Admissions

The graduate departments of the Tisch School of the Arts offer advanced course work to qualified students who have received an accredited baccalaureate degree. Specific entrance requirements vary according to the program of graduate study. Please read the departmental sections of the bulletin carefully.

Prospective students wanting more information about graduate admission may visit the Office of Graduate Admissions at the above address or inquire through email.

Tours, Information sessions and Open House events are available by visiting our website.

The Admissions Process

The graduate application must be completed online. See Graduate Admissions for more information.

The following materials are required:

1. Current online graduate application for admission.
2. Nonreturnable application fee.
3. Supporting credentials.
4. Creative material.

Applicants are advised to plan the application well in advance of the filing deadline by contacting potential recommenders and gathering all required post-secondary academic transcripts. Supporting credentials including transcripts, the personal statement, the résumé, and academic writing samples (where required) should be uploaded to the online application.

Letters of recommendation should be submitted at the same time as the application deadline.

Audition arrangements for the Graduate Acting Program and the Department of Dance, as well as required interviews for the Department of Design for Stage and Film, the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing, the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, and graduate Musical Theatre Writing are initiated directly by the department or program after the application has been submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Interviews are granted at the discretion of the Department and abide by specific timetables.

Applicants filing for admission to the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing, the Interactive Telecommunications Program, and the Musical Theatre Writing Program should deliver by electronic means all required creative materials such as portfolios, writing samples, musical compositions, and other creative materials directly to the appropriate department by following the guidelines in the online application.

All documents submitted in support of applications become part of the permanent records of the school and are not returned or duplicated for any purpose. All admissions are provisional until final official transcripts, showing the Bachelor’s degree (and, if necessary, the Master’s degree.) awarded, are received.

Types of Admission

Graduate students enter the University having received an undergraduate degree from an accredited College or University.

The Tisch School of the Arts admits students to full-time MA, MFA, MPS, and Ph.D. programs of study for the fall semester only.

Applicants With International Credentials

Applicants to New York University who are neither U.S. citizens nor Permanent Residents of the United States must complete the application for admission to graduate study as described above in the Admission Process section.

Academic credentials should be presented preferably in English or accompanied by certified translation. Application processing begins when the Office of Graduate Admissions receives all supporting documentation.

The University expects all students to demonstrate the ability to understand and communicate in English, both orally and in written form. To evaluate proficiency, the school requires applicants whose native language is other than English to take any one of the following four testing organizations:

1. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Information may be obtained directly from the Educational Testing Services website. When requesting official score reports, each student should list the Tisch School of the Arts, 9633. A departmental code is not needed. To expedite processing, international students may upload their own copy of the TOEFL results to the Office of Graduate Admissions with the application materials provided the official copy is sent by ETS soon after.
2. The Test of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Information regarding test dates and testing centers around the world may be obtained directly by visiting the IELTS Website.
3. Pearson Test of English, Pearson PTE. For more information visit Pearson PTE.
4. Duolingo English Test

For waiver policies and exemptions, see International Applicant Requirements.

Financial documentation is not required when filing an application although students should provide a reasonable estimate as to the expected sources of funding including personal savings, assistance from family, home government, home country lenders, and transnational agencies, foundations and organizations that provide this type of assistance. International students are not excluded from consideration for scholarships awarded directly by the department they are applying to but they should take into consideration that financial aid is limited for the most part. If the applicant is accepted, instructions for completing request for the I-20/DS-2019 will be included in the acceptance letter.

Appropriate evidence of financial ability must be submitted with the request for I-20/DS-2019 to the Office of Global Services (OGS) in order for the appropriate visa document to be issued. Prospective and newly accepted students should visit the Office of Global Services.

Readmission of Former Graduate Students

Any former student who has been out of attendance for one term or more without an approved leave of absence and who wishes to return to the school must apply for readmission by obtaining an online application from the Office of Graduate Admissions via e-mail at tisch.gradadmissions@nyu.edu. Applicants for readmission must complete and submit the application prior to the semester in which they wish to return. A one-page statement explaining their absence and defining their goals for completion of the degree must be enclosed. In some cases a copy of the transcript from the applicant’s undergraduate work is required.

An application for readmission will be carefully reviewed by the Department. The decision to readmit will be done in accordance with school as well as departmental policy governing: time limit to complete the degree; re-validation of all completed course work and its relevance with current academic requirements; and the likelihood that the candidate will be able to successfully meet all remaining requirements for the degree. Readmitted students should also be aware of accrued charges in connection with maintenance of matriculation, fees, lab, fees, and other changes normally assessed for candidates completing thesis or thesis project requirements. Please see specific information on time limits for completion of a degree.

Admission Application Filing Deadlines

See Graduate Admissions for application deadlines.

The Enrollment Process

The enrollment process for graduate students is the same as for undergraduates.