ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON – Bard College is launching a scholarship program to support 60 Ukrainian students who are displaced, under threat, or unable to continue their education due to Russia’s invasion of its neighbor.
The program is aimed at individuals impacted by the war and is designed to allow students to begin or continue their undergraduate education.
Students will be admitted to Bard College’s main campus in Annandale-on-Hudson and its affiliates in New York City, Bard College Berlin, or Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Select students will be considered for the spring 2023 semester, however, the principal start of the program will be the fall 2023 semester.
The primary language of instruction is English, and all students must be proficient to study in English.
Terms of the scholarship will vary, but each will cover a minimum of full tuition. Housing and living stipends will be available on a case-by-case basis according to need.
Scholarships will be for a minimum of one year, with the possibility of renewal.
The program builds off previous Bard efforts to support refugee scholars and students.
In the mid-1930s, the college gave refuge to distinguished writers, artists, intellectuals, and scientists fleeing Nazi Europe.
In 1956, the school welcomed more than 300 Hungarian student refugees fleeing the Soviet invasion.
In 2004, Bard helped bring more than 50 students from European Humanities University in Belarus, which was closed by the Lukashenko regime, to complete their education at Smolny College.
A similar program was set up for 60 Turkmen students who could not continue their education at the American University in Central Asia in 2010.
Bard College Berlin has welcomed more than 50 displaced students through its program on International Education for Social Change, most of them from Syria.
Last year, Bard committed to welcoming 100 Afghan students after the Taliban takeover of the country and this summer Bard College Berlin took in 12 refugee students from Ukraine.