Special Programs

MA in Media Producing Application Requirements

The fall 2024 application is closed. The fall 2025 application will open later this September.

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About the Program

The Master of Arts (MA) in Media Producing entails both artistry and business acumen. A successful producer is aware of two things: how to identify a good story and how to make it. The skilled, thinking artist is able to recognize and produce stories for the world market, strategically approach global challenges, has a firm knowledge of production budgets, and understands the financial aspects of marketing and distribution. A background in producing for film and television production is not required for acceptance into this program.

Tisch School of the Arts is looking for Master's degree applicants from a diverse range of educational and professional backgrounds who want to explore and create stories in a visual medium. Acceptance into the program is competitive; the program is delivered online and was designed with sensitivity to working professionals who show exceptional promise and are interested in collaboration and storytelling.

Admission for degree candidates is for the fall semester only. All students entering the program must hold a bachelor’s degree in any background or subject matter. No entrance examination is required (however, international students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) English exam. IELTS and Duolingo results are accepted as well).

MA in Media Producing Application Requirements

Statement of Purpose

In Tisch Special Programs, we look for people with unique points of view, who hope to make creative work with an impact. We want to get a sense of who you are in your own words beyond what we can infer from your résumé/CV. What ideas do you have and what are you curious about? What kinds of projects are you interested in making or re-making? 

Your statement of purpose should provide information about why you're applying to this program. What are your academic and professional goals? Tell us how your experiences, successes, and failures have shaped how you see the world. 

Length: Please limit your statement to 3 pages maximum, double spaced, 12 point font.

Résumé

A professional résumé listing academic background, work experience, honors, affiliations with professional organizations, papers presented at conferences, published work, etc. If you have a LinkedIn account, please provide us with the URL to your profile.

Photograph: Include a photograph of yourself.

Two Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to ask recommenders to submit their letters through the online application system. Preferred recommenders: one professional, one personal.

All Official Transcripts

Official academic transcripts or unofficial photocopies of academic transcripts should be scanned and uploaded. Applications that are missing transcripts will not be submitted for admissions review until the application is complete. If accepted, then applicants will be asked to mail in hard copies of official academic transcripts. Questions about the online application for admission should be addressed to the Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Admissions Office (212) 998-1918 or tisch.gradadmissions@nyu.edu. Questions about the MA in Media Producing degree should be referred to Virginia Gonzales at (212) 998-1500 or e-mail: tsp.ma.producing@nyu.edu.

2-Minute Introductory Video

Use a webcam or smart phone to record yourself. We are not looking for special effects, as long as we can see and hear you clearly.

Upload a 1-2 minute video where you tell us about yourself and what interests you about the entertainment business. We will not be judging the production value of this submission; we encourage applicants to use cameras that are readily available to them (e.g. cell phones or computers). We are not looking for polished/edited videos; it is meant to be a short video where you tell us something about yourself that we cannot get from other aspects of your application.

You can upload to YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Please upload your video as a part of your online application on the Digital Portfolio Page.

Creative Portfolio

Submission of a creative portfolio is required in order for us to assess your creative aspirations. Portfolio materials need not be professional-quality work. Applicants are encouraged to submit work that is reflective of their interests and experiences.

You must submit ALL of the following:

Dramatic Story: The Dramatic story is a required short narrative writing exercise. Write a two-page story which builds dramatic tension and begins with the line, “The elephant looked me directly in the eye.”

Format for the Dramatic Story: 2 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font. (Save as a PDF and upload to the application.)

Visual Submission: Present a maximum of 8 still photographs of a single character at work or at a location or a maximum of 8 still photographs that tells a story.

Concept: Describe one concept for a feature-length script, narrative film, or television show that you would like to develop.

Format for the Concept: Write no more than one page, typed, double-spaced, 12-point font. (Save as a PDF and upload to the application.)

International Students

All applicants must meet the English language requirements. If English is not your native language, you should plan to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The test should be taken as early as possible to ensure that results are received in time to meet admissions deadlines. Only TOEFL scores that are less than two years old are acceptable. Late receipt of scores will cause delays in the admissions process and departmental evaluation. NYU's TOEFL code is 9633.

Alternatively, you can meet this requirement by submitting the results of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination, Duolingo or Pearsons Test of English (PTE). 

Notification of Decision

Graduate admission notification begins March 1 and continues through April 15. Applicants are informed by email.

Financial Aid

Scholarships are not available for the Master of Arts in Media Producing.

Domestic Students

Students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens who wish to be considered for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are encouraged to look for outside sources of aid as well. Most students will also take out loans to cover tuition.

All U.S. applicants are strongly urged to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to assess their eligibility for federal financial support.

International Students

International students are urged to look for outside sources of funding well in advance of the acceptance notice. Please note that non-U.S. citizens do not qualify for US Federal grants and loans, and thereby cannot file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from the U.S. government. International students can secure private educational loans from U.S. institutions if they have a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen. If financial aid is an important aspect of your application, don’t overlook funding opportunities from your home country, and from foundations that are internationally based, along with all possible personal, family and local resources.

Visit the Tisch Student Affairs Financial Aid website for more information.

If you have questions about the MA in Media Producing, please email tsp.ma.producing@nyu.edu.

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