Organizer Information
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts, offering undergraduate education through an open curriculum. Its arts-related academic offerings include Film and Media Studies and Art and the History of Art, alongside programs in theater, dance, music, and other humanities disciplines. Amherst accepts first-year and transfer applications from international students and provides dedicated international student support.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Amherst College
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: BA
- Academic Fields: Film & Media; Art & Art History; Theater & Dance; Music; Humanities
- Relevant Programs: Film and Media Studies; Art and the History of Art
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: 2026–2027 admission cycle
- Application Deadline: 9 November 2026 (Early Decision); 5 January 2027 (Regular Decision); transfer deadlines vary by entry term
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027; Spring 2027 transfer entry
- Application Fee: $75
- Tuition: $75,330 per academic year
- Funding: Need-blind admission and need-based financial aid for international students; Amherst meets 100% of calculated financial need for admitted international students.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Amherst's Film and Media Studies major combines critical study of moving images with creative and production work, including areas such as filmmaking, editing, sound, cinematography, narrative and experimental media. The program is interdisciplinary and connects film with fields including visual culture, theater and dance, anthropology, computer science, and gender studies.
- The Art and the History of Art program provides opportunities combining studio art practice with art-historical study. Amherst students can also pursue arts-related study through Theater and Dance and other humanities disciplines.
General Eligibility
Amherst accepts applications from international and domestic students. First-year applicants must have completed secondary education and must not already hold a bachelor's degree. Transfer applicants must have completed the equivalent of at least 32 transferable semester hours at another college or university and must not already hold a bachelor's degree.
Educational Background
First-year applicants must have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent before enrolling. Transfer applicants must have completed the required transferable liberal arts coursework at another college or university. Amherst does not accept applications from individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree.
Language Requirements
International applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency unless they meet Amherst's specific waiver conditions. Accepted tests are TOEFL iBT/Home Edition, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test. For the 2026–27 cycle, Amherst strongly recommends a minimum of 100 TOEFL iBT, 7.5 IELTS Academic, or 130 Duolingo. The English-proficiency requirement may be waived for eligible applicants who completed the two most recent years of education primarily in English, subject to Amherst's stated conditions.
Application Fee
| Applicant Type | Application Fee | Waiver |
|---|---|---|
| First-year | $75 | Available through Common App, Apply Coalition with Scoir, or Amherst Quick Pass |
| Transfer | $75 | Available through Common App, Apply Coalition with Scoir, or Amherst Quick Pass |
Amherst's current first-year and transfer admissions pages both list a $75 non-refundable application fee.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | All students | $75,330 | Academic year | Student activities fee: $710 |
| Undergraduate | All students | $96,360 comprehensive fee | Academic year | Includes tuition, housing, meals and student activities fee |
The 2026–27 tuition is $75,330, and the comprehensive billed fee is $96,360. The comprehensive fee includes housing and meals. The College health-insurance plan is listed separately from the comprehensive fee; students with qualifying comparable coverage may waive the College plan.
Funding & Financial Support
Amherst uses a need-blind admission policy for international applicants and meets 100% of calculated financial need for admitted international students who apply for need-based financial aid. Amherst states that its financial-aid offers include grants, scholarships, and student employment; students may separately apply for loans.
University Services & Academic Support
International students receive support through the International Students Office. Academic support includes faculty mentorship, while the Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning provides career support related to internships, interviews, and employment. Amherst also provides required course materials through the Amherst College Textbook Solution (ACTS).
Application Requirements
First-year applicants must submit:
- Common Application, Apply Coalition with Scoir, or QuestBridge Application
- Amherst College Writing Supplement
- $75 application fee or approved fee waiver
- Secondary school transcript
- School Report
- Counselor recommendation
- Two teacher recommendations
- Mid-year transcript and report when available
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo results when required for international applicants
- Optional SAT or ACT results
- Early Decision Agreement, for Early Decision applicants
An Arts Supplement is optional for students with significant accomplishments in music, theater, dance, or visual art. It is not a general mandatory portfolio requirement.
Transfer applicants must submit the Common Application for Transfer Students or Apply Coalition with Scoir, college transcripts, required college reports, two college instructor evaluations, two essay responses, a secondary school transcript, and English-proficiency results when required.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Early Decision Application Deadline: 9 November 2026
- Early Decision Financial Aid Deadline: 13 November 2026
- Regular Decision Application Deadline: 5 January 2027
- Regular Decision Financial Aid Deadline: 15 January 2027
- Transfer Spring Enrollment Deadline: 2 November 2026
- Transfer Fall Enrollment Deadline: 1 March 2027
- Regular Decision Admission Notification: Late March 2027
- Early Decision Admission Notification: Early to mid-December 2026
- Transfer Spring Admission Notification: Mid-December 2026
- Transfer Fall Admission Notification: Mid-April 2027
- Regular Decision Enrollment Reply Deadline: 1 May 2027
Location
Amherst College — Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Additional Details
Amherst is an undergraduate-only institution for the admissions pathways covered here; its current application information does not provide graduate or doctoral admission pathways. The Film and Media Studies major is particularly relevant to students seeking an interdisciplinary combination of film analysis, media studies, and production practice.
Applicants who have already earned a bachelor's degree are not eligible to apply through Amherst's first-year or transfer admission routes.