Thank you for your interest in applying to Hampshire College! This year, Hampshire has begun the process of searching for a strategic partner as part of larger efforts to create a thriving and sustainable community for our next fifty years. During this time of transition, our Board of Trustees has voted to pause enrollment for the fall of 2019. In accordance with this vote we have suspended and withdrawn all applications for 2019. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time of change. Stay tuned for more information about the 2020 application process.
It’s time to make a change and take control. You’re the experienced lot who know they need something different, simultaneously more flexible and more invigorating. Hampshire just might be the right kind of different. Ready to take back control of your education?
Whether you are transferring from a large university or another small institution, Hampshire College is dedicated to making your incoming transition as smooth as possible.
Transfer students are eligible for merit scholarships ranging from $8,000 to $23,000. You do not need to apply separately for these scholarships, but will be automatically considered with your application to Hampshire.
Hampshire College accepts transfer credits for liberal arts courses taken at a regionally accredited college or university if the courses are comparable in content, nature, and intensity to courses offered at Hampshire College. The courses must also have a grade of C or better, and cannot have been recorded as high school credit.
If you have any questions related to applying as a transfer student, contact Ashley Fleming, assistant director of admissions and transfer coordinator.
| Transfer Student Admission Plan | Deadline | Notification |
| Domestic Transfer (spring) | November 1 | December 1 |
| International Transfer (spring) | November 1 | November 10 |
| Domestic Transfer (fall) | Round 1: March 15 Round 2: May 1 |
Round 1: April 15 Round 2: June 1 |
| International Transfer (fall) | March 15 | April 15 |
We do a holistic read of your application, meaning we look at everything. To apply, submit the following materials:
*All international transfer students can direct any questions to INTLadmissions@hampshire.edu.
Some optional application materials can be submitted through the Common Application. You will also have the opportunity, after applying, to submit additional optional materials such as photos, videos, PDFs, Word documents, and music files through your online application portal with Hampshire College.
We also highly recommend an interview (must occur prior to the application completion deadline).
We like to geek out here at Hampshire, and our essay questions give you a chance to do the same. So here's a sneak peek at the questions you'll find on the Common App. We can't wait to read what you come up with.
Proposed Program of Study. Please describe your academic interests and goals in one to three paragraphs. You might include the types of courses you wish to take (although a listing of course titles alone is insufficient) and any independent projects, internships, or field studies you envision yourself doing. The Proposed Program of Study is not a contract; it is intended to help determine whether Hampshire is an appropriate place for you to continue your academic studies.
The following questions get at some of our core values: inquiry, interdisciplinarity, and growth. Choose one prompt from the list below and respond (500 words max):
1. Hampshire’s motto is “to know is not enough.” People interpret this motto in different ways. What does it mean to you?
2. Think about two or more topics that interest you. Tell us about some issues or questions related to these topics.
3. Describe a time when you received feedback, academic or otherwise, that changed your thinking or behavior for the better.
Once we process your application, we will send an acknowledgment letter that includes a username and password for you to check the completeness of your admissions file online. Hampshire College has entered the 21st century and now releases decisions online. To make sure that you receive your decision, we recommend not opting out of email communications.
Hampshire has negotiated articulation agreements with Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach Community College in Lake Worth, Florida. Students who earn the associate of arts degree at either institution will receive additional faculty assistance in setting up their concentration of study at Hampshire. Please submit the form on the last page of the pdf document below to the admissions office to take full advantage of the benefits of the articulation agreement.
Transfer credit may be applied directly toward Division I expectations. Courses may also apply toward Division II, so long as they meet the same criteria to be accepted as transfer credit. Faculty advisors can guide students in planning a curriculum that takes advantage of as much prior college work as possible. The number of courses and learning activities necessary to complete Division II will be determined by the individual student's Division II committee. Each student's program is individually designed and rates of progress vary.
The minimum residency requirement for graduation is three semesters, regardless of how many credits are transferable. Students receiving financial aid should consult with the financial aid office regarding the number of semesters of financial aid eligibility.
We conduct a course-by-course evaluation of college work to determine how each transfer course fits into Division I, which requires that students take one course in four out of the five following areas: Arts, Design, and Media (ADM); Culture, Humanities, and Language (CHL); Mind, Brain, and Information (MBI); Physical and Biological Sciences (PBS); and Power, Community, and Social Justice (PCSJ). To illustrate how transfer courses may be applied toward the Division I distribution requirement, the following list of subject areas is provided as a representative sample of the array of courses offered by each area:
Mind, Brain, and Information: Animal Behavior, Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Philosophy, Education, and Psychology
Arts, Design, and Media: Digital Design, Poetry, Creative Writing, Studio Arts, Literary Nonfiction, Theater, Playwrighting, and Visual Media
Culture, Humanities, and Language: Architecture, Film, Video, Photography, Ecological Design, Philosophy, Art/Art History, Dance, Religion, and English
Physical and Biological Sciences: Agriculture, Chemistry, Ecology, Astronomy, Biology, Physics, Zoology, and Mathematics
Power, Community, and Social Justice: Anthropology, Peace Studies, Community Studies, Political Economy, Environmental Policy, Psychology, Feminist Studies, and Sociology
Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page or contact us at admissions@hampshire.edu.
Prospective Applicants can get Common App online support through the Applicant Solution Center. From the Help Center, click the "Contact Support" tab to contact our support team.
Counselors/Recommenders with Common App questions or suggestions can contact them through the Recommender Solution Center.
The U.S. State Department and the Chronicle of Higher Education have named Hampshire College a top producer of Fulbright Scholars for 2016-17. Hampshire is one of 11 bachelor’s institutions to receive the designation this year.
"There are two reasons why Hampshire graduates achieve so much. One is the kind of person the college attracts. The other is what the college does for them by equipping them to become their own wide-ranging explorers and connection-seekers."Loren Pope, Colleges that Change Lives (2006)
Hampshire College is a member of Colleges that Change Lives, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process.