Visiting Students

Undergraduate degree candidates at other colleges who have completed at least one year of college by the date of enrollment may apply for admission as visiting students for one or two semesters. If this does not describe you, you may be eligible for first-year admission or transfer admission.

Visiting students love spending time at Barnard for much the same reasons as their degree-seeking peers. They join a small community within a large university and city and are able to choose from more than 3,000 classes. In addition, they reap all the benefits of being in a dynamic urban setting, including internships, co-curricular activities, or simply taking a bite of the Big Apple.

Application Deadlines: Fall and Spring Admission

Barnard allows visiting students to apply for entry either in our Fall or Spring Terms. The required application materials are the same regardless of the entry term for which students apply.

Fall Term Admission

Students applying for Fall Term admission will begin their time as a Barnard student in September.
Application Deadline: March 1
Mid-Term Report Deadline: April 1
Rolling Notification: After May 1

Spring Term Admission

Students applying for Spring Term admission will begin their time as a Barnard student in January.
Application Deadline: November 1
Mid-Term Report Deadline: November 15
Rolling Notification: After December 1

Application Materials

Required Application Materials

• Common Application: The Common App will include personal information such as the school you attend, your extracurricular activities, and your college classes. It will also include the personal statement that will be sent to each school you apply to on each platform.


• Barnard Short Answer Questions: This will be submitted along with your Common App. Short answer questions may change from year to year and will become available each year in the summer. The questions 2024-2025 are:
  • Required: Barnard College is an extraordinary community of women committed to fostering curiosity and the exploration of new experiences and ideas. By utilizing the resources of our campus, our Foundations curriculum, and New York City, our students expand their world and discover their own capabilities. How do you envision these intersecting components of Barnard shaping your academic and personal journey? (200 words max
  • Required: If you could plan and lead a semester-long college seminar, what academic topic would you choose and why? (200 words max)
  • Required: In college, you will encounter others with diverse viewpoints and experiences. Describe an instance where you engaged with someone who held a different opinion and explain how it shaped your perspective on the issue. (150 words max)
• $75 non-refundable application fee or fee waiver request: Application fees are submitted through the Common App.


• Official college transcripts: Please use the Common App to request that your college send us your official transcript. If you have attended multiple colleges, official transcripts must be sent from each college.


• College Report: This is a form that you can request through the Common App. It must be completed by the Registrar or Dean's Office at the college in which you are currently enrolled. The person who completes this form must have access to your overall academic record.


• Official SAT or ACT scores: For information about how test scores are evaluated, score choice, and more, please view Barnard's standardized testing policies. Please note that students applying for Spring or Fall 2021 do not need to submit the SAT or ACT in accordance with our temporary test-optional policy. For more information, please see our Temporary Test-Optional FAQ page. For applicants applying for Spring 2022 and beyond, we will still require official SAT or ACT scores regardless of the number of college credits earned or years since high school. In addition to sending official test scores, we recommend that you indicate your unofficial test scores by uploading a screenshot of your score report(s) to your preferred application platform. This will ensure a timely processing of your application.


• One academic letter of recommendation: We require one letter of recommendation from a professor who has taught you in an academic class within the last year.


• Mid-Term Report: Please use this form to submit grades from each instructor for all college courses in progress at the time of application. For students applying for Spring Term entry, Mid-Term Reports are due on November 15. For students applying for Fall Term entry, Mid-Term Reports are due on April 1. If your school is on a quarter or trimester system, please submit the grades you received for the most recent term. If you are not currently attending college, you do not need to submit this form.


• Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test Scores: In addition to SAT/ACT requirements, TOEFL/IELTS/DET scores are required for students whose primary language is not English or who do not study in a school where English is the primary language of instruction. Please visit our International Applicants webpage to learn more about our English Language Proficiency requirements and to see if you are eligible for a waiver.

Visiting International Students Program

Barnard created the Visiting International Students Program (VISP) for the Spring semester as part of the College’s broad initiative to internationalize its campus. Through a limited number of collaborative relationships with international universities, our partners send cohorts of 3-15 undergraduate students to Barnard to spend the Spring semester as full-time visiting students in residence.