Transfer Credit

Berklee College of Music values the college-level course work taken by our students at institutions of higher education throughout the world. Students are invited to submit official transcripts from regionally accredited institutions for transfer credit evaluation.

Special note for students entering Berklee in fall 2009 or after: All students are required to complete at least six credits of liberal arts courses at Berklee in order to graduate. Once matriculated, students are generally expected to complete all remaining course work at Berklee. However, students may still transfer a maximum of nine additional liberal arts credits from a regionally accredited institution. Candidates for the bachelor of music degree may transfer up to 24 credits of required liberal arts courses. Professional diploma students may transfer up to 12 credits in liberal arts courses toward general elective requirements.

Transfer credit may be granted in the area of liberal arts course work. Berklee does not award transfer credit for music courses other than some music history and music business courses. A wide range of courses may be transferred in the general elective or liberal arts elective categories.

For a course to transfer as a required Berklee course, the course must have a course description comparable to that offered at Berklee.

All courses accepted for transfer must be successfully completed with a minimum grade of "C" (73 percent or 2.0).

Berklee operates under a semester hour system. A conversion must be made when transferring credit from a university using a different system:

Quarter Hour Systems

  • 3 quarter-hour credits equal 2 semester hour credits
  • 4.5 quarter-hour credits equal 3 semester hour credits

Lecture Hour Systems

  • 30 lecture hours equal 2 semester hour credits
  • 45 lecture hours equal 3 semester hour credits

Students seeking admission to Berklee should submit all of their official transcripts to the Office of Admissions before matriculating. Berklee will accept applicable transfer credit for work done before matriculation up through a student's entering term to the college. After matriculating, past work is no longer valid for transfer.

Students already attending Berklee who have taken courses post-matriculation at a regionally based university should have their official transcripts mailed directly to the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar evaluates all transfer credit for the college. Following a transfer credit evaluation, students receive a Transfer Equivalency Report indicating which courses transferred and how those courses will apply toward graduation.

Transfer Credit Notes:

  • General electives are normally elective music courses such as ensembles or instrumental labs; however liberal arts course work may be used to satisfy a portion of the general elective credit.
  • A transcript is considered official only if it is sent directly from a college/university to Berklee, or is given to a student in a sealed and stamped envelope and delivered unopened to Berklee.
  • If you feel you have expertise in a music course, you may speak with the course chair about the possibility of credit by exam.

Please see the Transfer Credit Guide for transfer credit policy details.