Organizer Information
Stanford University is a private research university in Stanford, California. Relevant arts, design, film, media, and humanities study is offered through the School of Humanities and Sciences, the Department of Art & Art History, the Department of Music, the Department of Theater and Performance Studies, and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (Stanford d.school).
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Stanford University
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA / MFA / MS / PhD
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Film & Media / Art History / Design / Music / Theater & Performance
- Relevant Programs: BA Art History; BA Art Practice; BA Film & Media Studies; MFA Art Practice; MFA Documentary Film and Video; PhD Art History; MS Design; BA Music; BA Theater and Performance Studies
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Undergraduate applications open for the 2027–28 cycle; graduate applications generally open in September 2026, with program-specific deadlines.
- Application Deadline: Undergraduate: 15 October / 1 November / 5 December / 5 January, depending on application route; relevant arts portfolio deadlines are earlier. Graduate arts and design programs: generally 1 December 2026.
- Start of Studies: Autumn Quarter 2027–28
- Application Fee: $100 undergraduate; $125 graduate
- Tuition: From $22,577 per quarter undergraduate; from $14,180 per quarter graduate
- Funding: Need-based undergraduate financial aid; graduate fellowships and assistantships are available in relevant programs.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Stanford's relevant arts and creative disciplines include Art Practice, Art History, Film & Media Studies, Documentary Film and Video, Design, Music, and Theater and Performance Studies. The Film & Media Studies BA includes the subplans Culture and Criticism and Screenwriting.
- The MFA Documentary Film and Video is specifically focused on documentary production and is not designed for students primarily interested in narrative filmmaking.
- The MS Design program is interdisciplinary and considers applicants from science, engineering, design, and related backgrounds; applicants with a BS in a science or engineering field or an equivalent degree are considered.
General Eligibility
- Stanford undergraduate applicants apply to the university rather than directly to a particular major or department. Applicants who have already earned a bachelor's degree cannot apply as first-year or transfer applicants and must instead apply for graduate admission.
- Graduate applicants must meet Stanford's graduate application eligibility requirements and any additional requirements imposed by the individual program. The MFA Documentary Film and Video program seeks applicants with some work experience beyond their undergraduate years. The MS Design program specifically considers applicants with a BS in science or engineering or an equivalent degree.
- For undergraduate applicants, an Arts Portfolio is optional and is available for Art Practice, Dance, Music, and Theater and Performance Studies. Stanford does not accept Arts Portfolios for Film and Media Studies.
Language Requirements
- Undergraduate applicants are not required to submit an English proficiency examination, although fluency in English is a prerequisite for admission.
- For graduate admission, applicants must demonstrate English proficiency unless they meet Stanford's stated exemption conditions. The university's minimum consideration scores are TOEFL iBT 90 for tests taken before 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT equivalent 4.5 under the post-January-2026 scoring system, or IELTS Academic 7.0. Individual programs may impose higher requirements.
- The Department of Art & Art History specifically states that TOEFL is required when the applicant's first language is not English and that IELTS is not accepted for its listed graduate programs.
Application Fee
| Applicant Category | Application Fee | Fee Waiver |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate first-year | $100 | Available to eligible applicants |
| Undergraduate transfer | $100 | Available to eligible applicants |
| Graduate | $125 | Available to eligible applicants |
Undergraduate fees are nonrefundable. Graduate applications carry a nonrefundable $125 fee, with specified waiver routes.
Tuition
| Study Level | Tuition | Billing Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, full-time | $22,577 | Per quarter |
| Graduate, standard | $14,180 for 8–10 units; $21,815 for 11–18 units | Per quarter |
| Graduate Engineering | $15,100 for 8–10 units; $23,239 for 11–18 units | Per quarter |
Additional mandatory charges may apply depending on enrollment and student status. Stanford does not use a single tuition rate across all graduate/professional programs.
Funding & Financial Support
- Stanford provides comprehensive need-based financial aid to undergraduate students. International undergraduates may receive institutional financial aid, but the university has limited aid for international students and applicants must request consideration when applying for admission.
- Graduate funding varies by program. Art History PhD students normally receive a five-year support package including departmental fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships. MFA Art Practice students typically receive fellowship and teaching-assistant support including tuition and stipend/salary, while MFA Documentary Film and Video students receive fellowship and assistantship support including tuition and stipends/salaries.
University Services & Academic Support
Relevant academic support includes faculty advising and mentorship, research and library resources, specialized art and architecture collections, production facilities, and technical resources. The MFA Documentary Film and Video program provides individual editing rooms, production equipment and technical support. Art History students have access to Stanford's arts-related research and collection resources.
Application Requirements
Undergraduate first-year applicants must submit:
- Common Application
- $100 application fee or eligible fee-waiver request
- ACT or SAT scores
- School Report and counselor recommendation
- Official transcript or academic records
- Two teacher recommendations
- Midyear transcript by 15 February
Optional undergraduate Arts Portfolio: available for Art Practice, Dance, Music, and Theater and Performance Studies. Art Practice applicants submitting a portfolio provide an artist's statement and specified artwork; portfolio formats vary by medium.
MFA Art Practice: three recommendation letters, transcripts, statement of purpose, English-proficiency documentation where applicable, and an online portfolio through SlideRoom. The portfolio has a $10 submission fee.
MFA Documentary Film and Video: three recommendation letters, transcripts, statement of purpose, English-proficiency documentation where applicable, a five-to-eight-page writing sample, and an online portfolio through SlideRoom. The portfolio has a $6 submission fee and may include up to 15 minutes of film/video work.
PhD Art History: three recommendation letters, transcripts, statement of purpose, English-proficiency documentation where applicable, and one writing sample of no more than 20 pages. Finalists may be interviewed.
MS Design: online application, unofficial transcripts, three recommendation letters, statement of purpose, personal portfolio, and TOEFL where applicable. GRE scores are not required for the 2026–27 admissions cycle.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Undergraduate Restrictive Early Action — Arts Portfolio Application: 15 October 2026
- Undergraduate Restrictive Early Action — Arts Portfolio Materials: 20 October 2026
- Undergraduate Restrictive Early Action — Standard Application: 1 November 2026
- Undergraduate Regular Decision — Arts Portfolio Application: 5 December 2026
- Undergraduate Regular Decision — Arts Portfolio Materials: 10 December 2026
- Undergraduate Regular Decision — Standard Application: 5 January 2027
- Undergraduate Transfer Application: 15 March 2027
- MFA Art Practice Application: 1 December 2026
- MFA Documentary Film and Video Application: 1 December 2026
- PhD Art History Application: 1 December 2026
- MS Design Application: 1 December 2026
- Undergraduate Decision — Restrictive Early Action: By mid-December 2026
- Undergraduate Decision — Regular Decision: By early April 2027
- Undergraduate Student Reply Date: 1 May 2027
Location
Stanford University — Stanford, California, United States
Additional Details
Stanford uses different admission systems and requirements for undergraduate and graduate applicants. Undergraduate applicants apply to Stanford as a whole rather than to a specific major. Graduate applications are submitted to a single graduate program in each academic year, except for the specified Biosciences exception. Program-level requirements and deadlines therefore take precedence over general university guidance.
The MFA Art Practice and MFA Documentary Film and Video programs require portfolios, while the undergraduate Arts Portfolio is optional. The MS Design program has a separate personal-portfolio requirement.