Admission to the Tisch School of the Arts is a highly selective process. Applicants are held to rigorous academic and artistic standards, and evaluated through a two-part admissions process, which includes submitting both the Common Application and an artistic review. As Tisch is a community of storytellers, consider both parts as an opportunity to share your story — we want to know who you are, and what you care about; what you’ve done, and what you intend to achieve.
Application Process
You can apply to the Tisch School of the Arts by using the Common Application, answering NYU-specific questions and submitting additional required materials. Learn more about the requirements and deadlines through NYU Undergraduate Admissions or by selecting one of the following:
- First-Year Applicants
- Transfer Applicants
- Internal Transfer Applicants – from another school or college at NYU
- Change of Major Applicants – from another department in Tisch
- Readmission Applicants
- Financial Aid
- Visiting Students
- High School Students
Applicants to programs which require an audition or creative portfolio are not required to submit standardized testing for consideration, and doing so is entirely optional.
Our admissions process is the key to getting to know you as both an artist and a person.
Applying to Tisch Drama requires two actions: submitting the Common Application to NYU and participating in an artistic review. The process is outlined below.
Please drop us a line if you have any questions or come for a visit!
HOW TO REGISTER FOR YOUR ARTISTIC REVIEW
2. ACCESS THE DRAMA ARTISTIC REVIEW PORTAL
ARTISTIC REVIEW GUIDELINESDATES AND LOCATIONS
Please read the following admissions information before starting your online application. You can find important dates on the Tisch Special Programs Admissions Calendar.
HOW DO I APPLY?
- Step 1 – Requirements and Eligibility
- Step 2 – Online Application
- Step 3 – Verification
- Step 4 – Notification
- Step 5 – Confirmation
STEP 1: REQUIREMENTS AND ELIGIBILITY
- You must be a full-time matriculated undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior during this academic year and be in good academic standing. If you are a current second semester freshman, you are eligible to apply.
- Students who have already participated in the Spring at Tisch program are not eligible to re-apply.
- NYU undergraduate students are ineligble to apply. If you are a current NYU student interested in taking Tisch courses, we encourage you to register for Courses for NYU Non-Majors.
- You must have a 3.0 minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.
- You must not be on academic or disciplinary probation.
- Students who are on a leave of absence at the time of their application must have a representative of their school (e.g. an academic advisor) state via email to tisch.special.admissions@nyu.edu that they are presently on good academic and disciplinary standing with their school.
- Students taking a gap year in-between high school and college are not eligible.
- If you are interested in Cinema Studies, Dramatic Writing, Film Production, Games, and Recorded Music, no prior coursework is required in these disciplines, as classes offered are beginner level. It is not necessary that your field of study be arts-related; in fact, most students do not come from an arts background.
- Photography and Imaging – You must have taken at least two semesters of college-level foundation courses, including Photography I and Photography II.
- Theatre Production and Design – You must have some prior coursework/experience (Fundamental Technical Theatre, Design, or Stage Management coursework or equivalent); experience in painting, drawing and/or drafting; or college level production experience.
STEP 2: ONLINE APPLICATION
You must submit the following items:
- Online application form (remember to use your name exactly as it appears on your birth certificate/passport in your application and supporting documents)
- Personal statement
- Creative résumé
- Passport (non-US citizens only)
- English language proficiency test results (non-native English-speaking applicants)
- Two recommendation letters
- Official university transcript(s)
- Additional documents – program specific
- $10 Slideshare fee for portfolio submission (Photography students only)
- $75 non-refundable application fee
STEP 3: VERIFICATION
Email is our primary method of communication; therefore, please make sure to allow emails from tisch.special.admissions@nyu.edu to be viewed.
Enrollment for Spring at Tisch Programs is limited. Acceptance is based on:
- Your academic record
- Satisfaction of the prerequisites, including a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement
- Recommendations
- Personal statement
- Interview or advisement appointment (if applicable; we reserve the right to interview all applicants as necessary)
- Readiness for living and studying in New York City
- How well your interests match the training we offer
STEP 4: NOTIFICATION
- Final status notifications will be sent on the dates listed in the Tisch Special Programs Admissions Calendar.
- Notifications are communicated only by email, and only to the primary email address given in the application.
STEP 5: CONFIRMATION
If accepted, you will be required to confirm your participation via the confirmation form. Confirmation forms must be received by the confirmation deadline found in your acceptance email.
- A non-refundable and non-transferable $550 deposit is required with confirmation.
- It is important that you review and understand the Tisch Special Programs Cancellation Policy prior to submitting your confirmation form. Details can be found on the Tisch Special Programs Cancellation Policy page.