Organizer Information
Brandeis University is a private research university located in Waltham, Massachusetts, near Boston. Founded in 1948, the university offers undergraduate and graduate education across the humanities, arts, sciences, business, and social sciences. Relevant opportunities for artists and creative practitioners include the Department of Fine Arts, the Film, Television and Interactive Media Program, and graduate study in Studio Art through the Graduate Studies in the Arts and Sciences.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Brandeis University
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate, graduate, post-baccalaureate, and doctoral, depending on the program.
- Degrees Offered: BA, MA, MFA, PhD, and other program-specific qualifications.
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts, Studio Art, Art History, Film, Television, Interactive Media, Music, and related humanities disciplines.
- Relevant Programs: BA in Studio Art; BA in Art History; BA in Film, Television and Interactive Media; Post-Baccalaureate Program in Studio Art; graduate Studio Art program; MA and PhD programs in relevant humanities disciplines.
- Language of Instruction: English.
- International Applicants: Yes.
- Application Period: Varies by degree and admission round.
- Application Deadline: Undergraduate and graduate deadlines vary by program and entry term.
- Start of Studies: Fall and spring entry options depend on the program.
- Application Fee: $80 for undergraduate first-year applications; $75 for Graduate Studies in the Arts and Sciences applications.
- Tuition: Undergraduate: $73,080 per academic year; graduate Studio Art: $24,440 for the listed 2026–2027 cost-of-attendance period.
- Funding: Need-based financial aid, scholarships, and graduate funding opportunities, subject to eligibility.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
Brandeis offers academic and practical study in the visual arts, moving-image media, and art history.
- Studio Art: Painting, sculpture, printmaking, and digital media through the BA in Studio Art.
- Art History: Historical and critical study of art across periods, regions, and media through the BA in Art History.
- Film, Television and Interactive Media: Film history, analysis, screenwriting, editing, sound design, animation, and digital-media production through the BA program.
- Graduate Studio Art: A post-baccalaureate pathway and graduate-level Studio Art study are listed among the university's arts offerings.
Students should consult individual program pages for any discipline-specific prerequisites or portfolio requirements. Admission to one program does not establish eligibility for another.
General Eligibility
- Brandeis accepts domestic and international applicants. Undergraduate applicants generally need to demonstrate successful secondary-school preparation, while graduate applicants must satisfy the admission criteria of their chosen program.
- Graduate applicants are evaluated competitively. Previous academic performance, recommendations, relevant experience, research interests, and other program-specific evidence may inform admission decisions.
- Additional eligibility conditions: Applicants should verify their chosen program's academic prerequisites, required documents, entry term, and international-student conditions before applying.
Educational Background
- Undergraduate programs: Applicants must provide secondary-school academic records or the appropriate equivalent.
- Graduate programs: Applicants to the Graduate Studies in the Arts and Sciences must hold a bachelor's degree or international equivalent before matriculation.
- Doctoral programs: A master's degree is not universally required before PhD study; eligibility depends on the particular program.
- Studio Art and other creative disciplines: Applicants should check the relevant program's official admissions instructions for any specific academic or creative prerequisites.
Language Requirements
- English is the language of instruction. International applicants may need to demonstrate English proficiency, depending on their educational background and applicant category.
- For international graduate applicants, Brandeis recommends the following scores:
| Test | Recommended score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 100 |
| TOEFL ITP | 627 |
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 |
| Duolingo English Test | 130 |
| PTE Academic | 68 |
Graduate applicants may qualify for an exemption if they meet the university's stated English-language education or employment conditions. Undergraduate applicants should consult the separate undergraduate policy, which includes its own exemption conditions.
Application fees
| Applicant category | Application fee | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate first-year | $80 | Fee waiver available for eligible applicants |
| Graduate Studies in the Arts and Sciences | $75 | Waivers available for qualifying affiliations and circumstances |
Tuition
| Study level / program | Tuition | Billing or coverage period |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, full-time | $73,080 | Academic year; 12–23 credits per semester |
| Graduate Studio Art | $24,440 | Listed nine-month cost-of-attendance period |
| Graduate Arts and Sciences, standard master's and PhD category | $59,600 | Listed nine-month cost-of-attendance period |
- Additional expenses may include housing, food, books, health insurance, and student fees. The university's published undergraduate estimates include a mandatory student activity fee of $598, a one-time new-student fee of $450 for domestic students or $635 for international students, and an international student fee of $252 per semester. The projected full-year health insurance premium is $4,700.
- Graduate cost-of-attendance figures include additional expenses and should not be confused with tuition alone. Insurance waivers may be possible for eligible students. Applicants should use the university's official financial pages to confirm the charges applicable to their specific program and enrollment year.
Funding & Financial Support
Brandeis provides financial assistance through institutional scholarships, need-based aid, and graduate funding arrangements.
- Undergraduate students: Eligible students may apply for need-based financial aid. The Brandeis Commitment provides qualifying domestic families with tuition assistance according to the university's published income and eligibility criteria.
- International undergraduates: Need-based aid is available to eligible international students. Applicants seeking assistance must submit the required international financial-aid documentation.
- Graduate students: Brandeis lists scholarships and loan support for graduate students, with funding arrangements varying by degree and program. Doctoral and master's funding should be checked separately.
Financial assistance is subject to eligibility and award decisions; admission does not guarantee a particular financial-aid package.
University Services & Academic Support
Relevant academic resources include:
- Studio Art facilities: Opportunities to develop practical skills in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and digital media through the Studio Art program.
- Film and media facilities: The Film, Television and Interactive Media Program identifies the Wasserman Cinematheque and Getz Multimedia Lab among its resources.
- Research and creative projects: Eligible Film, Television and Interactive Media majors may undertake an honors thesis involving a research or creative project supervised by a program faculty member.
- Art research resources: The Department of Fine Arts identifies the Rose Art Museum as a resource for studying twentieth-century and contemporary art.
- Graduate academic support: Graduate Studies in the Arts and Sciences emphasizes faculty guidance, research, and individualized study.
Access to facilities and supervised projects depends on the relevant program and its academic requirements.
Application Requirements
Undergraduate first-year applicants must submit the following core materials:
- Completed Common Application or Coalition Application.
- $80 application fee or an approved fee waiver.
- Official secondary-school transcripts and applicable examination results.
- English translations alongside original academic documents when those documents are not in English.
- A teacher recommendation and other materials required by the applicable application instructions.
International applicants may also need English-proficiency results unless they qualify for an exemption.
Graduate applicants should prepare the materials required by their specific program. Graduate Studies in the Arts and Sciences generally requires an application, application fee or waiver, academic transcripts, a CV or résumé, a statement of purpose, and recommendation information. Depending on the program, a writing sample, portfolio, standardized test result, or interview may also be required.
Portfolio, interview, audition, and creative-sample requirements must be confirmed for the individual program; they should not be assumed to apply to every arts applicant.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Graduate History PhD application deadline: 15 January 2027
- Graduate History MA application deadline: Rolling through 1 May, with application review beginning 15 January; confirm the applicable admission cycle before applying.
For undergraduate admission and other graduate programs, applicants should consult the current program-specific admissions page for the relevant entry term. Do not assume that a deadline published for a previous admission cycle applies to Fall 2027 entry.
Location
Brandeis University — Waltham, Massachusetts, United States.
Additional Details
- Brandeis operates separate admissions processes for undergraduate study, Graduate Studies in the Arts and Sciences, and other graduate schools.
- Undergraduate and graduate application fees, tuition structures, financial-aid requirements, and deadlines are not interchangeable.
- Graduate applicants may apply to only one Graduate Studies in the Arts and Sciences program per academic year.
- The university's 2026–2027 financial figures may be revised, and actual costs can differ according to housing, insurance, enrollment, and program.