Frequently Asked Questions

Every year, the graduate application opens in mid-September for entry in the following fall term. Check our homepage for the application deadlines, as they vary by program.

No. We offer admission for fall entry terms only, except for our IMA Low Residency program which begins in the summer term.

The Tisch Graduate Admissions Office offers in-person info sessions on campus for prospective students every fall while the application is open. While these info sessions do not include a tour, it's a great way to visit 721 Broadway, the NYU campus building that hosts the majority of Tisch graduate programs.

Some departments offer their own tours, class observations, or other visit opportunities. Visit our Info Sessions and Visit Opportunities page to learn more about what options your program of interest has for prospective students to engage.

If you're interested in exploring the greater NYU Washington Square campus, you can take a self-guided tour using a mobile app that guides you through NYU campus highlights. While the app is general and not specific to Tisch, it can be very helpful for getting a feel for campus.

Yes. After starting an application, please write to our Director of Graduate Admissions Joe Miserendino at jm7@nyu.edu to request a fee waiver. Please include an explanation of how the $65 application fee poses a significant financial hardship for you, and attach any relevant documentation that could support your waiver request.

Grad Acting applicants: please note that while we can waive the $65 application fee, the $50 audition fee is required from all Grad Acting applicants and cannot be waived.

No. Prior experience or training in your field of interest is not required for the majority of our graduate programs. Many successful applicants each year come from a variety of prior professional and academic backgrounds. 

The only program that does require previous experience is our Dance Interdisciplinary Research MFA program. Applicants to this program are expected to have at least seven years of professional experience in the field of dance (performing, choreographing, teaching, etc) prior to applying to the MFA program. Those applying straight from an undergraduate program or who do not have the required experience will not be considered for admission. 

Yes. You can apply to a maximum of two Tisch graduate programs in one application cycle. You'll need to submit separate applications, with all required materials, and pay separate application fees for each program. If offered admission to both programs, you may only enroll in one program.

Note - Applicants cannot apply to the following combinations of programs in one year:

• Grad Film MFA and MBA/MFA Dual Degree
  
• Cinema Studies MA and Moving Image Archiving & Preservation
• Cinema Studies MA and Cinema Studies PhD
• Performance Studies MA and Performance Studies PhD
• Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) and Interactive Media Arts (IMA) Low Residency

No. We do not host exchange students enrolled in master's programs at other universities. All of our students are enrolled as degree-seeking students at NYU only.

Check out Tisch Special Programs for non-degree programs - our office handles applications for graduate degree programs only.

Yes. You can still apply as long as you will graduate with your bachelor's degree before August 1 of your entry term. In your application, please upload your most up to date transcript at the time of applying, showing courses taken and marks received. 

After admission, you'll be required to request a final, official transcript showing all courses taken, marked received, name of degree earned, and date of graduation, to be sent to our office by your undergraduate institution directly.

No. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution is required for admission to any of our master's degree programs. 

Applicants to one of our PhD programs must have earned or be in the process of earning an MA or MS degree in order to be eligible for admission. PhD programs will not consider applicants who have earned an MFA or MPS degree for PhD admission.

No. We do not require the GRE for any of our graduate programs.

The Game Design MFA program will accept GRE scores as supplemental material, but it is purely optional. Not submitting scores will not have an effect on your application.

Applicants to the Dual Degree MFA/MBA program are required to submit the GRE or GMAT as part of their Stern application, but not as part of our Tisch application.

Recommenders upload their letters directly to your application: letters cannot be submitted by the applicant themselves.

The "Recommendations" section of your application will ask for your recommenders' details and contact information. After you add your recommenders, they will receive an email with a link to upload their letter directly to your application. Recommenders can upload their letters at any time after you add them to your application, whether you've submitted your application yet or not.

Recommendations are due by your program's application deadline, so we recommend adding your recommenders to your application as soon as you've confirmed who they are so that they have plenty of time to submit their letters for you.

Under special circumstances, Cinema Studies MA and Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) students may attend part-time with permission from the department. All other Tisch programs are full-time only.

On campus housing is very limited for graduate students. Admitted graduate students may apply for the on campus housing waitlist, to be considered for placement after undergraduate students, and for up to one academic year only.

Most graduate students find their own housing off campus. Check out NYU's Off Campus Living page for resources like apartment search tools and NYU roommate finders.

No. The admission committee evaluates all components of your application holistically to make an admissions decision, with the most weight being placed on the strength of your creative portfolio. When reviewing your undergraduate transcript, the committee will pay more attention to the grades you earned in subjects related to the program you are applying for.