Organizer Information
Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, with arts and media education distributed across the College of Fine Arts (CFA), College of Communication (COM), and the College of Arts & Sciences. Relevant study areas include visual arts, music, theatre, film and television, media, art history, architecture, and related interdisciplinary fields. BU offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, diploma, certificate, and combined-degree options across these areas.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Boston University
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral / Other
- Degrees Offered: BA, BS, BFA, BM, MA, MFA, MS, MM, DMA, PhD, diplomas, certificates
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Film & Television / Media / Photography / Graphic Design / Painting / Printmaking / Sculpture / Art History / Architecture / Theatre / Music
- Relevant Programs: BS Film & Television; MFA Film & Television Studies; MFA Screenwriting; MS Television; MS Media Ventures; MS Branded Content Production; BA Art; BFA Graphic Design, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture and Art Education; MFA Graphic Design, Painting, Print Media & Photography, Sculpture and Visual Narrative; MA History of Art & Architecture; BFA/MFA Theatre programs; undergraduate and graduate Music programs.
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Program-specific; Fall 2027 and Spring 2027 cycles are open for applicable programs
- Application Deadline: Program-specific; major arts/media deadlines include 15 January 2027 and 1 February 2027
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027 for the principal annual arts/media admissions cycles
- Application Fee: $80 undergraduate; $95 for most graduate applications
- Tuition: From $31,744/year for School of Music graduate programs; $36,558/year for CFA Theatre and Visual Arts graduate programs; $2,282/credit for COM on-campus master's programs; $73,024/year for standard full-time undergraduate tuition.
- Funding: Merit scholarships, assistantships, grants and other financial aid are available; eligibility varies by program and applicant category.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Boston University offers professionally oriented and research-based study across the visual and performing arts, film and television, communication, media, and art history.
- The School of Visual Arts offers BA and BFA study in Art, Art Education, Graphic Design, Painting, Printmaking and Sculpture, with MFA programs in Graphic Design, Painting, Print Media & Photography, Sculpture and Visual Narrative.
- The College of Communication offers undergraduate Film & Television study and graduate programs including Film and Television Studies, Screenwriting, Television, Media Ventures and Branded Content Production. The MFA in Film and Television Studies is research-oriented rather than a film-production degree.
- The MA in History of Art & Architecture requires relevant prior coursework and foreign-language preparation; applicants without sufficient background may be required to complete additional coursework.
General Eligibility
- International and domestic applicants may apply to applicable undergraduate and graduate programs. First-year undergraduate applicants must have completed high school, a GED, or an equivalent qualification. Transfer applicants follow separate requirements.
- For CFA graduate programs, applicants must hold or expect to hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent. A BFA or BM is not required, and CFA states that applicants from varied academic backgrounds may apply, although successful applicants commonly have prior study in their intended field.
- Educational Background: Requirements are program-specific. For example, the MA in History of Art & Architecture requires prior art-history and architecture coursework plus foreign-language preparation. COM graduate programs generally welcome applicants from varied academic and professional backgrounds and do not require a communication degree.
Language Requirements
- International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency where required.
- For undergraduate admission, BU accepts TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test results. BU states that an IELTS overall score of 7.0 satisfies its undergraduate English-proficiency requirement; competitive TOEFL iBT applicants generally present 90–100 or higher, with section scores considered.
- Graduate requirements are program-specific. CFA accepts TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS and Duolingo, with minimums varying by school and degree. For example, School of Visual Arts MFA/MA applicants may meet the requirement with IELTS 7.0, while CFA MA/MM programs generally require IELTS 6.5.
Application Fee
| Applicant / Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $80 per application |
| Most graduate applications | $95 per application |
| Metropolitan College & School of Law | $85 per application |
| Questrom graduate applications | $125 per application |
Fee waivers are available for some applicant categories and programs.
Tuition
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | All | $73,024/year | Annual fall/spring tuition | University fees; health insurance where required |
| COM on-campus master's | Domestic / International | $2,282/credit | Per credit | $1,208/year listed for 2026–27; insurance where required |
| CFA Music graduate | Domestic / International | $31,744/year | Full-time annual rate | $1,098 university fees; $4,200 applied music fee where applicable |
| CFA Theatre graduate | Domestic / International | $36,558/year | Full-time annual rate | $1,098 university fees; insurance where required |
| CFA Visual Arts graduate | Domestic / International | $36,558/year | Full-time annual rate | $1,098 university fees; insurance where required |
| GRS MA/MS | Domestic / International | $36,512/semester full-time | Per semester | $229 student services + $295 health & wellness per semester |
International students are required to enroll in a BU medical insurance plan where the applicable policy requires it; the 2026–27 BU Student Basic Plan is $4,054.
Funding & Financial Support
- CFA automatically considers admitted full-time students in eligible on-campus graduate programs for merit scholarships, including international students. Awards are based on artistic promise and program needs, with no separate scholarship application. CFA also offers graduate assistantships and, for Musicology PhD students, five-year fellowship support for newly admitted students.
- COM automatically considers eligible full-time applicants for merit scholarships. Current awards range from 10% to 50% of tuition, and international applicants are eligible. Graduate assistantships are also available, although they do not include tuition remission.
University Services & Academic Support
- Relevant academic and professional support includes faculty mentoring, studio and production facilities, galleries and exhibition opportunities, research resources, career services, internships and professional development. The School of Visual Arts provides specialized studios, workshops, a research/resource library and exhibition spaces, while Film & Television students have access to production and post-production facilities and internship opportunities.
- International students also receive immigration and transition support through BU's international student services.
Application Requirements
- Undergraduate: Common Application and academic credentials; CFA programs may additionally require portfolios, auditions, artistic reviews or other creative materials.
- CFA graduate: online application, transcripts, CV/resume, personal statement, two recommendation letters and the $95 application fee. School of Visual Arts graduate programs additionally require a digital portfolio.
- COM graduate: transcripts, CV/resume, recommendations, personal statement, Kira Talent assessment and English-proficiency documentation where applicable; additional materials depend on the program.
- Film & Television Studies MFA: personal statement and two academic writing samples of at least 750 words each.
- School of Music: audition, prescreening or composition materials are required for specified programs.
- School of Theatre: program-specific portfolios, essays, recommendations and artistic review/audition requirements apply to relevant programs.
- MA History of Art & Architecture: transcripts, two recommendations, personal statement, CV/resume, writing sample, and required coursework/foreign-language background.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Undergraduate Early Decision 1: 2 November 2026
- Undergraduate Early Decision 2 / Regular Decision: 5 January 2027
- School of Music Graduate Application: 1 December 2026
- School of Music Graduate Audition Scheduling: 8 January 2027
- School of Music Graduate Recorded Audition Media: 15 January 2027
- School of Visual Arts Graduate Application: 15 January 2027
- School of Visual Arts Graduate Admission Decisions: Early March 2027
- History of Art & Architecture MA Fall Deadline: 15 January 2027
- History of Art & Architecture PhD Fall Deadline: 15 January 2027
- CFA Theatre Priority Deadline: 15 January 2027
- COM Graduate Priority Deadline: 1 February 2027
- COM Graduate Final Deadline: 1 May 2027
- Fall 2027 Classes: September 2027
Location
Boston University — Boston, United States
Additional Details
Boston University's admissions structure is highly program-specific. Portfolio, audition, interview, writing-sample and language requirements should therefore be checked against the exact degree before applying. For example, Visual Arts graduate applicants must submit a portfolio, while the Film and Television Studies MFA emphasizes academic writing rather than film production.
For international applicants, English-proficiency rules and funding eligibility differ between undergraduate, CFA, COM and other graduate programs. International students should also account for mandatory health-insurance requirements when budgeting.