Is an interview required?
While an interview is not required, students are encouraged to meet with an Admissions Representative at any time during the admissions process for a portfolio review and/or the opportunity to ask any questions that they may have about the school. To set up an appointment, please contact the Admissions Office at 617-369-3626 or 800-643-6078 or email us at admissions@smfa.edu.

What is a portfolio review?
A portfolio review is an opportunity for you to meet with an Admissions Representative prior to submitting your application to SMFA. This can occur by appointment in the Admissions Office or at a National Portfolio Day event. While a portfolio review is not required for admission, it is an opportunity for you to receive guidance from an Admissions Representative on the development of your portfolio. If you choose to have a portfolio review, you should plan on bringing approximately 10–15 pieces. It is always best to show original works of art. If this is not possible, you may bring reproductions of your work in the form of photos, a CD or a USB drive. To set up an appointment for a review, please contact the Admissions Office at 617-369-3626 or 800-643-6078 or email us at admissions@smfa.edu.

If I have a portfolio review, do I still need to submit a portfolio with my application?
Yes. A portfolio review is an opportunity for you to meet individually with an Admissions Representative before applying to SMFA. It is meant to give you guidance on the development of your portfolio. Since all admissions decisions are made by the Admissions Committee and not by an individual, it is necessary to submit a portfolio with your application. In addition, you must submit a portfolio in order to be considered for an SMFA scholarship.

How do I apply for an SMFA scholarship?
All BFA and Studio Diploma applications are automatically considered for the SMFA scholarship program. No additional application is needed to be considered.
More about scholarships...

What happens if I miss the priority deadline? Can I still submit my application?
The Admissions Committee continues to review applicants for the Studio Diploma and the Bachelor of Fine Arts programs after the priority deadline on a rolling basis. Dual Degree applicants must meet the Tufts University priority deadline of January 1.

When I submit my application, does it have to be complete?
Your application does not have to be complete when you submit it to the Admissions Office. Any additional materials (such as letters of recommendation or transcripts) that arrive after we receive your application will be added to your file. However, the Admissions Committee will not review your application until it is complete and all materials are received.

Do I also need to apply to Tufts?
If you are applying to the BFA program or the Studio Diploma program, you send your application only to SMFA. If you are applying to the Dual Degree program, you must apply to both the SMFA and to Tufts University; you will then receive a decision letter from each school.

Will my degree be awarded by Tufts or SMFA?
All undergraduate and graduate degrees are awarded by Tufts University.

Do you require SAT/ACT scores?
SMFA no longer requires applicants to submit SAT/ACT scores.

What majors do you offer?
While you can concentrate in an area of study, if you choose to, there are no specific majors at SMFA. Instead, we offer students the largest multidisciplinary, all-elective studio arts program in the country and the freedom to experiment, explore and move within it. Under the guidance of a faculty art advisor, students develop individualized programs that best suit their needs and goals.

How do I know if I should apply to the BFA program or the Dual Degree program?
The majority of SMFA undergraduate students are enrolled in the four-year BFA degree program. The five-year Dual Degree program is a highly selective program in which students complete two separate degrees over five years of schooling. Dual Degree applicants are the only SMFA undergraduates who submit a separate application to Tufts.

Can I transfer credits into the Studio Diploma program?
You may transfer up to 38 credits of studio art into the Studio Diploma program. These credits can include, but are not limited to, courses taken through our Continuing Education department.

As a Studio Diploma student, can I take classes at Tufts?
While you cannot take classes at Tufts, you can take Art History and English courses offered at the Museum School and taught by Tufts faculty for an additional cost. However, degree students are given priority when registering for academic classes.

As a Studio Diploma student, can I transfer into one of the degree programs at the SMFA?
It is common for Studio Diploma students to transfer into one of our undergraduate degree programs. A student must first demonstrate academic readiness either through past academic achievement or by taking additional academic classes while enrolled in the Studio Diploma program. If you choose to transfer into one of our undergraduate degree programs, you do not need to reapply to the Admissions Office. Instead, you should contact Academic Affairs for an application.

What do students do after completing the Studio Diploma program?
As a Studio Diploma graduate, you can work as a professional artist, get a job, or enter one of our undergraduate or graduate degree programs, which are operated in partnership with Tufts University. Studio Diploma graduates also go on to study at other prestigious art institutions around the world.

How many credits can I transfer?
Undergraduate Degree students may transfer up to 36 credits of studio art and up to 7 academic classes from an accredited institution. You must have earned a grade of C or better in order for the credits to transfer. Studio Diploma students may transfer up to 48 credits of studio art. Transfer credits cannot be applied to the Post-Baccalaureate or graduate degree programs.

When will I receive notification of my transfer credit?
Accepted students will be mailed a preliminary transfer credit review shortly after receiving their decision letter.

Can I apply for an SMFA Scholarship?
Yes, transfer students are eligible to receive the SMFA Scholarship. All BFA and Studio Diploma applications that are complete and received in the Admissions Office by March 15 are automatically considered for a scholarship.

Do I need an undergraduate degree in art to apply?
The MFA program welcomes students with diverse academic backgrounds and degrees. Regardless of your undergraduate degree, a distinctly mature visual arts portfolio is required.

Are GRE scores required?
GRE scores are not required for admission into the MFA program. The portfolio is required in lieu of a GRE score.

Are there any academic requirements for admission?
Students must have a minimum of four one-semester courses in the history of art at the undergraduate level. Those who are accepted for entry with fewer than four undergraduate art history courses must make up that deficiency during their MFA studies.

What is the Graduate Admissions Committee looking for in my portfolio?
The Graduate Admissions Committee is looking for a cohesive body of work at a mature level. Entrance to the MFA program is highly selective and based largely on the portfolio and statement of purpose. The Committee is interested in viewing your most recent work.

How do I submit my portfolio?
Portfolios may be submitted in digital or time-based formats (CD or DVD), or uploaded to the SlideRoom website, and should contain up to 20 recent and representative examples of your artwork. More than 20 images will not be viewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Still images should be saved in JPEG format, with files named to correspond to the portfolio description list. Individual images must not exceed 2 MB per image.

Time-based work such as video, performance, film, etc., must be saved as QuickTime movies and presented on a DVD format or uploaded to SlideRoom. Titles of the piece(s) and your name must be included in the introduction of your work on the DVD. Limit time-based presentations to no longer than 10 minutes.

Do not send original work. All digital files must be able to open on both Mac and Windows platforms. Please do not submit portfolio images in a PowerPoint presentation or as PDF files. Please test your disc before sending it in.

How long should my statement of purpose be?
It is recommended that your statement of purpose not exceed three pages in length. Along with your portfolio, the statement of purpose plays a major role in MFA admissions decisions. There is no prescribed formula for creating a statement of purpose; instead, you decide its content. Past applicants have used this statement of purpose to address their artistic concerns and purposes, to briefly elaborate their backgrounds, to establish their reasons for pursuing graduate-level study and their goals for the future. Applicants may also choose to discuss other additional points relevant to their art.

Where do I send my application?
All application materials must be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Committee at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, or submitted via our online application. Do not send any application materials to Tufts University. Applications submitted online to Tufts will not be considered.
 
Can I apply for financial aid?
MFA applicants apply for financial aid at both Tufts University and SMFA. Tufts University administers federal programs including Federal Stafford Loans and Federal Work Study. SMFA awards institutional grants as well as teaching assistant-ships. May 1 is the priority deadline for files to be complete in the Tufts Financial Aid Office. Students are encouraged, however, to complete the process as soon as possible. International students are not eligible for financial aid via Tufts and, therefore, can only apply to SMFA for financial aid. To obtain a Financial Aid Application (or if you have financial aid-related questions), please contact the appropriate financial aid office directly. For more information about financial aid at SMFA, see Financial Aid. The Tufts University Financial Aid Office can be reached at 617-627-2000.

Are teaching assistant-ships available to graduate students?
Teaching assistant-ships are, in most cases, available to second-year graduate students. Graduate students and teachers meet prior to any teaching assignment to discuss the responsibilities the TA will have in a course.

Is an interview required?
Interviews are granted by invitation only following the initial evaluation of the applicant pool. MFA finalists invited to interview are asked to visit the SMFA campus for Graduate Interview Day, held this year on March 9, 2013, from 8 am–5 pm. At this event, students meet and interview with a three-person committee. This committee is composed of a combination of faculty and current graduate students. It is strongly recommended that invited finalists interview in-person on campus. Those with compelling reasons not to attend may be allowed to interview by telephone. Graduate Interview Day allows finalists the opportunity to show original work and to provide additional information regarding their candidacy. Finalists are notified of their status in late February. Final admissions decisions are mailed in mid-March.

Do I get my own studio space?
Yes; individual studio spaces at the Mission Hill building are reserved for MFA students.

I am an international student. Do I still need to take the TOEFL, even though I'm applying for a graduate program?
In order to be accepted into any program of study at SMFA, you must have a minimum TOEFL score of 79 on the internet based test or 550 on the written test. The TOEFL requirement is waived for any international student who has studied for two years or more at any accredited English-speaking institution.

May I transfer credits?
It is not SMFA's policy to accept transfer credit for the MFA program. This includes both studio and academic credits.

May I take courses during the summer?
With permission from their academic advisor at Tufts, MFA students may take no more than two academic courses in the Tufts Summer School.

Will my degree be awarded by Tufts or SMFA?
All undergraduate and graduate degrees are awarded by Tufts University.

Do I need an undergraduate degree in art to apply?
All students must have a bachelor's degree to be eligible for the MAT Program. Although an undergraduate degree in art is not required, most applicants possess the equivalent of an undergraduate art degree. To be eligible for the MAT program, you must have completed 42 credits of studio art and six credits in art history. Prior to applying to the MAT program, interested applicants lacking studio experience may consider applying to one of the SMFA's studio art certificate programs.

Are there any academic requirements for admission?
The MAT program requires six semester-hour credits in art history for admission.

Are GRE scores required?
The GRE is not an application requirement for candidates to the MAT in Art Education program. The portfolio is required in lieu of a GRE score.

What is the MAT Admissions Committee looking for in my portfolio?
The MAT Admissions Committee seeks candidates with experience in a range of artistic media. In addition to the candidate's artistic skill and expression, the admissions committee seeks individuals who assert a passion for teaching and a commitment to leading young people in pursuing their artistic curiosity, building technical skills and exploring the social influences of art and culture.

Is an interview required?
All applicants living within 250 miles of Boston are encouraged to arrange an interview with the Director of Art Education, and those living farther away may do so if possible. Please visit the MFA page on the Tufts website for more information.

How long is the program?
It takes twelve months: one academic year plus one summer to complete the MAT Art Education Program.

What can I teach with an MAT?
The MAT program leads candidates to apply for Teacher Licensure in Visual Art at the pre K-8 or 5-12 grade level from Massachusetts and its reciprocal states. MAT graduates teach a variety of media and courses in public schools, private schools, after-school programs, and museum settings.

Where do I send my application materials?
Apply online at Embark.com, and send supporting original materials to the Graduate Admissions Office at Tufts University. www.tufts.edu.

How many studio art classes do I take?
Studio credits are taken in "blocks" at the SMFA: one block equals two SMFA credits. MAT students take 4 blocks, or 8 credits, of studio art, which provides the possibility of taking 4 different courses.

Will my degree be awarded by Tufts or SMFA?
All undergraduate and graduate degrees are awarded by Tufts University.

Do I need a visual arts degree to apply?
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree, but it may be in any field. The Post-Baccalaureate program welcomes students with diverse academic backgrounds and degrees. Past students have included engineers, medical technicians, writers and commercial designers, as well as artists. Regardless of your undergraduate degree, a portfolio is required.

Can I transfer into the MFA or MAT program from the Post-Bac program?
Credits earned in the Post-Bac program are applied to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, and are not transferable to SMFA's graduate MFA and MAT degree programs. In the past, many students who have completed their Post-Bac year at SMFA have applied for, and been accepted into, SMFA's graduate programs. In addition, Post-Bac graduates may apply to continue their studies in the Studio Diploma program. For additional information, contact the School's Admissions Office.

Do I get my own studio space?
Yes; group and individual studio spaces are reserved for Post-Bac students at SMFA's Mission Hill Building. All MFA studio spaces are also located in this building.

Can I enroll part-time?
No. The Post-Bac program offers an intensive year of studio instruction and work. This program only enrolls full-time students for this one-year program.

Can I transfer credits into the Post-Bac Program?
No. Designed as a one-year, full-time course of study, the Post-Bac program does not accept transfer credit.

What do students do after completing the program?
With a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, you are better prepared to enter practice as an artist or to enter a program of further study at the graduate level. Approximately 80 percent of students finishing the Post-Bac Certificate program continue their education in fine arts studio programs: many enter MFA degree programs throughout the U.S. and abroad. Some Post-Bac students use this program to accomplish a mid-career shift from a non-art career into fine art practice. Artists already in practice often study in the Post-Bac program to master a medium new to them or to refresh and update their command of a familiar one.

Can I apply for financial aid?
Post-Bac students may apply for financial aid through the Financial Aid Office. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office at (800) 776-0135 or finaid@smfa.edu.

If I'm accepted to the SMFA, what type of visa am I eligible to receive?
International applicants to the SMFA are eligible to receive an F-1 Visa. An F-1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa issued for temporary admittance to the United States for the sole purpose of pursuing a full course of study toward a specific educational or professional objective at an approved academic institution.

Can I pursue part time-study?
No. United States immigration regulations mandate that F-1 Visa holders must be enrolled in a full-time course of study for the duration of their stay in the U.S.

Can I apply for a Merit Scholarship?
Yes, international students are eligible to receive a Merit Scholarship. Merit awards are based upon the student's portfolio.

What is the required TOEFL or IELTS score?
In order to be accepted into any program of study at SMFA, you must submit either a TOEFL or IELFS score. You must have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based test or 79 on the internet-based test. For the IELTS, you must have a minimum average score of 6.5. This requirement is waived for any international student who has completed two or more years of study at an accredited English-speaking institution. For undergraduate students, these two years should not include ESL courses.

How long are TOEFL and IELTS scores valid?
Two years.

What is a Statement of Financial Ability?
A Statement of Financial Ability is a document, or a set of documents, showing that you have all of the financial resources necessary to attend SMFA for at least one full year (totaling about $53,000 USD for BFA and about $50,000 USD for Studio Diploma, Post-Bac and graduate programs). The financial statement is required before SMFA can issue a Form I-20 for the student. You will also need to show the documents when you apply for the F-1 Visa. Funding may come from private bank accounts, private/government aid, grants or any scholarships that you have been awarded. It is critical that you submit original documents (officially translated, if necessary) in order to prove each source of funding.

For example, if your funding is coming from a private bank account that is not your own, then you would need to submit the following:

-An official bank statement (no more than 2 months old) that contains the sponsor's name (if it is not your personal account), and the amount in the account in U.S. dollars.

-A Letter of Sponsorship including the sponsor's name and relationship to you, confirmation that they will pay the required fees, the amount of funding being provided, the date and the sponsor's signature.

When using funds from any aid you may be receiving (loans, grants, scholarships, etc.), you must submit an official copy of the letter of sponsorship or award letter.

Do my application materials (such as my transcripts, letters of recommendation, immunization records, statements of financial eligibility, etc.) need to be translated?
All application materials sent to the SMFA must be official and in English. If any of your official materials are not in English, you must submit the original document along with an officially translated copy.

Can I work while I am a student at SMFA?
Students on an F-1 Visa may work on-campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and 40 hours per week during breaks and holidays. Off-campus employment opportunities for F-1 students are very limited. However, after an F-1 student has been in F-1 status for one full academic year, he or she may be eligible for certain benefits that would allow off-campus employment that is related to the student's field of study. All international students who wish to obtain employment should first speak with the School's International Student Advisor in the Student Affairs Office to determine eligibility.

After graduation, can I stay in the United States?
Upon completion of studies, an F-1 student is granted a 60-day grace period in which to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to another program of study. F-1 students may also be eligible to remain in the country and seek employment in their field of study for up to 12 months through a benefit called Optional Practical Training.

Is there housing?
Our students have the option of living in two residence buildings located a short distance from campus, or off campus in many convenient neighborhoods. The Student Affairs Office hosts housing assistance days to help both new and returning students meet potential roommates, hear presentations about what it's like to live in Boston, talk to real estate agents, and see a slide show of neighborhoods near SMFA. The Student Affairs Office also publishes a bi-weekly list of housing opportunities with current room, apartment, and roommate listings. Housing packets with information on housing are sent to first time students upon acceptance to SMFA. To request information about housing, please contact Student Affairs at (617) 369-4041 or studentaffairs@smfa.edu.

MFA and MAT students may enter the lottery at Tufts University to live in graduate housing.

How do I get to Tufts?
You can take the free Tufts University Shuttle to and from SMFA several times a day. The Shuttle Service schedule can be found online at http://publicsafety.tufts.edu/adminsvc/?pid=6. Public transportation is also available by taking the Red Line to the Davis Square T-stop. You can then take either the #94 or #96 bus or walk 15 minutes along College Avenue to the Tufts campus.

Can I take a class at another school while at SMFA?
SMFA is a member of the Professional Arts Consortium www.proarts.org (ProArts), which is an association of six neighboring Boston institutions of higher education dedicated to the visual and performing arts. Through this organization, full-time SMFA students have the option of taking studio classes for one block of credit per class at the following schools:

Berklee College of Music
The Boston Architectural College
The Boston Conservatory
Emerson College
Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Please contact the Registrar's Office at (617) 369-3621 or visit  ProArts www.proarts.org for additional information.

Can I play a sport while at SMFA?
If you are enrolled in a degree-granting program, then you are considered both an SMFA student and a Tufts student. As a Tufts student, you may use the gym facilities and participate in any activity or club. You may also participate in Tufts sports, although the scheduling of afternoon practices can present scheduling conflicts with afternoon studio classes. Gym memberships and discounts are also available through Northeastern University's Marino Athletic Center or the Boston YMCA.

Can I study abroad?
Yes, a variety of study abroad programs are available to full-time students through our Student Affairs Office. In the past, SMFA students have studied in The Netherlands, Israel, Paris, Belgium, Italy, Ireland and many other countries. 

Where can I go to find an internship, a job, or career assistance?
The Artist Resource Center (ARC) is dedicated to assisting you with your career development at the SMFA and beyond. ARC's services are available to both current students and to SMFA alumni. ARC offers an extensive variety of programs and resources, including:

One-on-one career advising sessions, including rsum and proposal writing assistance. 
Internships for studio credit, including help in securing an internship and support and guidance throughout.
In-office employment/internship listings and resource publications (grants, residencies, exhibition opportunities and more).
artSource, a free online index of arts-related employment, internships, grants, residencies, exhibitions, public art commissions and community resources.
Professional development workshops.
For more information, please call 617-369-3635 or see ARC.