Entrance Requirements

The School of Art requires for admission a high degree of capability and commitment. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or a diploma from a four-year accredited professional art school. In exceptional cases and most particularly in light of the differences among educational structures and opportunities in the international art world today, the admissions committee may waive these prerequisites if other proofs of preparation and accomplishment are deemed sufficient equivalents by the committee. In either case, admission to the School of Art is on a highly selective and competitive basis.

Admission

Students are admitted to Yale’s M.F.A. program for the fall term of each year only. Applicants are notified of the admissions committee’s decisions on preliminary selections in early February, and of final decisions in early March. No information about decisions will be given over the phone. To apply for more than one area of concentration, separate applications, fees, and supporting documentation must be submitted. The work submitted should be representative of the applicant’s experience in that particular field. Applicants are advised that applying to more than one program does not increase chances of selection.

Admission Procedures for Preliminary Selection

Instructions for All Applicants

An application to the School of Art requires forethought and planning. It is important to read all of the application instructions carefully. Following these instructions will ensure that your application is viewed to best advantage.

The Yale School of Art application for the 2020–2021 academic year is available online at https://apply.art.yale.edu/apply. The information that follows will assist you in filing the application online. For an explanation of specific requirements for each area of study, please refer to the departmental sections that follow.

Application deadline Online applications for programs beginning in the 2020–2021 academic year must be uploaded no later than 12 midnight EST on January 10, 2020. Applicants will not be allowed to submit applications after the deadline has passed. When many applicants are uploading simultaneously near the deadline, it is possible that lengthier pre-processing times will be experienced. To avoid this, please consider submitting prior to the deadline day.

Application materials The following materials are required for consideration of your application for admission. Note: All supporting documents that are submitted as a requirement for admission become a part of the official file and cannot be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution either in copy or original form.

The online application and the nonrefundable application fee of $100. Please follow payment instructions at https://apply.art.yale.edu/apply. Forms of payment include Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal. Online applications can be worked on from October 1 until the deadline. As it generally takes several weeks to complete an application, it is strongly recommended that applicants prepare their materials early to ensure completion by the deadline. Please note that the School of Art is not part of the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and it is not possible to apply by using application materials found on the Graduate School’s website. It is recommended that you read the online School of Art bulletin, available at https://bulletin.yale.edu, before beginning the application process.
Yale School of Art, in its commitment to equity and access, practices need-blind admission, meaning that a candidate’s financial need or ability is never disclosed to the admissions committee during review of M.F.A. applications. For this reason, and because the processing and careful review of each individual application demands great time and human resources, we regret that the School does not waive the application fee under any circumstances.
A one-page statement that addresses your influences, interests, current work direction, brief life history, and reasons for applying to a graduate program at this time. Statements should be no more than 500 words and should make reference to the representative work in your portfolio.
References from three persons practicing or teaching in the field in which application is made, attesting to the applicant’s ability and competence in that field. Note: The admissions committee reviews applications shortly after the deadline. While it is not uncommon for letters of recommendation to come in past the deadline, please impress upon those who will be writing on your behalf that late submission of supporting documentation may risk exclusion from the review. Applicants can always view the receipt status of reference requests on the application status page.
Transcripts of the academic record for the bachelor’s degree and/or transcripts from professional art schools attended. Student copies or unofficial transcripts may be uploaded for the preliminary jury. Official transcripts will be required for applicants invited to interview.
Portfolio of work. Applicants who fail to upload a portfolio as outlined in this bulletin by the stated deadline will not be considered. The portfolio should represent images of your best work, indicate your current direction, and demonstrate your ability. At least half of the images should represent work done within the last twelve months, and all should be from within the last three years. Chronological order of year is embedded in our system, and you will not be able to override it. The application system used by Yale requires that one image from the portfolio be designated as a “representative work.” This selection is the default image for the cover page of each application file. As such, applicants have historically selected the piece that most strongly represents ideas central to their current body of work. Do not include more than one image on the screen, nor embed other pages of a publication or video within the images you place in your portfolio. Do not include detail photos of work in your portfolio unless you consider them absolutely necessary. Under no circumstance should more than two detail shots be included. Portfolio requirements differ depending upon area of concentration; be sure to follow the instructions for the area to which you are applying. We strongly recommend that you review your images on a Mac OS to be certain that they are accurately represented.

Graphic Design Portfolio Requirements

In addition to a portfolio, all graphic design applicants should upload a résumé, which will be reviewed for content as well as form of the typography; the résumé may not be longer than two pages.

Portfolio format Portfolios are submitted online as part of the online application. The portfolio submission interface will allow you to label each image with a title, a date of completion, the materials used, and a brief description of the work (please do not embed your name in the title or description). Titles should be limited to thirty (30) characters, descriptions to one sentence. Digital files must adhere strictly to the specifications outlined below.

Portfolio contents Upload a total of twenty (20) still image and/or moving image files that represent your strongest work. Please do not include only video in your portfolio; your portfolio should include both still and moving image examples of your work in design. A significant number of the images should represent work made within the last few years. As it’s necessary to view the work quickly and at a relatively small scale, each of the twenty file uploads should be as simple and clear as possible. We strongly recommend that each individual image include only one work or one view of a project. The assessment of your work is compromised when you place composite or multiple views, pages, and/or works in a single image file. When presenting book-related designs, at maximum show a cover and one representative spread in a single image file. Alternately, you may prepare a short video showing a few spreads. For websites, show just one still web page per image file, or prepare a short video showing three to four frames being clicked or scrolled. A complex, systems-related project should be edited to two or three of the strongest components. Three-dimensional works should show the surrounding space and context. Limit the use of detail images to situations where you consider them absolutely necessary. If you are presenting both still and moving images, please present them in two groups, with all still images followed by all moving images. Within these groups, place your files in chronological order starting with the oldest and ending with the most recent work. Chronological order is embedded in our system, and you will not be able to override it.

File format for still images Still image files may be sent in jpeg, png, bmp, or tiff format. To conform to our viewing format, each still image file may be no larger than 16 MB. Do not format images in any presentation program (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote, PDF) or include composite images (more than one work per file). PDFs and presentation program formats are not viewable in our system; only the first page/slide will display.

File format for moving images Videos will be accepted in QuickTime (preferred), AVI, FLV, MP4, or WMV format. Video files should be no longer than two minutes in length, and the size of your video uploads is limited to 64 MB. If you upload a video that is longer than two minutes, it will automatically time out at two minutes. Please note that videos are considered as part of your selection of twenty files and should not be used as a method of showing examples of additional still images. Titles or credits within video files are not necessary.

If you are primarily a video artist and wish to submit a longer video, you may post the video to your own website and provide the link at the end of your statement.

Résumé In addition to its content, your résumé will be assessed for its layout and typography. The résumé should not be longer than two pages.

Painting/Printmaking Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio contents Upload a total of sixteen (16) still image and/or moving image files. Only work completed within the last three years should be included, and at least half (8) should be work made in the last twelve months. In the review process, the admissions committee is concerned with scale and the tactility of the work. For this reason, paintings, drawings, and prints must be photographed showing the edges of the work, i.e., the edges must not be digitally masked in black. Three-dimensional works should also show the surrounding space and context. Do not include detail photos of work in your portfolio unless you consider them absolutely necessary. Under no circumstance should more than two detail shots be included. If you are presenting both still and moving images, please present them in two groups with all still images followed by all moving images. Within these groups, place your files in chronological order starting with the oldest and ending with the most recent work. Chronological order is embedded in our system, and you will not be able to override it.

File format for moving images Videos will be accepted in QuickTime (preferred), AVI, FLV, MP4, or WMV format. Video files should be no longer than two minutes in length, and the size of your video uploads is limited to 64 MB. If you upload a video that is longer than two minutes, it will automatically time out at two minutes. Please note that videos are considered as part of your selection of sixteen files and should not be used as a method of showing examples of additional still images. Titles or credits within video files are not necessary.

If you are primarily a video artist and wish to submit a longer video, you may post the video to your own website and provide the link in the portfolio section of the application. This will embed the video in your application for later review.

Photography Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio contents Upload a total of twenty (20) still image and/or moving image files. A significant number of the images should represent work done within the last twelve months. If you are presenting both still and moving images, please present them in two groups with all still images followed by all moving images. Within these groups, place your files in chronological order starting with the oldest and ending with the most recent work. Chronological order is embedded in our system, and you will not be able to override it.

Sculpture Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio contents Upload a total of twenty (20) still image and/or moving image files. A significant number of the images should represent work done within the last twelve months. Three-dimensional works should show the surrounding space and context. If you are presenting both still and moving images, please present them in two groups with all still images followed by all moving images. Within these groups, place your files in chronological order starting with the oldest and ending with the most recent work. Chronological order is embedded in our system, and you will not be able to override it.

Application Status

Once an application has been submitted, applicants can track the status of their application and the receipt of required supporting materials (such as recommendations) online. Applicants are encouraged to check the status of their application materials and follow up as necessary.

Final Selection

Applicants who have passed the Preliminary Selection Jury will be notified in early February. At this time, applicants invited to interview are required to submit official transcripts and send or deliver original work to the School. Official transcripts should be mailed to Yale School of Art Admissions, PO Box 208339, New Haven CT 06520-8339.

Individual interviews will be scheduled in late February. The interview is an important component of the final selection process.

Applicants in Graphic Design Applicants should submit a portfolio of their work in any or all of these areas: graphic design print work, environmental design, broadcast/video graphics, letterform design, interactive media, and other related projects in the visual arts. Applicants are encouraged to present bodies of work that demonstrate special areas of interest. Academic or research papers may also be submitted in support of the application. Between ten and fifteen works may be submitted.

Applicants in Painting/Printmaking Applicants in painting should submit no more than five paintings and five drawings, studies, graphic works, or videos. Applicants working in printmaking should submit no more than twenty prints. Arrangements cannot be made for the personal hanging/installation of the applicant’s work.

Applicants in Photography Applicants should submit a portfolio of twenty-five to thirty photographic prints.

Applicants in Sculpture Applicants should submit digital files that document their latest work as well as additional images representing earlier work. Video may be submitted only if it is necessary to the understanding of the work.

All applicants All original works should be accompanied by a complete inventory, and each work should bear the applicant’s name.

Final notification of admission will be e-mailed in early March. Offers of admission are good only for the year in which they are made. We do not practice deferred admission. The Financial Aid Award letter will be e-mailed shortly after notification of admission. No decisions will be given in person or over the telephone.

An individual’s acceptance of admission to the School of Art must be received by April 10. All matriculating students must submit a transcript that certifies their undergraduate degree. Admission is not binding unless this certification is received.

Return of work Original work delivered by hand must be picked up on weekdays during the hours and dates specified. Any hand-delivered work not taken during the specified time will be sent to a commercial warehouse for storage at the applicant’s expense unless other arrangements are made in advance.

Work shipped must be prepaid and must be accompanied by a prepaid return shipping label. If you send your work via United Parcel Service, you may purchase a “Call-Tag” for its return from UPS when you make your shipping arrangements. We cannot return or receive COD.

Every precaution will be taken to secure the safety of the works submitted for review. However, the School of Art assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to the works from any cause.

Admissions Open House

The School of Art does not offer individual interviews until the applicant has passed the Preliminary Selection Jury. Instead, there will be an open-house introduction to the School at which representative members of the faculty will discuss the programs and applicants will be given a guided tour of the facilities. All applicants are encouraged to attend this briefing. The Open House will be held at the School, 1156 Chapel Street, on Thursday, November 14, 2019, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Those planning to attend should register online at http://art.yale.edu/visiting. Applicants should not bring examples of their work to this event.

Part-Time Students

No programs are offered for transfer, special, or part-time students.

International Students

In order to undertake graduate study, international students and others for whom English is not their first language must present evidence of competence in the use of the English language. This may be done by taking the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), which is administered by the Educational Testing Service, www.ets.org. The TOEFL code number for the Yale School of Art is 3982. Candidates for admission generally achieve a composite Internet-based score of at least 100, or a computer-based score of at least 250, with speaking and listening scores of at least 28. The TOEFL score may be waived if the undergraduate degree has been obtained from a four-year, English-speaking institution. Please note that when scores are uploaded, an “X” will appear until the official scores are received. Official scores will be processed after the application deadline, and this will have no impact on application status.

In order to receive visa documentation, admitted international students must submit proof that income from all sources will be sufficient to meet expenses for two years of study. In 2019–2020 annual expenses (including tuition) will amount to $63,036 for a single student. Evidence of funds may come from the following sources:

Affidavit from a bank;
Copy of an award letter stating that financial assistance has been offered;
Certification by parents of their ability and intention to provide the necessary funds;
Certification by employer of anticipated income.

The School of Art can make no promise of financial aid to international students. Even when financial aid is awarded, however, in no case does a Yale scholarship cover the full financial need of an international student. There are no loans available to international students through the School of Art; however, international students may qualify for private bank loans.

All international students who wish to be appointed as teaching assistants during their second year must obtain a United States Social Security number in order to be paid.