Application Process for Graduate Students

Our graduate programs offer rigorous curricula that integrate practical and critical skills across diverse mediums and disciplines. You'll hone your practice through individual innovation, creative collaborations, mentorships, and academic discourse as you prepare for a career as a professional artist.

Students may apply for the Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art or the Post-Baccalaureate programs for fall enrollment.

A full list of the application requirements for Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art and the Post-Baccalaureate students is available on the Office of Graduate Admissions' website, but students should be aware of specific requirements for these programs.

The priority application deadline for the MFA program is January 15. Admission is available on a space available basis after the deadline.
The application deadline for the Post-Baccalaureate program is June 1 for international applicants, and August 1 for domestic applicants.
Applicants to both the MFA and Post-Baccalaureate programs are required to submit a portfolio consisting of 10-20 images and/or up to 10 minutes of time-based work that demonstrates their artistic maturity and readiness for the program to which they have applied.
Applicants to the MFA program are required to submit three letters of recommendation, and applicants to the Post-Baccalaureate program are required to submit two letters of recommendation. Letters should be submitted through the online application portal.
All applicants must hold an undergraduate degree, such as a BA or BFA, from an accredited institution of higher education.
All applicants are expected to be engaged in an art practice or have had some art training, general education advancement, and/or professional experience.
MFA and Museum Studies Program: MFA applicants choose to apply to the Master of Fine Arts program with an optional concentration in Museum Studies. With this option, the Museum Studies program's five courses (two required, three electives) will count toward a student's non-studio course requirements for the MFA program. Applicants interested in this option must submit a 400-word personal statement explaining your experience with and/or interest in museum work, as well as what you hope to gain from the program. This document should be uploaded in addition to the MFA personal statement, within the graduate application. Please note: acceptance or rejection from the Museum Studies Program does not affect your acceptance into SMFA. Learn more information about the Tufts Museum Studies program.

Portfolio

All applicants to the MFA and Post-Baccalaureate programs are required to submit a visual art portfolio consisting 10-20 images and/or up to 10 minutes of time-based work.

The ideal portfolio will demonstrate your conceptual development while highlighting your technical abilities. We encourage you to submit work that you believe to be the strongest representation of your skills and experiences to date, regardless of medium. Before you officially submit your portfolio, we encourage you to reach out to us for a personal portfolio review. Although portfolio reviews are not an admissions requirement, they are a great opportunity to receive valuable guidance on portfolio preparation, and a chance to meet with our admissions team to discuss any questions you have on the application process. You can find additional portfolio guidelines here.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement provides us with a deeper understanding of your studio practice and potential for growth within SMFA at Tufts programs.

The statement should not exceed three pages and should address the following questions:

Tell us about your most recent/current art work.
What would you identify as important artistic and intellectual influences on your art work? In addition to artists, this might also include writers, scientists, theorists, and other cultural producers.
In what ways do you hope to expand and further your art practice at SMFA at Tufts?

Important Dates

January 15*: Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art Priority Application and Portfolio Deadline; Post-Baccalaureate Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning January 15th.

June 1: Final Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art and Post-Baccalaureate Application and Portfolio Deadline (International Students).

August 1: Final Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art and Post-Baccalaureate Application and Portfolio Deadline (Domestic Students).

* Applications received after this date will be reviewed on a space available basis.

Tuition & Merit-Based Scholarships

Tuition for the Post-Baccalaureate and Masters of Fine Arts programs in studio arts can be found at the Graduate School of Arts & Science Admissions Homepage. Masters tuition is billed on a per-credit basis. To calculate your estimated tuition for a semester, multiply the per-credit cost of your program by the number of credits intended. The MFA program in studio art is a full-time, 68 credit program.

We offer generous merit-based scholarships for high achieving applicants of the Post-Baccalaureate and Masters programs. Other scholarships, grants (including the Montague Travel Grant), and Teaching Assistantships are available to enrolled masters students.

Alumni of the MFA and Post-Baccalaureate programs are eligible for the Museum of Fine Arts’ Traveling Fellowship, which supports the exploration and research that are critical in an artist’s career. MFA program graduates are also eligible for the Post-Graduate Teaching Fellowship in the year immediately following program completion.

Please visit the Student Financial Services website and their page on Cost of Attendance for Graduate School to help estimate your total program costs.

For more information about scholarship and grant opportunities, contact SMFA Graduate Admissions.