Admission to the Master's program in Arts Politics is based on an evaluation of previous creative and academic achievements, a clear sense of critical direction, and compatibility with the aims and ideas of the program. Successful applicants may come from various backgrounds, including practicing artists, critical studies, or arts institutions. MA students begin their full-time enrollment in September.

You can submit all application materials to this program online. The résumé, personal statement, and writing sample should be uploaded with the online application.

In addition to the general Tisch Graduate Application, please prepare the following:

1. A professional résumé including your creative and academic background; work experience; creative work; critical writing; civic, activist, and community-based engagements; and performances, installations, and published work.

2. A statement of purpose (two to three double-spaced pages) that addresses:

   a) your critical, activist, and professional trajectory — specifically, the resources you have garnered and the constraints you have encountered;

   b) your reflections on key and pressing issues in arts politics generally;

   c) your expectations for how the program will affect your work and thought; and

   d) the project or intervention you would like to engage in during and after the program.

3. A writing sample that reflects your ability to carry out sustained academic research and critical writing, and to successfully complete interdisciplinary graduate course work. A substantive essay is recommended, but longer samples are acceptable, e.g., samples or documentation of creative and critical work, or documentation or writings about activist, institutional, or organizational projects which you have initiated or taken a significant role in directing.

4. Two letters of recommendation, submitted using the online system.

Admission to Graduate Cinema Studies is based on previous academic achievement, a personal statement, a writing sample, and two letters of recommendation.

NOTE: The GRE is only required for the Cinema Studies Ph.D. program. It is no longer required for the Cinema Studies MA program or the MA in Moving Image Archiving and Preservation program.

In addition to the general Tisch Graduate Application, please prepare the following:

1. A professional résumé listing academic background, work experience, honors, affiliations with professional organizations, papers presented at conferences, published work, language ability, etc.

2. A statement of purpose (two to three double-spaced pages) outlining your academic and professional background, goals, and what you hope to gain from the program.

3. A writing sample (15-20 double-spaced pages) that reflects your ability to carry out sustained critical, theoretical, and/or historical thinking on film, television, video, and/or new media. In the absence of a moving image–related topic, a piece of writing on a subject in the arts or humanities is acceptable.

Please attach the documents to the online application, including copies of academic transcripts.  

Application requriements for the PhD program are the same as the MA with one exception. In addition to the above requirements, PhD applicants must also submit GRE scores with their application in order to be considered. Please use institution code 2357 and no subject code when ordering GRE score reports. 

*A note regarding the Dance MFA Program:

The Department of Dance at NYU Tisch School of the Arts is an internationally acclaimed conservatory program and an incubator for creative and diverse individuals who strive toward a future as professional dancers and choreographers. We are not accepting applications to begin the MFA program in fall 2019. We look forward to making an announcement about applying to our MFA program in the fall 2020 semester.

MA/MFA in Dance and Dance Education

Apply first to Tisch, then apply to Steinhardt. Each year, three to five students will be admitted the program.

Candidates must meet all the admissions criteria and audition requirements of the Tisch Dance Department and the Steinhardt Dance Education program. You must hold a baccalaureate degree in any discipline, and demonstrate expertise in your audition in ballet and modern dance and creative process. You must also meet the requirements for teacher certification in Dance Education, as regulated by the New York State Education Department.

See more information on admissions requirements.

An interview and portfolio review are required for admission into the Department of Design for Stage and Film.

Prior experience in theatre or film production is preferred but not required — MFA applicants from all disciplines of undergraduate study (not just theatre design) are equally welcomed.

Your portfolio should be as broad as possible, preferably containing materials displaying skills in areas beyond your immediate specialty. We are primarily interested in how you work and think as a designer. We’d like to see examples of your work that show the process, not just the finished product. Bring rough sketches and be prepared to talk about your work. Examples of your visual ability — i.e. drawings, paintings, sculpture, architecture — are also helpful.

Graduate candidate in design must submit the general Tisch Graduate Application, stating a particular field of interest. Final decisions of acceptance depend on completing both departmental portfolio requirements and NYUNew York University admissions requirements.

Admission is limited to full-time graduate students beginning in September only.

In order to complete your application to Graduate Dramatic Writing, you must submit the general Tisch Graduate Application and a creative portfolio.

The ideal applicant for the Game Design MFA is passionate and talented, and may or may not have professional game experience. Our students come from a wide range of professional, personal, and educational backgrounds, and they demonstrate a high level of talent, creative spirit, and competence in one or more areas relating to game design, game production, and game scholarship. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college is required. The Game Design program is two years long — full-time study only.

There are two required components that you must submit in order to successfully complete your application for admission:

1. The general Tisch Graduate Application

2. A creative portfolio submitted via the Slideroom online application system

In a typical year, the Graduate Acting Department will personally audition more than 800 students in order to select an ensemble of 16 actors. Ideally, each ensemble is diverse, both in cultural background and practical experience. Each actor’s story is unique and each brings something important to the ensemble.

In order to apply to the Graduate Acting program, you must complete the general Tisch Graduate Application online and schedule an in-person audition. For your audition, you’ll need four monologues of no more than two minutes each, and 16 bars of a song that you can perform a cappella.

The application deadline for the MFA in Filmmaking is December 1st.

A filmmaking background is not a prerequisite for admission to the Tisch School of the Arts; when we evaluate the visual and written portion of your application, we’ll be looking for evidence of potential creative ability.

The application has two required components:

1. The general Tisch Graduate Application, along with any required academic documentation, testing, recommendations, and supporting credentials.
2. A five-part creative portfolio, which you’ll submit via Slideroom, the Department’s online application system. This portfolio includes both visual and written submissions.

1. A detailed resume.  Include both professional, theatrical, creative and other work experience.  Composers, please include a complete list of works.

2. Sample Work:

A. Composers and Lyricists:

Recordings, no more than 20 minutes in length, plus relevant materials such as scores, lyric sheets, charts, youtube links or standard video formats, etc.  Excerpts from a musical theatre piece are preferred, but other works (e.g., pop songs, song cycles, instrumental works, poetry, etc.) demonstrating a wide stylistic range are also encouraged.  Please include a libretto and brief synopsis for the musical you are submitting, if available.

B. Bookwriters/Playwrights:

A pdf of a script for a musical theatre piece and recordings of songs written for it, or a pdf of a script of a play. Include a synopsis and reviews, if available.  Non-playwrights may apply and should submit a portfolio that reflects their recent work (i.e. poetry, fiction, non-fiction).

3.  This Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program application (including exercises).

REMEMBER, ALL OF THIS MATERIAL IS SEPARATE FROM AND IN ADDITION TO ANY GENERAL TSOA GRADUATE ADMISSIONS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.

A background in design or computer programming is not required for acceptance into ITP; we’re looking for applicants from a diverse range of educational and professional backgrounds who want to explore and create new forms of communication and expression using interactive multimedia technologies.

Acceptance into the program is competitive; enrollment is limited to full-time applicants who show exceptional promise and are interested in collaboration and experimentation. Admission for degree candidates is for the Fall semester only. All students entering the program must hold a bachelor’s degree in any subject matter. No entrance examination is required, but international students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. (IELTS results are accepted as well).

Once you’ve completed the general Tisch Graduate Application, you’ll prepare and submit a creative portfolio. This includes a personal statement, resume, letters of recommendation, and all official transcripts.

In order to enroll in the NYU MBA/MFA dual-degree program, students will need to be accepted by both Tisch and Stern. This involves two separate processes, one for each school. In addition to the general Tisch Graduate Application, applicants to the Tisch MFA Film Producing program will be required to submit a creative portfolio showcasing their work, featuring both visual and written submissions.

Please click the “More” button at the bottom of this paragraph for MIAP application guidelines, a list of required components, and an FAQ. Note that standardized test scores, such as those from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), are not required.

You may also contact us at contact us at tisch.preservation@nyu.edu or at 212-998-1618.  

Admission to the Master’s program in Performance Studies is based on an evaluation of previous academic achievements, presence of a clear scholarly focus, and compatibility with the philosophy of the program. Master’s students begin their full-time enrollment in the Fall.

In addition to the general Tisch Graduate Application, we ask that you prepare the following:

1. A statement of purpose (three to five double-spaced pages, maximum) that addresses:

   a.) your specific research interest in the field of Performance Studies

   b.) why you are applying to this program (and not a more traditional program such as anthropology, dance, or theatre)

   c.) how your academic, professional, and/or artistic background make you an ideal candidate for the program. 

2. A writing sample (10-15 double-spaced pages, maximum) that reflects your ability to carry out sustained academic research and writing, preferably one that relates to the field of Performance Studies. (10- to 15 double-spaced pages, maximum.)

3. Two letters of recommendation

4. All academic transcripts

5. A professional resumé listing academic background, work experience, honors, affiliations with professional organizations, papers presented at conferences, published work, etc.

The resumé, statement of purpose, writing sample, and recommendations should be attached to your online application for admission. GREs are not required. Ideally, academic credentials will be uploaded as scanned documents along with the application for admission. They also may be transmitted electronically through a secure third-party service. Check with your school's records or credential-issuing office to see if this kind of service is available. You also can mail, or instruct your school to mail, one copy of your educational record to:

Office of Graduate Admissions 726 Broadway, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10003

(Please note that you may upload transcripts or have them mailed in. You do not have to do both.)

The Ph.D. program in Performance Studies is small and rigorous. It offers intensive training for students who wish to become the new leaders of the field. The Tisch Performance Studies program accepts up to four new students a year. Ph.D. students begin full-time enrollment in September.

A previously earned master’s degree is required for applicants wishing to enter directly into the doctoral program.  A completed MA or MS is generally 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.

In addition to the general Tisch Graduate Application, we ask that you prepare the following:

1. A statement of purpose (three to five double-spaced pages, maximum) that addresses

     a) your specific research interest in the field of Performance Studies,

     b) why you are applying to this program (and not a more traditional program such      as anthropology, dance, or theater), and

     c) how your academic, professional, and/or artistic background make you an ideal      candidate for the program.

     d) A brief description of your proposed dissertation topic and how the department        faculty will help you achieve your academic goals.

2. A critical writing sample (10-15 double-spaced pages, maximum) that reflects your ability to carry out sustained academic research and writing, preferably one that relates to the field of Performance Studies. (10- to 15 double-spaced pages, maximum.)

3. Two letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty who are familiar with your recent academic work.

4. All academic transcripts from colleges and universities attended.

5. A professional résumé listing academic background, work experience, honors, affiliations with professional organizations, papers presented at conferences, published work, etc.

The resume, statement of purpose, writing sample, and recommendations should be attached to your online application for admission. GREs are not required. Ideally, academic credentials will be uploaded as scanned documents along with the application for admission. They also may be transmitted electronically through a secure third-party service. Check with your school's records or credential-issuing office to see if this service is available. You also can mail, or instruct your school to mail, one copy of your educational record to:

Office of Graduate Admissions 726 Broadway, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10003

(Please note that you may upload transcripts or have them mailed in. You do not have to do both.)