Organizer Information
Brown University is a private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Relevant creative and media-focused academic units include the Department of Visual Art, Department of Modern Culture and Media, Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies, Literary Arts, and the Brown Arts Institute. Brown offers undergraduate concentrations and graduate programs spanning visual art, film and media studies, performance, literary arts, and related interdisciplinary fields.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Brown University
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s degrees / MFA / PhD
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Film & Media / Photography / Digital Media / Theatre & Performance / Literary Arts / Art History / Cultural Studies
- Relevant Programs: Visual Art; Modern Culture and Media; Theatre Arts and Performance Studies; MFA in Playwriting; PhD in Modern Culture and Media; PhD in Theatre Arts and Performance Studies; MFA in Literary Arts
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Program-specific
- Application Deadline: Program-specific
- Start of Studies: Fall; selected undergraduate transfer applicants may also enter in Spring
- Application Fee: $80 undergraduate / $75 graduate
- Tuition: $74,568/year undergraduate; $9,320/course standard graduate rate
- Funding: Need-based undergraduate financial aid; funded graduate programs include MFA Playwriting and PhD programs.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
Brown's Visual Art concentration covers painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, digital imaging, book arts, and film. Modern Culture and Media (MCM) combines film, television, photography, sound, digital media, visual culture, cultural theory, and creative production. Its practice-based undergraduate track allows production work across MCM, Visual Art, Music, Literary Arts, Theatre Arts and Performance Studies, Computer Science, Engineering, RISD, and study abroad.
At graduate level, MCM accepts applicants from varied undergraduate backgrounds; the department states that previous students have entered from Film and Media Studies, Art History, English, East Asian Studies and other disciplines.
General Eligibility
- Brown accepts international applicants for undergraduate and graduate study. Undergraduate international applicants follow the same general admission requirements and deadlines as other applicants, with additional international documentation and English-proficiency requirements where applicable.
- For first-year undergraduate admission, applicants must have completed secondary school. Brown's international admissions guidance states that first-year students normally have completed 12–13 years of primary and secondary education.
- Graduate eligibility varies by program. The MCM PhD may admit students directly from undergraduate study, and any undergraduate major may be considered when the applicant demonstrates appropriate preparation and potential.
Educational Background
- For undergraduate admission, applicants must complete secondary education and submit the required school records.
- For the MCM PhD, a bachelor's degree is sufficient for entry; a master's degree is not required. Students entering with a master's degree follow the program's graduate curriculum and may be eligible for an accelerated path.
- For the MFA in Playwriting, applicants submit creative writing materials demonstrating preparation for advanced study in playwriting.
Language Requirements
Brown's undergraduate instruction is in English. International applicants whose first language, primary home language, or primary secondary-school language is not English are strongly encouraged to submit an accepted English-proficiency test. Expected minimum scores in most cases are IELTS 8.0, TOEFL iBT 105 for tests taken before January 2026 or 5.5 for tests taken from January 2026, Duolingo 130, PTE 75, or Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency 191. h, subject to the Graduate School's exemption for applicants holding or receiving a degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction.
Application Fee
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Application Fee | Waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Applicants | $80 | Fee waiver available |
| Graduate | Applicants | $75 | Need-based waiver subject to eligibility |
Brown's undergraduate application fee is non-refundable, while graduate applications carry a $75 fee.
Tuition
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | All full-time students | $74,568 | Annual | Student activities, student resources, recreation, health services and academic record fees |
| Standard graduate master's programs | Graduate students | $9,320 | Per course | Graduate student activities, recreation, health services, academic record and health insurance fees |
| MFA Playwriting | Admitted MFA students | Covered by program funding | Funded program | Funding package covers tuition, health fee and health insurance |
Brown's 2026–2027 undergraduate tuition is $74,568. Standard graduate tuition is $9,320 per course, although individual master's programs can have different rates.
Funding & Financial Support
- Brown states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for undergraduate students and admits first-year applicants on a need-blind basis. International undergraduate applicants are included in Brown's international admissions system; financial-aid eligibility should be assessed according to Brown's current international financial-aid policies.
- The MFA in Playwriting provides a three-year financial-aid package covering tuition, health fees and health insurance, together with stipends during the academic year and two summers, subject to satisfactory academic standing.
- The MCM PhD provides guaranteed multi-year graduate support, including fellowship and teaching-assistant funding; Brown states that this support includes international students.
University Services & Academic Support
- Relevant academic support includes faculty advising, undergraduate concentration advising, production facilities, media-production courses, independent study, honors projects, and access to courses at the neighboring Rhode Island School of Design. MCM also provides student production funds and opportunities for undergraduate employment in production and media-related roles.
- Graduate students receive faculty supervision, research and teaching opportunities, and access to interdisciplinary coursework across Brown. MCM doctoral students can work with faculty from other departments on examination and dissertation committees.
Application Requirements
- Undergraduate applicants submit the Common Application, Brown's supplemental essays, the $80 application fee or fee waiver, official secondary-school transcripts, a School Report and required recommendations. Brown requires SAT or ACT scores for first-year applicants.
- Applicants with significant visual-art or music accomplishments may submit optional supplementary materials through SlideRoom. These materials are not presented by Brown as a universal portfolio requirement.
- For the MCM PhD, applicants must submit transcripts, three recommendations, a personal statement, a writing sample and the required English-proficiency documentation where applicable. The GRE is not required.
- For the MFA in Playwriting, applicants must submit two writing samples, a personal statement and three recommendations, including at least one recommendation addressing their work as a theatre artist. The first writing sample must be a complete full-length play; the second may be written, visual, sound or video work subject to the program's limits.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Undergraduate Early Decision Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Undergraduate Regular Decision Deadline: 5 January 2027
- Undergraduate Early Decision Notification: Mid December 2026
- Undergraduate Regular Decision Notification: Early April 2027
- Regular Decision Commitment Deadline: 1 May 2027
- MCM PhD Application Opens: 8 September 2026
- MCM PhD Application Deadline: 15 December 2026
- MCM PhD Admission and Financial-Aid Decisions: Mid March 2027
- MFA Playwriting Application Opens: 8 September 2026
- MFA Playwriting Application Deadline: 4 January 2027
- Theatre Arts and Performance Studies PhD Application Deadline: 4 January 2027
- MFA Literary Arts Application Deadline: 15 December 2026
Location
Brown University — Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Additional Details
Brown's creative and media offerings are distributed across several academic units rather than a single film school. For applicants interested specifically in film, the strongest relevant undergraduate pathways are Modern Culture and Media and Visual Art, while graduate-level film/media scholarship is principally represented by the PhD in Modern Culture and Media. The MCM undergraduate curriculum includes both theory-based and practice-based tracks, including filmic and video production courses.
The Brown/Trinity MFA in Acting and Directing is currently paused for admissions while Brown and Trinity Repertory Company work on a future partnership.