• Are campus visits or tours available?
• Can I apply for Spring admission?
• Can I apply to more than one program?
• Can I be considered for a Ph.D. program if I don't have a master's degree?
• Can I be exempted from demonstrating English Language Proficiency?
• Can I charge my application fee?
• Can I study part-time?
• Can my application be reviewed without the TOEFL/IELTS/ALI results?
• Do I have to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)?
• I wasn't accepted last year, but I'd like to reapply. What do I do?
• Is a bachelor's degree required for all Master's level programs?
• Is it a problem if my undergraduate degree is in a field unrelated to what I want to study on the graduate level?
• Is it possible to get the $60 application fee waived?
• Is student housing available?
• What departments require a creative materials package (portfolio)?
• What is the difference between the Cinema Studies and Graduate Film Production programs?
• What should I take to my audition?
• When will admission decisions be announced?
• Why wasn't I accepted?
• Can I fax my application to you?
• An important announcement was made
• If I'm having trouble getting a recommendation or transcript to you on time, can I fax it?

Prospective Graduate Student FAQ

Are campus visits or tours available?

The graduate admissions office staff will be happy to meet with you to answer all your questions about the admissions process and general information about the school and university. Between the months of September and January, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment. You can contact us at: (212) 998-1918, tisch.gradadmissions@nyu.edu. 

It is only during the months of January and February, when the Office of Graduate Admissions will be in the midst of its busiest period, that no one will be available. Appointments will resume after March 1st during which time we suggest you schedule an appointment by e-mailing us at tisch.gradadmissions@nyu.edu .

We also have Information sessions which are group meetings in which we answer questions about the Graduate admissions process. A list of dates/times of these sessions can be found at http://graduate.tisch.nyu.edu/object/infosess.html .

Some departments invite prospective students to tour their facility and sit in on classes. Others, due to the nature of their training program, do not. Please contact the respective department for  further information on departmental tours.

Can I apply for Spring admission?

No. With the exception of Performance Studies, all of our programs begin in the Fall. (M.A. students in Performance Studies begin full-time enrollment in June; Ph.D. students in the program begin in September.)

Can I apply to more than one program?

You may apply to a maximum of two programs per academic year as long as you observe the deadlines for each department. You must submit two separate online applications, two application fees, and two sets of recommendations and transcripts.

Note: You should not apply to both the Cinema Studies MA program and the Moving Image Archiving and Preservation programs, or the Film Production Program and the Dual Degree Program in Film Producing

Can I be considered for a Ph.D. program if I don't have a master's degree?

No. Only the Department of Cinema Studies and the Department of Performance Studies offer Ph.D. degrees and you must have a MA or MS degree to be considered for them. The MFA or Master's in Music degree is not applicable for Admission to either Ph.D. program.

Can I be exempted from demonstrating English Language Proficiency?

Non native speakers of English need to demonstrate proficiency in English by taking any of the following: the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL),  the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination; or the American Language Institute (ALI) proficiency examination (at the NYU campus or any U.S. campus that offers the test). 

You may seek an exemption if you: 

1) are completing or have completed all four-years of a bachelors degree in the United States that is not a BFA, BM, or technical degree and you have earned an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better;

or  

2) have had continuous residency in the United States or an English-speaking country for a period of no less than five years;

or 

3) can provide proof of extensive secondary and post-secondary education with exposure to the English language as an integral part of the curriculum. 

Exemptions are discretionary even when one or more of the above criteria are met and must be approved by the Director of Graduate Admissions before you file or complete your application online.

Can I charge my application fee?

Yes, the online application requires that you pay by credit card or e-check.

Can I study part-time?

Under special circumstances, Cinema Studies MA students may attend part-time. This option is open to U.S. citizens only. Visa restrictions require all international students to study on a full-time basis.

MA students in the Moving Image Archiving and Preservation Program can also attend part-time.

All other Tisch programs are full-time only.

Can my application be reviewed without the TOEFL/IELTS/ALI results?

If you are a non native speaker of English and have not received an exemption, review of your candidacy for admission may be delayed until results are received by the Graduate Admissions Office. TOEFL scores must be less than two years old. You should schedule your examination well in advance of the application submission deadline for your department. You can self-report scores provided official test results are received shortly after you file the application.

Do I have to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)?

The Cinema Studies M.A. program and the Moving Image Archiving and Preservation Program (MA) no longer require the GRE. The only program that does require the GRE is the Cinema Studies PhD program. If you are applying to the PhD program in Cinema Studies we recommend that you take the exam well in advance of the admissions deadline.

I wasn't accepted last year, but I'd like to reapply. What do I do?

Because of limited space, we can no longer hold application materials from one year to the next. If you applied last year and were not accepted, you will have to file all pieces of the application (transcripts, recommendations, etc.) again.

Is a bachelor's degree required for all Master's level programs?

Yes. You must have an undergraduate degree to apply to any of our Graduate programs.

Is it a problem if my undergraduate degree is in a field unrelated to what I want to study on the graduate level?

No. We have many students who apply from a wide variety of undergraduate backgrounds. What is important is the creative material (portfolios, writing samples or auditions) for the conservatory training departments and evidence of strong scholarly and research abilities for our academic departments. If you feel you don't have enough experience in the field you want to go into, it may be a good idea to prepare by taking a noncredit course or gaining practical experience before applying.

Is it possible to get the $60 application fee waived?

The online application system requires payment in order to be processed. Your application fee covers processing and other administrative costs. For this reason we cannot waive application fees.

Is student housing available?

What departments require a creative materials package (portfolio)?

Please visit http://graduate.tisch.nyu.edu/page/audition.html for detailed information on the requirements for all programs.

Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing

Requirement: At least 50 pages of dramatic writing.

Kanbar Institute of  Film and Television (Film Production)

Requirement: Written and visual portfolio.

Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program

Requirement: Portfolio and Department Specific Application.

Design For Stage and Film Department*

A portfolio of creative work should be brought with you to the interview. Applicants for some of the areas of specialization may need to send materials in advance before the interview is arranged.

*This is a Design Department for Theatre and Film, not Filmmaking.

Interactive Telecommunications Program

Optional portfolio materials.

What is the difference between the Cinema Studies and Graduate Film Production programs?

Cinema Studies is an academic program that provides interdisciplinary study in the history, criticism, theory, and aesthetics of the moving image. It grants the Master of Arts and Ph.D degrees. The Graduate Film Production program is a conservatory training program that covers all practical aspects of Filmmaking. The department is mainly oriented towards live action, feature filmmaking with a heavy emphasis on production. It grants the Master of Fine Arts degree.

What should I take to my audition?

Acting

Please bring the following to the audition:

• Four Monologues and a song (see specific instructions on application for admission)
• A full-face photograph (headshot)
• a detailed résumé listing your Acting experience
• a personal statement in essay form

Do not mail your photo, résumé or personal statement to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Dance

Please bring the following to the audition:

• a full-length body photograph (preferably 8" x 10")
• Proper clothing and optional cassette tape or CD
• a detailed résumé listing your dance experience

See specific instructions on application for admission.

Do not mail your résumé to the Office of Graduate Admissions. A personal statement is not required.

Design for Stage and Film

Please bring the following to the interview:

• a portfolio of your work
• a photograph of yourself (formal or candid)
• a résumé of your educational background and any experience in professional and nonprofessional theatre/Film.
• a personal statement (typed, double-spaced)

See specific instructions on application for admission.

Do not mail your résumé, photo, personal statement or portfolio to the Office of Graduate Admissions or the Department of Design for Stage and Film.

When will admission decisions be announced?

Performance Studies MA applicants who start course work in June should hear from us between late February and early March. For all other candidates, the notification period ranges from March 15th to April 15th. In general, most decisions are finalized and sent by the first  week of April.

Why wasn't I accepted?

Tisch School of the Arts policy does not permit us to discuss details regarding individual admission decisions with applicants. Tisch receives a large number of meritorious applications and our departments are very selective. Admission committees within each department take into consideration a number of different attributes while evaluating applicants. Due to space limitations not all deserving candidates can be accepted.

Can I fax my application to you?

No. We do not accept faxed applications.

An important announcement was made

If I'm having trouble getting a recommendation or transcript to you on time, can I fax it?

The application is expressly designed to allow recommenders to submit letters of recommendation online. Transcripts should be uploaded online whenever possible to expedite the processing of the application.