The Application Process

Hundreds of U.S. colleges and universities offer programs in film. Each sets their own admissions requirements and deadlines. You’ll want to start early to find the right program for you and have the best chance at admission and financial aid, ideally beginning your research a year or more before you plan to start classes.

Almost all U.S. undergraduate programs require students to have completed secondary school (passing the GED test battery may sometimes be substituted). Graduate programs expect good undergraduate grades, though study may be in a different field in the case of many programs. All programs will ask that you demonstrate proficiency in English (typically by taking the TOEFL test)

Often scores on the SAT Reasoning and/or two or three SAT Subject tests will be requested of undergraduate applicants and GRE scores of graduate applicants, though some schools do not require these of international students and others do not require them from any applicants. More selective institutions often have such additional requirements as recommendations from your teachers, information on extracurricular activities, and a written statement of purpose or other essay.

Most selective university and professional school programs in film require a portfolio of applicant’s creative work. For undergraduates, submission of an actual film may not be necessary—some programs may instead accept such options as drawings or an essay. Schools will generally specify exactly what is acceptable. Be sure to follow instructions, which will usually be very precise in terms of what formats are acceptable and maximum length of submitted recordings or videos.

While some U.S. institutions have minimum requirements in terms of test scores or grades, typically admissions decisions are made on a holistic basis, looking at the full picture to determine whether you can succeed in the academic program as well as what you will contribute to campus life. As an international student you have an advantage since U.S. programs want to provide their students with exposure to individuals from a variety of other countries and cultures.

Undergraduate Study

A variety of types of study in film are open to you in the United States. You can pursue a four-year liberal arts degree or a more tightly focused professional degree. Or you can try a two-year (or shorter) transfer or vocational program.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A). is a professional degree, offered both by colleges and universities (the terms “college” and “university” are used synonymously in the U.S.) and by specialized schools of the arts. The focus of a B.F.A. program is on developing technical and production skills and working on creative projects. More opportunity is typically available for specialization than is the case with a liberal arts degree, and typically students participate in at least one internship. At some universities, students apply to B.F.A. programs on a competitive basis after two years of more general studies, while at other schools these programs are open to all students accepted to the institution.

More broadly focused liberal arts programs typically award a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The United States is famous for its liberal arts approach to undergraduate higher education, which provides students with a strong foundation of knowledge in a range of fields beyond their major field of specialization.

B.S. or B.A. programs include production-focused concentrations and degree options comparable to a B.F.A. program but typically are more interdisciplinary and research-based than the B.F.A. One common major is film studies, which may also go by such titles as “cinema studies” and “media studies.” Film studies programs look at the cultural context and aesthetics of film, drawing from many disciplines including comparative literature, art history, American studies, and others.

U.S. community colleges typically provide the advantages of low tuition and admissions flexibility but usually do not offer on-campus housing or the vibrant campus life of four-year institutions. They offer programs leading to the Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), or Associate of Applied Arts (A.A.S.) degree as well as shorter nondegree certificate or diploma programs. Graduates of A.A. and A.S. programs typically can transfer on to four-year institutions to complete the last two years of a bachelor’s degree, while A.A.S. and certificate/diploma programs (also offered by technical institutions and specialized arts schools) focus on practical skills and will not usually transfer credits toward other university programs. If you want to continue on to a bachelor’s degree, be sure to learn about transfer agreements that the two-year college may have and to plan your program with an academic adviser there.

Graduate Studies

U.S. master’s degree programs usually take two years to complete and may be professional or research-oriented. Research-oriented programs, which may include a production component, typically award the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree and attract students interested in scholarly careers or in working for media-focused publications or organizations. These degrees may lead on to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, usually intended for individuals seeking careers in academia.

The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) is a terminal degree that emphasizes hands-on professional practice in film, along with more limited study of art history, criticism, and aesthetics. A final project demonstrating professional competence will be required of M.F.A. graduates.

Choosing a Professionally Focused Program

In choosing any professional degree program, be sure to consider your career goals carefully. Do you want to work in the commercial film industry? To create independent films? Documentaries? Or are you more interested in film as an experimental art form? Different U.S. programs focus on different professional directions. You can also find many specialized options to match production roles from screenwriting to animation and video game design.