Living in NYC

BGIA makes it possible for students to take advantage of New York City’s vast array of cultural offerings.
BGIA arranges evenings at the Metropolitan Opera and American Ballet Theatre, Broadway and off-Broadway shows, jazz and indie concerts, comedy, and sports at wide-ranging venues.

What Our Students Have to Say

Audrey Tohgondo (2021)

INALCO University Paris
“I've always known that I wanted to study and live within an international environment. At BGIA, I work with students from Germany, Croatia, Kyrgyzstan, India, Austria, and more! Growing as an individual and future professional in such an international environment is a gift. In the coming years, I want to use what I've learned here to make our world a more decent place.”
Jacopo Venturi (2022)

Central European University
“New York has always been my favorite place, but living here is even more exciting than I expected. I believe that anyone can find his or her place in New York since it offers many different cultures and environments. You cannot possibly get bored here. BGIA is the perfect completion of this experience: the courses and internship aim to provide students with practical skills.”
Maihan Naimi (2022)

Bard College
“The experience of living in NYC has been uniquely rewarding. Just walking in the city’s crowded streets and seeing the fast pace of life here boosts my energy and productivity every day. As a computer science student, BGIA courses enabled me to step outside my field and expand my knowledge of international relations and civil society.”

Our Facilities

BGIA Classrooms
108 W. 39th St.
New York, NY

BGIA Housing
292 N. 8th St.
Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn Housing

Lab students live in a unique student residence and co-living community in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Unlike most traditional dorm rooms, our student residents have access to discover a whole range of thoughtfully designed shared spaces, and access to community building events and programming. The dorm wing of the building has a separate, safe, and secure entrance to five dedicated floors of student-only housing.
Housing Brochure (PDF)
Manhattan Classrooms and Offices

Located at 108 West 39th Street in Manhattan, our classroom, offices and event space are centrally located in Midtown Manhattan—near Times Square, Koreatown, Bryant Park, and Grand Central Station. There is a direct line between 7th Ave Station (3 min. from classrooms) in Manhattan and St. Bryant Park Station (6 min. from dorms) in Brooklyn.
Google Map Location

Dorm Photo Gallery

Student Activities

BGIA arranges evenings at the Metropolitan Opera and American Ballet Theatre, Broadway and off-Broadway shows, jazz and indie concerts, comedy, and sports at wide-ranging venues.

Broadway Shows

Twelfth Night (Mark Rylance)
Waiting for Godot (Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen)
First Date (Zachary Levi)
All the Way (Bryan Cranston)
Cabaret (Alan Cumming, Michelle Williams)
Concerts

Kaskade
Ellie Goulding
Chvrches
Odd Future
Thievery Corporation
Other Events

Baseball at Yankee Stadium
Ice Skating at Bryant Park
Trip to West Point Academy
Stand-up Comedy at Upright Citizens Brigade
Otello at the Metropolitan Opera

Living in NYC FAQs

Is there a meal plan/dining hall at the dorm?

Is there a meal plan/dining hall at the dorm?
No. The dormitory has shared kitchen areas where students can prepare meals, and kitchenettes in each room.
Where is the Bard dormitory?

Where is the Bard dormitory?
Student dorms are located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with access to the L, G, M, J, and Z subway lines.
Are single rooms available at the dorm?

Are single rooms available at the dorm?
Bard’s dormitory in Brooklyn is double occupancy.
Does the Bard dormitory have a gym? Parking?

Does the Bard dormitory have a gym? Parking?
Currently the dormitory does not have a gym or car parking. New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, DC, and several other destinations in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions are easily accessible by train.
Where are classes held?

Where are classes held?
BGIA’s office and classroom space is located at 108 W 39th Street, close to Times Square and Bryant Park subway stations. Internship sites are located throughout the city. Most subway lines connect in Times Square, where our classrooms are located.
How long is the commute from Bard’s dormitory to BGIA’s classrooms?

How long is the commute from Bard’s dormitory to BGIA’s classrooms?
Roughly 25 minutes by subway.
How do students commute?

How do students commute?
Students commute via the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), which includes subway, bus, and ferry lines. Students are responsible for their own transportation costs, and can purchase a 30-day unlimited MetroCard for $127.
Are students allowed to opt out of Bard housing?

Are students allowed to opt out of Bard housing?
Students may request to live with a close family member residing in the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island.) BGIA will evaluate each request individually, and reserves the right to decline as necessary. We consider factors such as the proximity to BGIA’s classrooms in Times Square and the student’s familiarity with the MTA transit system.
What health services can students access at BGIA?

What health services can students access at BGIA?
All students must maintain health insurance for the duration of the program. Bard offers insurance and can refer students to in-network counseling services.

Living in NYC

What Our Students Have to Say

Our Facilities

Dorm Photo Gallery

Student Activities

Living in NYC FAQs

Is there a meal plan/dining hall at the dorm?

Where is the Bard dormitory?

Are single rooms available at the dorm?

Does the Bard dormitory have a gym? Parking?

Where are classes held?

How long is the commute from Bard’s dormitory to BGIA’s classrooms?

How do students commute?

Are students allowed to opt out of Bard housing?

What health services can students access at BGIA?