Berklee holds a number of different summer programs, from short one- or two-day sessions, to longer programs like the Summer Performance Program and Full Credit Summer Program. These are a great introduction to the Berklee campus, including the residence halls. Many people use these programs as a stepping stone to entering Berklee full-time. If you would like more information about the programs themselves, please see the Admissions Office pages on Summer Programs and Professional Development Programs.

Applying for residence hall housing is a separate process from applying for admission to Berklee's summer programs. Because of the high demand for space, on-campus housing fills quickly for some of the programs and not all students are able to secure residence hall space.

Because students of many ages attend Berklee's summer programs, it is important to note that the Residence Hall is very different from a summer camp setting where all of your time is planned and monitored. These programs are suited to mature young people who are serious about their music, willing to work hard, and capable of living in a city setting where they have a great deal of independence.

The minimum age for living on campus during Berklee's summer programs is 15. Students under 18 need to have parental permission in order to live in the Residence Halls.

The Full Credit Summer Program
The Full Credit Summer Program is a 12-week session, similar to a regular semester at Berklee. It is a great way to experience what attending Berklee is like, but in the less hectic atmosphere of the summer, when fewer full-time students are at the college.

People in this program who live in the Residence Halls stay along with our full-time summer residents. For more information, please see the area regarding the housing application process for regular semesters.

The Summer Performance Program
The Summer Performance Program is a five-week session geared predominantly towards high school-aged students, though musicians of all ages attend. It provides the chance to explore music as a career, with an emphasis on performance. Participants have the opportunity to meet well-known faculty, and to showcase their talents in a number of performances, including a final concert in the Berklee Performance Center.

Applying for Summer Performance Program Housing
Complete housing information packets and applications are mailed to all students who are accepted to the program until the residence halls are full. You will need to be accepted before you will be able to sign up for residence hall space. We normally mail housing applications for the Summer Performance Program in early March and the available spaces fill rapidly.

If you are accepted to the program before we have begun to mail housing materials, you will receive your housing application during the month noted above. Otherwise, you should expect to receive your application within two weeks after your admission to the program. If you do not receive a housing application within that time period, contact the Housing Office.

To apply for a space in Berklee's residence halls, fill out and return the housing application/contract sent to you. Your application must be accompanied by a non-refundable $150 housing fee prepayment. The nonrefundable and nontransferable prepayment provides a guarantee that you will occupy the space we reserve for you. The remainder of the housing charge will be due no later than at registration at the beginning of the program. Once space has been reserved for you, we will send a confirmation of your reservation.

Boston Summer Programs
Berklee holds a wide variety of shorter Summer programs. In past years, they included such programs as the Summer Saxophone Weekend, the Summer Brass Weekend, the World Percussion Festival, the Bass Lines program, the Music Production Workshop, the Summer String Fling, the Boston Guitar Sessions, and the Summer Songwriting Workshop. Please see the Summer Programs pages for information about which programs will be offered this year.

Many students participating in Berklee's shorter summer programs stay on campus to be close to classes and activities. During these programs, people stay in the same residence hall rooms we use for our full-time students in the fall and spring semesters. The actual building students will stay in varies depending on the size of the program and the age of the participants. More specific information will be sent in the housing application you receive.

Housing applications are mailed to all students accepted to each program until we have sent out as many applications as we can, based on the number of residence hall spaces available for that program. To apply for a space in Berklee's residence halls, fill out and return the housing application you receive. It is not necessary to send payment either in advance or with the application itself, but the application is required to have space held for you. The housing charge is due no later than at registration at the beginning of the program.

The exact move-in and move-out times will vary depending on the program. Specific information will be included with your housing application. Because of the high number of summer programs, it is not possible to arrive earlier than, or to stay after the set dates. If you need to stay in Boston for times other than those available to your program, please refer to our list of temporary places to stay in the Berklee area for alternative housing situations.

Berklee in Los Angeles

Berklee also holds a week long summer program in the Los Angeles area. Housing for that program is handled by Berklee's Special Programs Office and housing information is included with the program application information.

A Final Note
Due to the high volume of programs and residents during the summer, Berklee is not able to offer housing for anyone other than those attending our summer programs. Please refer to our list of temporary places to stay in the Berklee area for alternative housing situations.