Located in the heart of downtown Boston, Massachusetts, Emerson College is the only private four-year institution in the nation devoted to teaching visual and media arts and communications in a liberal arts context. The Department of Visual and Media Arts within the School of Arts offers an action-oriented learning environment that encourages film students to take creative risks while establishing their voice.
In 2023, Emerson alumni took home more Academy Awards than alumni from any other film school. In 2024, The Hollywood Reporter ranked Emerson no. 12 in its annual list of the best film schools in the country, citing the brand-new Virtual Production teaching studio and its low-residency Writing for Film and Television MFA.
What is it like studying film at Emerson College?
Emerson film students enjoy a mix of thriving urban life and stunning greenery. Founded in 1880, the college is located in the heart of the Theatre District. It’s also steps away from Boston Common, the oldest park nationwide, and near eighty major institutions of higher education, including Harvard University.
Massachusetts has a growing film industry, too. In 2023, dozens of major movies and television series were filmed in various parts of the state, from Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice to The Walking Dead: Dead City. And in 2024, many short films were shot in the heart of Boston, such as SØMÄ ALGEBRA and Pocket Bonds.
Emerson students have the latest filmmaking equipment and technology at their disposal. The Equipment Distribution Center (EDC) loans 700 digital cameras and more than 55 16mm cameras each semester, and students edit and produce their films using Apple technology and industry-standard software.
Boston is one of the most liberal cities in America, and the culture at Emerson reflects these values. The Princeton Review ranked Emerson no. 8 in its list of the most LGBTQ-plus-friendly colleges nationwide. LGBTQ+ film students can join Emerson’s Advancement Group for Love and Expression (EAGLE) and Theyta, an association for non-binary and gender-nonconforming students.
After graduation, many film students have enjoyed the loyalty, mutual support, and lifelong friendships that come with the alumni network—it isn’t called the “Emerson Mafia” for nothing.
Expand your network and knowledge through the Professional (ProArts) consortium
Networking and learning opportunities go beyond Emerson. Film students can study at other celebrated Boston institutions under the Professional Arts (ProArts) Consortium, an association of seven Boston-based, visual and performing arts institutions of higher learning. This includes: Berklee College of Music, Boston Architectural College, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, New England Conservatory, and the School of Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.
In their second semester, undergraduates can cross register for courses at any ProArts institution and can take a maximum of 28 ProArts credits. (Note: ProArts courses require a minimum 2.7 GPA.)
8 commonly asked questions about Emerson College
1. What are Emerson College’s portfolio requirements?
Emerson recommends that Media Arts Production BFA/BA applicants provide one creative sample from the following:- A film or video submission up to 5 minutes in length (up to 5 GB per file);
- A 5- to 10-page script or screenplay;
- An audio or sound clip; or
- Digital photography.
There is no minimum requirement for cast, and applicants do not have to use the entire allotted run time or meet the page limit to stand out. Additionally, samples in language(s) other than English must have English subtitles or an uploaded English translation.
2. Does Emerson College give merit scholarships?
Along with institutional grant money to help undergraduates with demonstrated financial need, the Office of Undergraduate Admission also offers merit scholarships that reward hard work, leadership, and community involvement.
The Office of Graduate Admission offers four merit-based fellowships based on academic excellence, artistic promise, and professional experience. All applicants who submit their applications on time are automatically entered to receive merit-based fellowships. The following awards range from $10,000 and up:
- Graduate Dean's Fellowship
- Half Tuition Fellowship
- Presidential Fellowship
- Emerson Alumni Encore Scholarship
3. Does Emerson College require an interview?
Undergraduate and graduate applicants are not required to have an interview for acceptance. However, applicants are welcome to contact their admissions counselors to try to set up an interview.
4. How many campuses does Emerson College have?
Emerson film students can also study in Los Angeles, California; Prague; Paris, France, and Well, Limburg, Netherlands.The Emerson Los Angeles (ELA) program gives Emerson film students the chance to take courses and internships in the heart of Hollywood (see: “Get a Head Start in Hollywood at Emerson Los Angeles"). The ELA building houses up to 215 students per semester and offers easy access to Fox, Paramount, and other major motion picture studios.
In the Global BFA in Film Art, undergraduate film students start and end the program in Boston for two semesters. The remainder of the program takes place in Paris, France at the Paris College of Art along with one summer at Emerson's satellite campus in Kasteel Well, the Netherlands.
Few other film programs in the world offer students the chance to find their muse at a breathtaking 14th-century moated medieval castle in the Netherlands and the capital of France. In addition to expanding their awareness of global film and communications and developing French language skills, students can strengthen their storytelling skills by independently exploring the highlights of Western Europe.
The Prague summer film program places Emerson students at the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU), one of Europe’s most prestigious and top-ranked institutions for film, across four weeks of study. FAMU and Emerson College faculty provide instruction and mentorship in a production course and a film studies course. By the end of the summer program, in teams of two, students will produce a 5-7 minute digital film.
5. How many graduate students are admitted to Emerson’s film program each year?
According to this interview with Haley Bresnahan, an admissions counselor for Emerson’s graduate film division, the Film and Media Art MFA accepts about 24-28 new first-year students each year, while the Writing for Film and Television program brings in a cohort of 24 students per year.
6. Is it difficult to get into Emerson College?
Emerson is a moderately selective college with an overall higher acceptance rate compared to other universities and colleges in our database. In 2022-2023, Emerson enrolled 4,123 undergraduates but awarded only 359 film degrees in 2022.
FilmSchool.org users have reported even higher acceptance rates (see “Emerson College Acceptance Rate”). Visit our Application Database to learn more about accepted student demographics.
7. Is Emerson College progressive?
Emerson is known for offering a forward-thinking, liberal atmosphere. The college has also worked to better address racism and prejudice on-campus by providing annual Teach-In on Race seminars led by prolific BIPOC figures in the film industry, such as Anna Deavere Smith. Founded in 2016 by an ad-hoc Cultural Competence Committee, Teach-Ins include student activism sessions and student-led panels about racial equity. Faculty-only sessions help instructors tackle the why and how of teaching students about race.
The Social Justice Collaborative at Emerson also helps support individuals and communities within marginalized groups. (Read more about the SJC’s initiatives here.)
In addition, the Office of Intercultural Student Affairs provides more than a dozen cultural organizations that support BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQ+ students. Learn more about the organizations and the Cultural Center here.
8. Does Emerson College offer a full ride?
Yes. The Creative Circle scholarship invites undergraduates into the Emerson Circle of Creative Scholars (ECCS), joining students who have made significant academic accomplishments and contributions to their community. The graduate Full Tuition fellowship also covers the entire cost of attendance.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect 2025 application requirements, application deadlines, cost of attendance, and other information.
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