Berklee College of Music International Merit Scholarships
Automatic merit-based scholarship consideration for international students applying to Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, including the flagship Presidential Scholarship awarded through audition.
Quick Facts
Status
Applications OpenFunding
Partial FundingDeadline
Early admission/scholarship deadline typically December; regular deadline typically January-February
Country
United StatesAbout the Berklee College of Music International Merit Scholarships
Berklee College of Music in Boston is the world's largest independent music college and a leading destination for contemporary music, production, film scoring, and jazz. All entering international undergraduate and graduate students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships as part of the standard admissions and audition/interview process - there is no separate scholarship application required at the point of entry.
The most prominent award is the Presidential Scholarship, a partially funded merit scholarship whose coverage can include a tuition fee reduction, on-campus housing, and a meal plan for especially strong auditioning applicants, awarded competitively based on the strength of the audition or portfolio/interview (for non-performance majors). Because entering international students are generally not eligible for need-based institutional aid, merit is the primary lever international applicants have to reduce cost.
After their first year, continuing international undergraduates at the College and Conservatory can apply for the Thrive Scholarship, a need-aware continuing-student award, by submitting the CSS Profile using Berklee's school code - meaning that while entering students cannot access need-based aid, some need-based support becomes available after a student has enrolled and built an academic and artistic record at Berklee.
Because Berklee does not require the FAFSA for international students (that form is reserved for US federal aid), international applicants should focus their effort on making the audition or portfolio as strong as possible and on tracking Berklee's specific supplemental scholarship deadlines, which can differ from the general admissions deadline.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
The largest independent contemporary music college in the world, with an extensive alumni network across the global music industry
Strong industry-facing curriculum in production, film scoring, and music business alongside traditional performance
Scholarship consideration is automatic and tied directly to the audition, reducing extra application burden
Multiple campuses (Boston, Valencia in Spain, Berklee NYC) broaden study and networking options
Path to additional need-aware funding (Thrive Scholarship) after the first year for students who need continued support
What the Scholarship Covers
Studying in United States
The United States hosts several of the world's leading contemporary music schools, and Berklee in particular is closely tied to the professional recording, touring, and film-scoring industries centred in Boston, Los Angeles, and New York.
Eligibility Requirements
5 requirements
Documents Checklist
5 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Step 1: Submit the Berklee application by the relevant admissions/scholarship deadline
Step 2: Complete the required audition (live or recorded) or, for non-performance majors, the interview/portfolio review
Step 3: Admissions and the Scholarship Committee automatically evaluate every applicant for merit-based awards
Step 4: Receive the admission decision along with any scholarship offer in the same notification package
Step 5: After enrolling, continuing students can apply for the Thrive Scholarship via the CSS Profile in subsequent years
Application Timeline
August
Applications open
December
Early/priority deadline
January-February
Regular deadline
March-April
Admission and scholarship decisions
After 2nd semester of enrollment
Thrive Scholarship (continuing students)
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Submit audition materials well before the priority scholarship deadline - Presidential Scholarship funding is limited and awarded competitively
For non-performance majors, invest real effort in the interview and portfolio, since it substitutes for the audition in scholarship evaluation
Contact One Stop Student Services (onestop@berklee.edu) early with specific questions about international cost and aid
Since entering students are not eligible for need-based aid, budget for the gap and look for outside scholarships from your home country
Once enrolled, keep strong grades and prepare a solid CSS Profile submission to be competitive for the Thrive Scholarship in year two
Compare the Boston and Valencia campuses, as cost of living and available scholarship pools can differ
Important Links & Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions - click any to expand
No - all entering international students are automatically considered for merit scholarships through the standard audition/interview admissions process.
Entering international students are generally not eligible for need-based institutional aid, but continuing students can apply for the need-aware Thrive Scholarship after their second semester.
No, the FAFSA is a US federal aid form and is not required for international students; Berklee instead uses the CSS Profile for the Thrive Scholarship.
It is a partial merit award that can include a tuition fee reduction along with on-campus housing and a meal plan, depending on the offer.
Ready to Apply?
Head to the official portal and start your application today.
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