Berklee Summer Programs: A Complete Guide

Berklee College of Music offers summer music programs that bring together students from beginner to advanced levels across disciplines that include music performance, songwriting, music production, music business, dance, and theater. Programs take place across campuses in Boston, Los Angeles, and Valencia, Spain, with online options also available.

For students serious about music, joining Berklee Summer Programs can signal commitment and talent. This guide covers all programs, when to apply, what is required, and how the enrollment process works.

• What Are Berklee Summer Programs?
• Berklee Summer Programs Application Deadline
• Berklee Summer Programs Application Requirements
• How to Get into Berklee Summer Programs
• How AdmissionSight Helps You Prepare for Competitive Summer Programs
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are Berklee Summer Programs?

Berklee Summer Programs are intensive, music-focused programs that span multiple disciplines, locations, and experience levels. Programs serve students as young as ages 9 to 11, all the way through college-age participants. In terms of length, options range from weekend workshops to a full five-week immersive experience.

Some programs are college credit-eligible. The flagship offering, Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive, draws students from more than 70 countries each summer and replicates a true Berklee undergraduate experience. Other programs focus on specific instruments, production disciplines, dance, or serve students with disabilities.

The table below covers 10 major programs from the current catalog.

For the full list of available programs, explore all options in Berklee’s official catalogue.

Berklee Summer Programs Application Deadlines

Registration for Berklee Summer Programs opens annually in autumn and remains open until a program reaches capacity or the payment deadline passes, whichever comes first. Programs routinely fill before official deadlines, so waiting carries real risk.

Payment deadlines by program month

Berklee uses three payment deadline tiers based on when each program takes place:

• June programs: Payment deadline is May 1
• July programs: Payment deadline is June 1
• August programs: Payment deadline is July 1

These are firm cutoffs. Submitting a registration form alone does not hold a spot, and a seat is only reserved once tuition is paid in full. Always check each program’s individual page for exact check-in and check-out dates.

Scholarship deadlines

Merit-based scholarships are available specifically for the Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive. Scholarship deadlines are separate from and earlier than the standard payment deadline. Students who receive a scholarship after paying tuition in full will be reimbursed.

For current scholarship deadline dates, visit the Berklee Summer Programs Scholarships page.

Visa and international student timelines

International students attending the Aspire: Five-Week program on the credit track are required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to obtain an F-1 student visa. I-20 and F-1 visa information is shared with registered students beginning in late January or February. Given visa appointment wait times at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, international students should begin the process as early as possible after registering.

Non-credit international students can typically attend on a B-2 tourist visa or through ESTA.

Berklee Summer Programs Application Requirements

Berklee Summer Programs use a streamlined enrollment process compared to traditional college applications. For most programs, enrollment is primarily a registration process rather than a competitive admissions review.

That said, some programs involve additional steps, and requirements vary across the catalog. Students should review each program’s individual page before registering.

Eligibility

Age requirements vary by program. Here are the general age requirements:

• Most on-campus Boston programs require students to be at least 15 years old by the program start date.
• Day Sessions: Music accepts students ages 12 to 14.
• BV Camp–Youth in Valencia accepts students ages 11 to 14.
• Day Sessions: ABLE accepts students ages 9 to 17, with case-by-case consideration for students older than 17.
• The Commercial Dance Intensive accepts students ages 15 to 25, making it the only program with an upper age cap.

For on-campus housing, these are the requirements:

• Students must be at least 15 years old by the program start date to qualify for on-campus housing at Boston-based programs.
• Students under 18 require a parent or guardian to complete the Residence Hall Agreement, and both the student and parent or guardian must agree to all terms and conditions.
• BV Camp–Youth is a non-residential program; students live off campus in independently arranged housing and Berklee provides supervision only during scheduled program hours.

Here are some additional eligibility notes:

• All programs require students to have a proficient level of English; formal proof such as TOEFL or IELTS scores is not required.
• Most programs require at least six months of playing or singing experience; Day Sessions: ABLE requires a minimum of one year of private lessons on the student’s instrument.
• International students on the Aspire credit track must obtain an F-1 student visa; non-credit international students can attend on a B-2 tourist visa or through ESTA.

Required documents

Most programs require only a completed registration form and full tuition payment to reserve a spot. Exceptions include:

• The Musical Theater Acting Intensive and Vocal/Choral Intensive require additional application materials that are reviewed before an admissions decision is made. Students must accept their offer and pay in full to secure enrollment.
• Performance-based programs generally require placement audition materials submitted through the registration portal after registration.
• Skill-based programs may allow students to self-select their experience level.
• Day Sessions: ABLE requires a separate application form reviewed by program staff before enrollment.

The registration portal handles most document submission.

Program costs

Tuition ranges from $777 for a three-day workshop to $5,430 for the five-week Aspire program. For Boston-based programs, on-campus housing is available for students 15 and older, with all-you-can-eat meals included in the housing fee.

The Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive is the only program that allows tuition to be paid in installments. All other programs require full tuition payment at the time of registration.

Credit and debit card payments carry a 2.5% service charge. Payments by e-check (EFT) carry no surcharge.

Partial housing payments do not guarantee a spot. A room is only secured once housing is paid in full.

How to Get into Berklee Summer Programs

For most programs, the process is a registration rather than a competitive admissions process. The steps below apply to a student who has identified a program and is ready to enroll.

Step 1: Choose your program.

Browse the full program catalog and filter by discipline, location, length, and age range. Confirm that the program is still open before starting your registration. Popular programs fill well before payment deadlines, so checking availability early matters.

Step 2: Submit your registration form.

Register through Berklee’s online registration portal. For most programs, this is a standard registration form. For the Musical Theater Acting Intensive and Vocal/Choral Intensive, additional application materials must be submitted at this stage before an admissions decision is made.

Step 3: Pay your tuition.

For nearly all programs, full tuition payment is required at the time of registration to hold a spot. The Aspire: Five-Week program is the one exception. Aspire students pay only the $50 registration fee at registration and can complete tuition in installments.

Acceptable payment methods include credit and debit cards (with a 2.5% surcharge) and e-check (no surcharge).

Step 4: Request housing (if needed).

Students who need on-campus housing in Boston must complete a separate Residence Hall Agreement through the registration portal. Housing capacity is limited and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

A housing spot is only guaranteed once the housing fee is paid in full, and students enrolled in multiple programs must submit a separate housing agreement for each program.

Step 5: Complete next steps and requirements.

After registration, log back into the registration portal to complete any additional checklist items. These may include health and immunization forms through the Magnus Health portal, placement audition video submissions, photo submission for a campus ID, or visa-related steps for international students on the credit track.

All next-step deadlines for Boston-based programs are typically set for June 1. Students can access Berklee’s Help Center for guidance on specific tasks.

How AdmissionSight Helps You Prepare for Competitive Summer Programs

Getting into a prestigious summer program like those offered by Berklee requires a clear sense of how a student’s goals, strengths, and application materials align with what selective programs value.

AdmissionSight works with students to develop and position their summer program applications strategically, from identifying the right programs to strengthening the materials that make a case for admission. Reach out to us to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What age do you have to be to attend Berklee Summer Programs?

Age requirements vary by program. Most on-campus Boston programs require students to be at least 15 years old, while some programs serve younger students (for example, Day Sessions: ABLE starts at age 9). Always confirm eligibility on each program’s individual page before registering.

2. How much do Berklee Summer Programs cost?

Tuition ranges from $777 for a three-day workshop like Bass Workshop to $5,430 for the five-week Aspire: Music Performance Intensive. Housing costs are separate and range from $537 for a three-day stay to $4,200 for five weeks. A nonrefundable $50 registration fee applies to all programs.

3. Are Berklee Summer Programs college credit-eligible?

Yes. The Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive offers a college credit track. Students who complete the credit track and receive a grade of B or higher in their core classes earn three college credits upon completion.

4. Do Berklee Summer Programs require an audition?

Most programs do not require a traditional audition for admission. However, many programs use placement auditions or video submissions after registration to place students in the appropriate class and ensemble level. The Musical Theater Acting Intensive and Vocal/Choral Intensive require application materials for review before an admissions decision is made. The Drums and Percussion Workshop requires a live placement audition upon arrival.

5. Can international students attend Berklee Summer Programs?

Yes. International students are welcome across all Berklee Summer Programs. Students attending the Aspire: Five-Week program on the credit track must obtain an F-1 student visa. Meanwhile, non-credit international students can typically attend on a B-2 tourist visa or through ESTA. I-20 and F-1 visa information is shared with registered credit-track students starting in late January or February.

Takeaways

• Berklee Summer Programs serve a wide range of students, from ages 9 through college age, across disciplines that include music performance, production, dance, and theater, at campuses in Boston, Los Angeles, Valencia, and online.
• Programs fill before their official deadlines. Payment deadlines run May 1 for June programs, June 1 for July programs, and July 1 for August programs, and a spot is only secured once tuition is paid in full.
• Most programs use a straightforward registration process, but some, including the Musical Theater Acting Intensive and Vocal/Choral Intensive, require application materials and an admissions review before enrollment is confirmed.
• The Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive is the only program that allows installment payments and the only one that offers college credit, merit-based scholarships, and an on-site undergraduate scholarship audition during the final week.
• Preparing for a competitive summer program takes more than finding the right application portal. Our Private Consulting Program helps students identify the programs that fit their goals, build stronger application materials, and position themselves for admission.