NYU Tisch: How to Apply for 2024, Acceptance Rate, and What To Expect as an NYU Film Student

Kanbar Institute of Undergraduate Film & Television offers four film degrees, including a dual BS/BFA. First, take a look at the year-over-year breakdown of NYU Tisch's undergraduate film division:

Year 1​

Undergraduate film students take foundational courses exploring narrative, experimental, documentary, interactive, web and installation based work in the following workshops:

• Sound Image — Explore the use of sound techniques in film, television, and emerging digital media. Laboratories include lessons on live recording, mixing, and editing sound.
• Frame and Sequence — To prepare for Fundamentals of Sight and Sound later in the program, film students master camera operation, the still frame, light-meters, and shot progression.
• Introduction to Animation — Film students learn the fundamentals of animation, visual storytelling techniques, and skills to prepare for additional animation and visual effects courses.
• First Person Narrative — Film students develop their artistic voices by mastering the personal video essay by mastering story development, podcasting, animation, and more.
• Storytelling Strategies — This course explores how to tell stories in various roles in the film industry, plus how ancient storytelling techniques measure up against the classic three-act structure.
• Language of Film — Lessons tap into the artistic and social impact of film, in addition to teaching film students how to analyze films from an audience member's perspective.
• Performance Strategies — All freshmen enrolled in Sound Image must take this course, which explores the history and culture of schools of acting and the language of acting.
• Art and Practice — Film students learn the safety and ethics of production, along with understanding filmmaking from an aesthetic, practical and cultural perspective.

Year 2​

By their sophomore year, film students shift into Fundamental courses:

• Sight and Sound — In crews of four, film students conceive, produce, direct and edit five short projects (3 silent and 2 with sound) using digital filmmaking technology.
• Sight and SoundDocumentary — Film students learn how to craft stories based on real people and real situations by analyzing features and short documentaries and shooting projects.
• Sight and Sound Studio — This course explores the technical, logistical, aesthetic principles of producing narrative-based films by working with actors and conceiving, producing, and directing four short studio based projects that increase in difficulty.
• Dramatic and Visual Writing — Film students conduct a deep analysis of the short film format, plus the grammar and conventions of dramatic and visual writing.

Year 3​

Film students take courses that advance in difficulty to prepare for their senior year:

• Intermediate Narrative — Production In crews of four, film students learn intermediate production techniques in lectures and by creating one short film (TRT 8 minutes including credits).
• Intermediate Documentary Production Workshop: Docs Inside and Out — This course explores the fundamentals of producing documentaries at every stage.
• Experimental Production — Film students expand their creative writing skills by telling stories in non-narrative mediums, such as music, choreography, visual or audio art, and poetry.
• Commercial Short Form — This course explores the creative and commercial aspects of producing & directing TV commercials, music videos and branded entertainment.
• Intermediate Television— Film students build upon skills learned in Sight & Sound: Studio by directing acting students from Stone Street Studios.
• Children's TV Production — Film students build upon skills learned in Sight & Sound: Studio and Intermediate Television by collaborating to write and produce a television show (TRT 15-30 minutes) aimed at pre-teens or tweens.
• Intermediate Animation— This course investigates live-action and animated films frame-by-frame, and film students learn all stages of animation production.
• Experimental Animation — Film students study experimental animation techniques and technologies spanning pre-cinema to the modern era.

Year 4​

The final year of study includes key capstone courses that round out the curriculum:

• Advanced Production — This capstone production course focuses on short films, and each class produce up to twelve short films (TRT 20 minutes).
• Documentary Production — Film students learn the technical skills of producing, directing, writing, editing, camera, lighting, and sound to create compelling documentaries.
• Experimental Production — This advanced-level production course allows film students to experiment with production techniques that incorporate non-narrative mediums, such as visual art, choreography, music, and poetry.
• Advanced Television Production — This year-long course is divided into conceiving an idea for an original television series (spring) and producing selected pitches (fall).
• Narrative Workshop — Film students further enhance their production skills by producing up to ten short films (TRT 15 minutes).
• Advanced Animation — This year-long course focuses on creating an animated moving picture with a sync soundtrack.
• Advanced 3-D Computer Animation — This one-year core production course allows film students to work in teams to create at least one 3D animated film.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television ​

For 57 years, the Kanbar Undergraduate Division has paved the way for exceptional award-winning filmmakers with its Film & Television BFA program. Undergraduates learn the theoretical and technical foundations of film. Rigorous coursework primes young filmmakers to tackle pedagogical and creative challenges and jump into industry-level careers after graduation. Faculty and undergraduates create upwards of 5,000 films each year.

128 points are required to graduate. Film students take courses in various areas, including:

• History and Criticism
• Core Production
• Production Safety
• Craft
• Screenwriting

Learn about the curriculum and minimum requirements to graduate from the BFA in Film & Television program.

How to apply​

1. Submit the Common Application.
2. Submit the Creative Portfolio on SlideRoom: The Creative Portfolio has significant weight and applicants must follow these guidelines taken directly from NYU Tisch's website:

• "Tell Us About Yourselfie": Share something about yourself not reflected in the rest of your application. Your 1-2 minute self-portrait is judged on creative value, so utilize only readily available equipment. Save your file as “LastName_FirstName_Yourselfie."
• Tell Us a Story: Choose from three visual and one audio prompts in SlideRoom to write a piece of fiction or non-fiction that showcases your creative and storytelling skills. Excerpts from longer bodies of work and screenplays are notpermitted. Follow these formatting guidelines:
  • Up to 3 pages
  • Double-spaced
  • 11 or 12-point font
  • Legible margins
  • Written in prose style
  • Saved as a PDF with the file name: LastName_FirstName_Story
• Short Essay:The Office of Undergraduate Admissions advises this is the “most academic” component and must demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills. Follow these formatting guidelines:
  • Up to 2 pages
  • Double-spaced
  • 11 or 12-point font
  • Legible margins
  • Written in prose style
  • Saved as a PDF with the file name: LastName_FirstName_Essay
• Creative submission: This work should showcase you as the primary artist/writer/filmmaker. Each category is weighted equally:
  • Artistic Portfolio – 10-15 item portfolio featuring your best photos, drawings, paintings, storyboards, sculptures, or set designs. Images and scans must be a minimum of 72 dpi and uploaded to SlideRoom. GIFs and short(end) animatics can be no longer than 20 seconds in length.
  • Writing – Submit one short story (fiction or non-fiction) or a screenplay at a maximum of 6 pages. No excerpts and multiple pieces of writing are prohibited. Format double-spaced (prose and poetry only) and in 12-point font. Save as a PDF with the file name "LastName_FirstName_CreativeSubmission.”
  • Film/Video – The total run time must be no longer than 5 minutes; only one film is allowed. Video footage of staged plays or theater performances, excerpts, and reels are not allowed. You must be the principal creator and specify your contributions. Choose from:
    • Live action
    • Fiction
    • Experimental
    • Documentary
    • Animation
    • Combination of the above

NYU Tisch is SAT/ACT optional for undergraduate applicants. The Common App and Creative Portfolio must be submitted together by the final deadline. Late applications and applications missing supporting materials will not be considered.

Learn more about the Film & Television BFA in the program overview. For questions or concerns, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions via the department's Google form.

Stern BS in Business/NYU Tisch BFA in Film & Television Dual Degree​

Undergraduate students interested in mastering the business side of the film industry can enroll in NYU's dual BS in Business and BFA in Film & Television program. This film degree is exclusively for freshmen and sophomores in Kanbar Institute of Film & Television (Tisch) or Stern School of Business.

160 credits are required to graduate. Courses are divided into four tiers with selections such as:

• Intro to Cinema Studies
• Film Theory, Television: History & Culture
• Advanced Seminar

Learn about the curriculum and minimum requirements to graduate from the BA in Cinema Studies program.

How to apply ​

Application requirements vary according to school. Visit the program overview page to read the curriculum worksheets for students enrolling from Tisch vs. students enrolling from Stern and review the core requirements below:

Tisch applicants

Submit standardized test scores OR quantitative coursework completed at NYU. If you did not provide SAT/ACT scores when you applied to NYU, read the University's standardized test score requirements.

Stern applicants

Submit the Creative Portfolio required for freshmen NYU Tisch applicants:

• Autobiographical "Tell Us About Yourselfie" short film
• Tell Us a Story
• Short Essay
• Creative Submission

Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Studies​

The BA in Cinema Studies helps young filmmakers interested in film theory, history, and criticism develop successful careers in journalism, screenwriting, and multimedia. 128 credits are required to graduate. Students take courses from NYU Tisch, the Department of Cinema Studies, and other NYU constituent schools. The core curriculum includes:

• Intro to Cinema Studies
• Film History
• Film Theory
• Television: History & Culture
• 1 Advanced Seminar

Lectures from previous semesters include Hitchcock, Korean Cinema, and The Sitcom and Special Effects. Cinema BA students must also declare a minor in a related area, such as:

• Producing
• Creative Writing
• Film Production
• Business of Entertainment
• Media Technology

Learn about the curriculum and minimum requirements to graduate from the BFA in Dramatic Writing program.

How to apply​

1. Submit the Common Application.
2. Submit the Creative Portfolio on SlideRoom: Prepare two key creative components:
   • A creative essay (5-10 pages) about a film, director, or any moving image-related topic.
   • A one-page statement that answers the following questions:
     • Have you taken any cinema/media-related classes?
     • What areas of cinema studies most interest you (film genres, directors, theory, etc.)?
     • What are your career aspirations (film journalism/criticism, film curating, filmmaking, etc.)?

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing​

If you dream of working in a writer's room or aspire to see your plays come to life on stage, consider earning a Dramatic Writing BFA offered through the Rita and Burton Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing. This four-year program consists of writing workshops and text analysis classes that examine materials extending back to Ancient Greece.

Each course deconstructs classic theater, films, or episodic texts to help film students develop a deep understanding of the arts and humanities in written form. By year 2, writers advance to specialize in a single medium and meet with producers, agents, directors, and prolific speakers from the Writers Guild of America. Upperclassmen focus on developing pre-professional experience by taking higher-level courses, such as:

• Shakespeare for Writers
• Fundamentals of Filmmaking
• Advanced Writing Workshop
• The Professional Colloquium

Learn about the curriculum and minimum requirements to graduate from the BFA in Dramatic Writing program.

How to apply ​

Submit the following materials by the posted deadline (see What to Expect After Applying to NYU Tisch). All materials must feature you as the sole creative writer (no co-writers allowed). Applicants cannot submit the following: journalism, poetry, writing prompt responses from academic courses, digital media, and URLs to work.

1. Cover Sheet: Format double-spaced and in 12-point font. Include the following details:

• Name (Last, First, MI)
• Deadline (ED, Regular, Transfer*)
• Program (Undergraduate)
• List of writing samples (plus sample type)
• Transfer students – List the names of your current college or university, or the name of your current college or department at NYU or Tisch

2. Statement of Purpose: Answer the following two questions in 500 words or fewer:

• Why do you want to pursue a BFA in dramatic writing at Tisch? What unique talents do you have to offer to the program?
• Identify a work of theater, film, or episodic/television you’ve read or seen in the past year, which has had an impact on your identity as a dramatic writer. Tell us why.

3. Writing Portfolio: The writing portfolio can be up to 15 pages. Each writing sample can be up to 4 pages; one must be an example of dramatic writing (a play, screenplay, or TV/episodic script). Excerpts with a clear beginning, middle, and end are permitted. The Office of Admissions recommends selecting materials that are “dramatic and self-contained, with an inherent conflict, a strong protagonist, and a beginning, middle, and end.”

How to apply to NYU Tisch as an undergraduate transfer student​

Before you apply, determine your transfer status:

• Internal transfer – NYU student enrolled in a non-arts department (i.e. Stern)
• External transfer – College students at an outside university
• Change of major – NYU Tisch student in other departments (i.e., Dance)
• Tisch double major – NYU student interested in double majoring in FTV

SlideRoom opens to transfer applicants in January 2024 (see "What to Expect After Applying to NYU Tisch.")

What classes should I take to prepare for NYU Tisch film school? ​

AP courses are encouraged, but not required. NYU Tisch recommends high school applicants take:

• English/Writing - 4 years
• History/Social Studies - 3 to 4 years
• Mathematics - 3 to 4 years
• Laboratory Sciences - 3 to 4 years
• Foreign Language - 3 to 4 years

Ready to apply?​

NYU Tisch Kanbar Institute of Undergraduate Film & Television requires two separate applications: the Common Application and SlideRoom. Note: The University urges applicants to submit the Creative Portfolio at least one week in advance of the deadline.