations where you can stay in the area of the Valencia campus.

What orientation week events are planned for parents, guardians, and guests?

Upon arrival to orientation, parents and families will be provided with a list of sessions that are intended to cater to their needs, concerns, and interests.

Where can parents, guardians, and guests stay during orientation?

We recommend that families choosing to stay overnight in Valencia make arrangements for accommodations well in advance of the first day of orientation week. There are a number of options for accommodations in the area of the Valencia campus.

Can siblings attend orientation events?

We recommend that any siblings accompanying parents, guardians, and guests only attend family events. We leave this decision to the families since our programming is geared toward guests with a guardian relationship to the entering student, and siblings may feel out of place, but they are certainly more than welcome to attend.

Campus Websites

Campus Tools

First Year Abroad: Accepted Students

Accepted Students

Acceptance Expiration