Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program FAQ

If a prospective student is accepted to one school only, they are ineligible for the Joint Studies program. If a student is accepted to Harvard, but not Berklee, they may attend Harvard as an undergraduate and pursue the undergraduate program of their choice. Students are encouraged to consider programs of study in the Harvard Department of Music. Undergraduates at Harvard have access to all Department of Music courses and programs, including a concentration or secondary in music, and including all performing ensembles and creative outlets. If a student is accepted to Berklee, but not Harvard, they may enroll as a full-time Berklee undergraduate, pursuing one of Berklee’s Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Arts programs.

Only a small cohort of students are accepted into the Joint Studies program every year. It is possible for a prospective student to be accepted at both Harvard and Berklee, but not be admitted to the Joint Studies program. If this occurs, the student can choose to attend as an undergraduate at either Harvard or Berklee. Once a student has committed to attending one institution, programs of study will not be available at the other.

Only a small cohort of students are accepted into the Joint Studies program every year. Students who have applied to the Joint Studies program but have only been accepted to one school may not re-apply for additional consideration.

Only a small cohort of students are accepted into the Joint Studies program every year. Students who have been accepted at both schools but not admitted to the Joint Studies program may not re-apply for additional consideration.

Only a small cohort of students are accepted into the Joint Studies program every year. For that reason, this program is not available to students who are currently enrolled at either institution.

Only a small cohort of students are accepted into the Joint Studies program every year. For that reason, this program is not available to students wishing to transfer into either Harvard or Berklee.

Prospective students are required to complete an audition at Berklee only. The Berklee Admissions Office will contact applicants as part of the admissions process to schedule an audition and interview. Please see Berklee Audition and Interview Guidelines for more information. For early action the audition must be completed by mid-January, and for regular action it must be completed by mid-March. Remote and in-person options are available. Harvard does not require an audition as part of the undergraduate admissions process, including for students interested in pursuing music at Harvard. Harvard's Department of Music offers courses and programs of study to all Harvard undergraduates, including for those interested in pursuing a concentration or secondary in music. Please refer to Harvard Admissions for all admissions-related questions and processes. The Harvard Department of Music does not participate in the admissions process and does not influence final admissions decisions.

Applicants must be successfully accepted at each institution independently before they can be considered for the Joint Studies program. Once accepted at both schools, Berklee is responsible for making the final decision on admittance to the Joint Studies program. Each school will share its admissions decision separately with applicants. 

Due to the separate admissions timelines for each school, including the audition timeline for Berklee, it is not unusual for a student to receive their admissions results at different times. Students should reach out to the appropriate admissions department for updates.

Applicants must be successfully accepted at each institution independently before they can be considered for the Joint Studies program. Once accepted at both schools, Berklee is responsible for making the final decision on admittance to the Joint Studies program. Each school will share its admissions decision separately with applicants. 

Due to the separate admissions process for each school, including the audition timeline for Berklee, it is possible for a student to be accepted at one school and wait-listed/deferred at the other. Students should reach out to the appropriate admissions department for updates.

After a student has been accepted at both schools, Berklee is responsible for making the final decision on admittance to the Joint Studies program. Berklee admissions will announce decisions in April, after all pending auditions have been completed. If you have a question about your Berklee admissions status, please contact Berklee Admissions.

As a student in the joint studies program, you will have a Berklee ID and the same access to Berklee facilities as a typical Berklee student, including access to Berklee practice rooms and the opportunity to audition for Berklee performances.


Because courses of study at both Harvard and Berklee are highly customizable, there is no single answer to this question. Students in the Joint Studies program must manage their schedules carefully, with guidance from advisors at both institutions. Depending on the specific programs of study chosen by the student at each school, course schedules and class times may conflict. Successful navigation will be achieved through flexibility and schedule coordination with program advisors at both schools. 

At Harvard, students’ daily schedules will be heavily influenced by the concentration(s) they choose. Some programs of study, including double- or joint-concentrations, will demand extra focus from undergraduates, requiring careful coordination of schedules. Additionally, many students in the Joint Studies program elect to participate in courses and performing ensembles with the Harvard Department of Music. Students should consider all program requirements when establishing their schedules at both schools. 

At Berklee, students’ schedules will be highly dependent on what courses they elect to take at both institutions, and how many credits they may choose to transfer. Over eight semesters at Berklee, students may take as many as 40 credits or as few as 8. There are no specific requirements to complete at Berklee, so a student’s schedule will be determined by their own selections.

Students participating in the Joint Studies program are advised to be mindful of their schedules and are cautioned not to overextend themselves. Please note that travel time and commuting logistics between campuses impacts student schedules. Students should consult with advisors to ensure that they are creating an effective balance of coursework and extracurricular interests between schools.

The Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program is specific to coursework at Berklee College of Music. Programs of study at Boston Conservatory at Berklee are not included in the Joint Studies program. Students are able to take advantage of some Boston Conservatory courses that are eligible to Berklee College students for cross-registration (most elective courses, but not core Conservatory courses).

Students admitted to the Joint Studies program are not required to concentrate in music at Harvard and may pursue the undergraduate concentration of their choice(Opens in a new window). Joint Studies students participate in various undergraduate concentrations at Harvard, including double- and joint-concentrations, creating a customized program of study that best supports their interests. For students wishing to pursue music at Harvard in addition to Joint Studies at Berklee, the Harvard University Department of Music(Opens in a new window) offers a variety of complementary programming and can readily support students interested in pursuing music as a concentration or secondary.

Transportation between campuses is not provided as part of the Joint Studies program. While the Harvard and Berklee campuses are relatively close to each other, students should allow for transit time between Cambridge and Boston when planning courses and schedules. The Harvard and Berklee campuses are approximately 2.5 miles apart, on opposite sides of the Charles River. Travel time between campuses is approximately 50 minutes walking, 20 minutes by car or bicycle, or 30 minutes by bus. The most convenient transportation options are the free Harvard M2 shuttle and the MBTA Bus #1. Students should review the MBTA transit schedule for additional travel information. 

While Joint Studies students are not eligible for reduced MBTA fares, Harvard student ID cards can be used to access MBTA services(Opens in a new window).