Graduate FAQs

Performance Studies is an interdisciplinary program that examines a range of performances from dance, theatre, and music, to performance art and theatrical histories. Students discuss cultural perspectives such as feminism, queer studies, post-colonialism, and critical race theory across the fields of anthropology, theatre, and history, popular culture, entertainment, and technology. Latin American, Caribbean, African and African American, Asian and Asian American, European, and American performance are also explored.

The Master’s program is a one-year intensive program that begins during the fall semester (September) and concludes after the first summer term (June). Students are required to be in residence full-time for three consecutive semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer). Students officially receive their degrees in September.

Currently, there are no teaching opportunities or graduate assistantships available to incoming M.A. students. Students looking for employment opportunities are encouraged to apply for campus jobs through our career services office.

M.A. graduates make successful transitions into Ph.D. programs pursuing advanced studies in theater/performance studies, arts curating, cultural studies, gender studies, ethnic studies, art history, and law. Our M.A. graduates have secured positions in the following fields: Arts Administration; Education; Journalism; Arts Management; Arts advocacy; Museum Administration; Corporate or Nonprofit Communications; Community Development; Marketing and Market Research; Public Relations; Media Production; Gallery management; Social and Public Service; International and Non-Governmental Organization Work.

Students enrolled in the performance composition or MA projects class can create performances as part of their course requirements.  There are also opportunities to acquire funds and space through the school’s collaborative programs, usually offered by the Office of Creative Research at Tisch and the school’s Graduate Student Organization.  Although the department doesn’t have any formal partnerships with NYC performance spaces our students have presented their creative work at LA MAMA, Joe's Pub, MOMA PS 1 and the Whitney.

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Please note that GREs are not required. There is no minimum GPA that the admissions committee looks for. The Admissions Committee looks at all aspects of the application, with a particular focus on the personal statement, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and academic writing sample.

Yes, the department requires applicants who are not native English speakers to submit an official English language proficiency exam score report. Please refer to the International Applicant Requirements page on the Tisch Graduate Admissions website for more information and which exams are accepted.

For the MA program, applications are reviewed late-January and most decisions will be made by late February, with students typically being notified by early-March.

The graduate admissions process (Ph.D., and M.A.) is handled by the Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Admission office. They should be your primary point of contact for all admissions-related issues, including departmental admissions requirements, the admissions process, academic record evaluation and deadlines. 

Tisch Graduate Admissions Office

726 Broadway, 2nd floor

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST)

(212) 998-1918

Please direct your inquiries as follows:

For all questions regarding admission, please contact tisch.gradadmissions@nyu.edu or visit https://tisch.nyu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions to begin an application.

For general questions about the program, please contact performance.studies@nyu.edu or (212) 998-1620

The M.A. program is highly competitive and admits up to 34 students each year. 

Contacting faculty prior to application is not necessary or recommended. Our faculty members receive many emails from prospective students and regret they are unable to respond to all inquiries. 

Since degrees in our graduate programs are conferred by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) tuition is determined each year by their rate. Students are billed per unit. (The M.A. degree is composed of 34 unit; all courses are four units each.)

The current tuition rate can be found on the Bursar's website.

The department offers a limited number of tuition scholarships. All applicants, regardless of their financial or citizenship status, are considered for these merit based awards. However, these scholarships do not cover the entire cost of tuition so newly accepted students should apply for other types of funding.  

No. It is a full-time program with no online components.

No, teaching is not required in the doctoral program. However, all doctoral students are encouraged to apply for a teaching assignment as part of their professional training, normally beginning in the spring of their second year. 

Doctoral students are assigned to the Director of Graduate Studies during their first year in the program. After that point, the student selects their dissertation adviser and committee from among the departments resident faculty.

Student usually require 5-6 years to complete the Ph.D. The first 2-3 years are spent doing graduate coursework, PhD comprehensive examinations, teaching training and planning a dissertation project. The last 2 years  are normally spent researching and writing their dissertation. 

Due to the high volume of applicant inquiries, doctoral students are generally not available for information sessions. If you are accepted into the program, we will arrange meetings with the students. 

Please note that GREs are not required. There is no minimum GPA that the admissions committee looks for. The Admissions Committee looks at all aspects of the application, with a particular focus on the personal statement, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and academic writing sample.

Yes, the department requires applicants who are not native English speakers to submit an official English language proficiency exam score report. Please refer to the International Applicant Requirements page on the Tisch Graduate Admissions website for more information and which exams are accepted.

Only external Ph.D. finalists (that is, those who do not hold an M.A. in Performance Studies from NYU) will be contacted for a Zoom interview with PS faculty and Administrative Director.

For the PhD program, applications are reviewed beginning February and most decisions will be made by early-March, with students typically being notified by mid- March.

The program accepts only four students per year. All newly admitted Ph.D. students receive funding from the Tisch School of the Arts as a five-year Corrigan Fellowship. The Corrigan financial aid package consists of two parts. The first part is a scholarship to cover the tuition, registration, and services fees for your degree program (36 units) as well as student health insurance. The second part is a stipend toward your expenses ($28,850 2019-20). In addition, first year students receive a one-time $3,000 start-up stipend to help with the costs of beginning their studies.

In addition to a 4 -year undergraduate degree or equivalent, a previously earned master’s degree is required for applicants wishing to enter directly into the doctoral program. A completed M.A. or M.S. is required for consideration. Applicants holding an MFA or M.MUS degree who have a strong academic training background in performance theory may be considered on a case by case basis. If you are uncertain if your credentials meet the application requirements, please reach out to us at performance.studies@nyu.edu to learn more.