Organizer Information
Vanderbilt University is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Relevant opportunities for artists, filmmakers, media practitioners, and writers are offered through the College of Arts and Science, including the Department of Art and the Department of Cinema, Media Arts, and Theatre, as well as the Department of English’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Undergraduate arts study includes studio art and cinema and media arts, while the Graduate School offers the MFA in Creative Writing.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Vanderbilt University
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate
- Degrees Offered: B.A.; B.Mus.; B.Mus.A.; M.F.A.; other university degrees
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Film & Media / Theatre / Music / Creative Writing / Art History
- Relevant Programs: Art major; Cinema and Media Arts major; Theatre major; Bachelor of Music; Bachelor of Musical Arts; M.F.A. in Creative Writing
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Undergraduate applications for Fall 2027; Graduate School applications open 1 August
- Application Deadline: Undergraduate Regular Decision — 1 January 2027; MFA in Creative Writing — 1 December 2026
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027
- Application Fee: $50 undergraduate; $95 Graduate School
- Tuition: $69,822/year undergraduate; $2,486/credit Graduate School
- Funding: Undergraduate merit scholarships and limited need-based aid for international first-year applicants; MFA students receive full tuition remission, health insurance and a stipend.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Vanderbilt’s College of Arts and Science offers a major in Art with studio-based study across multiple media, and a major in Cinema and Media Arts combining film/media studies with production. The Cinema and Media Arts curriculum includes narrative filmmaking, 16mm filmmaking, digital production, documentary filmmaking, film and media theory, aesthetics and world cinema.
- The Department of English offers the M.F.A. in Creative Writing, with specialization in prose fiction or poetry.
- The Department of Cinema, Media Arts, and Theatre also offers a Theatre major, while the Blair School of Music offers undergraduate Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Musical Arts degrees.
- No general portfolio requirement for the Art or Cinema and Media Arts undergraduate majors is stated on the official admissions materials reviewed.
General Eligibility
- Undergraduate first-year applicants must complete the required Vanderbilt application, submit an official high-school transcript, a counselor recommendation and two academic teacher recommendations. International applicants must complete the international section of the application and provide English-proficiency evidence when applicable.
- For the M.F.A. in Creative Writing, applicants apply through Vanderbilt Graduate School and must hold a bachelor's degree or comparable qualification. The program evaluates applicants through creative-writing materials and academic documentation.
- The MFA application requires a writing sample in the applicant's primary genre: up to 25 pages for fiction or up to 15 pages for poetry.
Language Requirements
- International undergraduate applicants whose first language or language of instruction is not English must provide an accepted English-proficiency examination unless an applicable exemption applies. Vanderbilt lists IELTS 7.0, Cambridge English 185, LanguageCert 75 and Duolingo English Test 130 among its recommended minimum scores. Applicants whose first language or language of instruction is English, or who meet specified SAT/ACT English thresholds, are exempt.
- For the MFA, applicants whose native language is not English must either have earned a degree at an English-speaking university or submit TOEFL results. The program's published requirement specifies a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 88.
Application Fee
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Application Fee | Waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | First-year applicants | $50 | Available for qualified students |
| Graduate School / MFA | Graduate applicants | $95 | Discretionary international waivers may be available |
The Graduate School fee is non-refundable and covers applications to up to two programs in the same year with a single fee.
Tuition
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | All undergraduate students | $69,822 | Per academic year |
| Graduate School | Graduate programs | $2,486/credit | Per credit hour |
| M.F.A. Creative Writing | Graduate School | $2,486/credit | Per credit hour |
The 2026–2027 undergraduate tuition is $34,911 per semester for 12–18 credit hours. Graduate School tuition is $2,486 per credit hour. Additional university charges, including student services, health fees and international student health insurance, apply according to enrollment and student category.
Funding & Financial Support
- Vanderbilt offers merit scholarships to undergraduate applicants. International first-year applicants may also request need-based financial aid, but Vanderbilt evaluates international applicants seeking such aid on a need-aware basis and makes awards to a limited number of students.
- Every MFA in Creative Writing student receives a University Fellowship providing full tuition remission, health insurance and a $36,500 stipend. Additional graduate travel funding and competitive fellowship opportunities are available.
University Services & Academic Support
- Cinema and Media Arts students can participate in Immersion projects and the Vandy-in-Hollywood Summer Internship Program, which places approximately 30 students annually with entertainment studios, agencies, distributors and production companies.
- Art majors complete a senior thesis exhibition as part of their Immersion experience, with opportunities for visiting-artist engagement and interdisciplinary creative work.
- MFA students receive faculty-supported workshop and teaching experience, with second- and third-year teaching opportunities.
Application Requirements
- Undergraduate first-year applicants must submit:
- Common Application or Coalition Application, including required essays
- $50 application fee or qualifying fee waiver
- Official high school transcript
- Counselor recommendation
- Two academic teacher recommendations
Blair School of Music applicants additionally submit the Blair application, artistic recommendation, music résumé, repertoire list and prescreening video.
- MFA in Creative Writing applicants must submit:
- Statement of purpose
- Fiction sample of up to 25 pages, or poetry sample of up to 15 pages
- Three recommendation letters
- Unofficial college transcripts
- Graduate School application and fee
- Required English-proficiency evidence where applicable
How to Apply?
- Undergraduate Application Portal
- Graduate Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Graduate Applications Open: 1 August 2026
- Blair Early Decision I Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Blair Early Decision II Priority Deadline: 1 December 2026
- Undergraduate Early Decision I Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Undergraduate Early Decision II Deadline: 1 January 2027
- Undergraduate Regular Decision Deadline: 1 January 2027
- Undergraduate Transfer Priority Deadline: 15 February 2027
- M.F.A. in Creative Writing Deadline: 1 December 2026
- Undergraduate Admission Decisions — Early Decision I: Mid-December 2026
- Undergraduate Admission Decisions — Early Decision II: Mid-February 2027
- Undergraduate Admission Decisions — Regular Decision: Late March 2027
- Undergraduate Matriculation Deposit — Regular Decision: 1 May 2027
Location
Vanderbilt University — Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Additional Details
Vanderbilt's arts offerings are distributed across different academic units, so application requirements and funding structures differ substantially by program. In particular, the M.F.A. in Creative Writing is a Graduate School program with dedicated full funding, while Art and Cinema and Media Arts are undergraduate majors.
The current undergraduate admissions page contains an anomalous displayed TOEFL iBT value; the published IELTS, Cambridge, LanguageCert and Duolingo thresholds are therefore the clearer current reference for applicants using those examinations.