School of Visual Arts
The School of Visual Arts is an independent art school in New York, United States, offering undergraduate (BFA) and postgraduate (MFA, MA) programmes. Applicants submit a portfolio via SlideRoom (typically 15-20 images) and must demonstrate English proficiency (IELTS 6.5).
New York, New York, United StatesIndependent art schoolsva.edu
Schools and subjects
- Animation
- Illustration
- Fine Arts
- Film
- Design
- Photography and Video
Listed under: film schools, photography schools, illustration schools, animation schools, fine art schools.
Undergraduate requirements
BFA
Submission via SlideRoom is encouraged. Most BFA programmes require 15–20 images, of which at least 3 must be direct-observation work; BFA Film requires a 3–5 minute film reel or a two-part film essay. Digital and hand-drawn work are allowed, and including a sketchbook is encouraged.
International students must demonstrate English proficiency. Minimum IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT (80 or above before 21 January 2026, 4.5 or above after); PTE Academic 53 or above; Duolingo 115 or above; Cambridge 176 or above. Those who do not meet the requirement may take the EVA bridging programme (IELTS 6.0).
$55,270 per year (2026–27 academic year; full-time $27,635 per semester).
Fall: 1 December early action (non-binding), 1 February freshman scholarship, 1 March transfer scholarship; Spring: 1 October international deadline, then rolling admission.
Postgraduate requirements
MFA / MA
Varies by programme, submitted through Graduate Admissions SlideRoom. For example, MFA Fine Arts: 10–20 media files (images ≤5 MB, video ≤60 MB), each as a separate file; MFA Design: 5–7 projects, submitted as a URL portfolio site or a single PDF.
International students must demonstrate English proficiency; required scores vary by postgraduate programme. Commonly IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT (79 or above before 21 January 2026, 4.5 or above after), PTE 53 or above, Duolingo 115 or above. SVA does not offer conditional admission.
2026–27 academic year, most postgraduate programmes charge $30,845 per semester (about $61,690 per year); low-residency programmes such as MFA Visual Narrative / Art Practice are billed separately.
Priority postgraduate application deadline 15 January 2027 (Fall / Summer); thereafter reviewed on a rolling basis by availability.
Other notes
English and the Visual Arts (EVA) Programme: for students who meet academic and creative standards but do not meet the English requirement for direct undergraduate admission (IELTS 6.0, etc.); Summer 2026 tuition is $9,350 USD.
Both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships, with no separate application; undergraduates must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and apply by the deadline. Postgraduate scholarships / teaching assistantships are decided by the department.
AI use must be disclosed in any part of the application (including the personal statement and portfolio), for example 'written with help from _____' or by stating the platform and method in the portfolio's additional details; non-disclosure constitutes a breach of the academic integrity policy. The MFA Computer Arts programme explicitly encourages supervised, experimental use of generative AI under faculty guidance.
Sources for this page
- https://sva.edu
- https://sva.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/undergraduate-application-requirements
- https://sva.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/undergraduate-timeline
- https://sva.edu/admissions/financial-resources/tuition-and-fees
- https://sva.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/undergraduate-faq
- https://sva.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/graduate-admissions-timeline
- https://sva.edu/academics/graduate/mfa-fine-arts/apply
Taken from the school’s website and checked on 2026-10-27. Schools change their requirements every year; open the official pages above to confirm the current version before you apply.