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.
Your acceptance is dependent on 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 decide to defer your acceptance, your only option is to enroll on the Boston campus, which you may do so in the following spring or fall.
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.
Tuition deposits for Berklee are due upon acceptance notification. This initial deposit is credited towards your first semester charges, confirms your intention to attend the college, and secures your seat in the entering class.
Please note that your $1,000 deposit is to be paid in full by May 1.
Read more about paying the tuition deposit.
Login to your account at apply.berklee.edu to see a full list of steps to complete prior to the fall. The following is a general list of what to expect. Refer back to the Acceptance Packet for helpful tips.
All participants must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the program end date. If you do not currently have a passport, apply for one now, as it could take six weeks or longer to get one. You will need your passport at least three months before the program start date in order to apply for a student visa.
Timeline
Depending on what country you are from, it can take up to eight weeks to receive a new passport. You should have this completed by May 1 to allow enough time for the student visa application process.
First Year Abroad students need a long-stay student visa, which allows students to study for up to one year in Spain. The visa application process requires the student to present documentation at your corresponding Spanish consulate, and can take up to three months to process.
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 up to 12 weeks to process your student visa. You should have your visa completed by August 1.
Completed immunization records are required in order to finalize your application process. We recommend that you get the required immunizations and send us your form as soon as possible. Make sure that you have all of the required shots; it takes only one missing or expired shot to cause delays during check-in. If you submitted your form but are still receiving communications from us indicating otherwise, you may have omitted something, and you should contact us immediately at 800-BERKLEE (237-5533), 617-747-2222, or admissions@berklee.edu to follow up.
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.
A physician must complete this form, with signature and stamp.
Download and Print the Immunization Form
If you have questions regarding immunizations or the immunization requirements, contact your Enrollment Officer in the Office of Admissions.
Details regarding these events will be sent separately and an RSVP will be required. Those who are unable to attend in person will be able to view the events via streaming video.
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. The orientation dates will be published soon so you can prepare for your arrival.
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.
Housing is mandatory for every First Year Abroad student, and you will have the choice of a single room with private bath, a double room with private bath (shared by the two roommates), or a triple room with private bath (shared by the three roommates).
In addition, students in First Year Abroad will have access to a private shuttle bus on school days (Monday through Friday) that will leave the residence in the morning and return in the evening.
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.
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
The long-stay student visa allows students to study for up to one year in Spain. The visa application process requires the student to present documentation at the Spanish consulate nearest your residence, and can take up to three months to process.
Students who fail to obtain the proper visas and authorizations for their studies at the Valencia campus cannot participate in their desired program and will forfeit any deposits that they have paid. Therefore, it is extremely important that you read the following information.
All students enrolled in the First Year Abroad program participants on the Valencia campus need this visa unless you are a citizen of the European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, or Switzerland.
Download the following visa checklist for the steps to follow to get your student visa to study in Spain with Berklee during your first year.
The following information describes the general process in order to obtain a long-stay student visa. However, you should check with your Spanish consulate before beginning the process, as the process varies from consulate to consulate.
PLEASE NOTE:
The following documents are generally required to obtain a student visa, but you should check with your consulate for specific requirements:
Again, this is a general list of required documents. You should check with your consulate for specific requirements.
PLEASE NOTE:
The busiest time for consulates is the summer, when they process a high volume of visas for students coming to Spain in the fall, so this process could take up to six weeks or more.
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.
All First Year Abroad students enrolled at the Valencia campus will be covered by MAPFRE health insurance. This coverage is included in the First Year Abroad Program fee and such fee cannot be waived. Please visit Student Health and Support Services to learn more about the MAPFRE health insurance coverage, our Counseling and Disability services and Berklee's Medical Assistance Service.
Welcome to the Valencia campus! Please refer to the information below for details about your fall 2018 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: Saturday September 1-2, 2018 - Orientation week: Monday September 3 - Friday September 7, 2018
(Required for First Year Abroad and Study Abroad)
Before you arrive to Galileo, 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:
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.
Move-in
Move-in takes place on Saturday, September, and other orientation sessions relating to general life in Valencia take place over this first weekend. If you have questions about housing policies or the move-in process, visit First Year Abroad Housing or contact the Student Affairs Office.
Check-in
Check-in takes place on Sunday, September 2 (location and time TBD).
First Year Abroad students living off campus should proceed directly to the check-in location on Sunday, September 2 (location and time TBD).
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 fall 2018 orientation schedule will contain a full week of activities, including:
You will receive a detailed schedule with descriptions and locations for all orientation events before orientation.
All weekend activities and sessions are open to parents and families of First Year Abroad students. Furthermore, morning sessions on Monday and Tuesday will address important information for parents as they plan the year ahead with their students. We encourage all parents and families to attend those morning sessions.
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 Disability Services team, we will provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations.
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
Disability Services Office: disabilityservices@berklee.edu
Admissions in Valencia: admissionsvalencia@berklee.edu
Congratulations, incoming students! #BerkleeBound
Click on a question below for answers to frequently asked questions about orientation at the Valencia campus.
Valencia fall 2018 orientation: September 3-7
Valencia spring 2019 orientation: January 15–18
Recommended Specifications:
Apple Macintosh MacBook Pro computer with 15.4" retina display, 2.5GHz i7 Quad, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD hard disk, Intel Iris Pro Graphics, AirPort card built-in, El Capitan OS (OS 10.11).
Minimum Specifications:
Apple Macintosh MacBook Pro computer with 13.3” retina display, 2.9GHz i5 Duo, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD hard disk, Intel Iris Graphics 6100, AirPort card built-in, El Capitan (OS 10.11).
(Please note that if you have a newer model laptop you may need adapters to connect peripheral devices.)
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.
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía - Anexo Sur
Avenida Profesor Lopez Piñero, 1
46013 Valencia (Spain)
+34 963 332 802
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