• TypeUniversities
• LocationNew York, The United States
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School of Visual Arts (SVA) is an art and design college in Manhattan, New York City, at 209 East 23rd Street. It was founded in 1947 as the Cartoonists and Illustrators School and took its current name in 1956. SVA has about 6,000 students and more than 1,100 faculty, and awards BFA, MFA, MA, MAT and MPS degrees, alongside continuing education courses.

Undergraduate BFA programmes:

• 3D Animation and Visual Effects, Animation, Comics, Illustration
• Advertising, Design, Interior Design: Built Environments
• Film, Photography and Video
• Fine Arts, Visual and Critical Studies

Graduate programmes include MFAs in fine arts, computer arts, illustration, photography and video, visual narrative, design, interaction design and products of design, as well as programmes in art education, art therapy, branding and curatorial practice. Students exhibit in four SVA galleries, and first-year students can live in the 23rd Street Residence.

Applicants apply through the Common App or the SVA Application and submit a portfolio whose requirements depend on the major. International applicants who meet the academic and creative requirements but not yet the English requirement may qualify for the English and the Visual Arts (EVA) programme. SVA also offers a one-semester incoming exchange programme and a summer programme in New York.

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209 East 23rd Street, New York, NY, The United States, 10010

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programmes:

• 3D Animation and Visual Effects
• Advertising
• Animation
• Comics
• Design
• Film
• Fine Arts
• Illustration
• Interior Design: Built Environments
• Photography and Video
• Visual and Critical Studies

Non-major areas include art history and humanities and sciences; an Honors Program is available.

• Fine arts: Computer Arts, Fine Arts, Illustration as Visual Essay, Photography, Video, and Related Media, Visual Narrative
• Design: Design, Design Research, Writing, and Criticism, Design for Social Innovation, Interaction Design, Products of Design
• Professional programmes: Art Education, Art Practice, Art Therapy, Branding, Curatorial Practice, Digital Photography, Fashion Photography, Film Directing

Degrees awarded include the MFA, MA, MAT and MPS.

SVA reviews undergraduate applications on a rolling basis while space is available; applications are currently open for the Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 terms. First-year students apply on the Common App or the SVA Application (transfer students on the SVA Application only), with a non-refundable US$50 fee. Requirements:

• Statement of intent (about 500 words) or the Common App personal essay; AI text tools may not be used
• Portfolio via SlideRoom, depending on the major (for most BFAs, 15-20 images including at least three from direct observation)
• Transcripts; international applicants provide certified copies of records from secondary school onwards in the original language, converted to US equivalencies or evaluated by an external agency
• Proof of English proficiency

Minimum English scores for BFA programmes:

• TOEFL iBT 80 (tests before 21 January 2026) or 4.5 (from 21 January 2026); TOEFL Essentials 8.5
• IELTS 6.5
• Cambridge English (B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) 176
• PTE Academic 53
• Duolingo 115

Applicants with lower scores (for example TOEFL iBT 60-79, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 95-110) may qualify for the English and the Visual Arts (EVA) programme. The requirement may be waived for native English speakers from listed English-speaking countries who attend English-medium schools.

https://sva.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/undergraduate-application-requirements