FAQs
What are the differences between the programs in New York and Singapore?
There are no differences between the education received in Singapore and the education received in New York. All programs that are in both New York and Singapore have the same number of students, identical curriculum, state of the art production facilities, and are taught by Tisch School of the Arts world-renowned faculty. Programs developed specifically for Singapore are accredited by New York University, staffed by NYU full-time faculty, and subject to the same artistic standards and high level of teaching excellence as any program at Tisch or Tisch Asia.
What type of degree do I receive at the end of my course of study?
Tisch Asia students who successfully complete their course of study in Film, Dramatic Writing, or Animation and Digital Arts at Tisch Asia receive a Masters of Fine Arts degree from New York University.
Will I be able to take courses in New York?
Students will complete their program of study in Singapore. Students do have access to NYU’s international, certificate, internship, and summer programs, outside of their MFA program curriculum.
Will I need to be fluent in another language to attend?
No. English is the language of instruction in Singapore. All courses are taught in English.
Will I experience difficulty living in Singapore if I only speak English?
No. English is the language of administration, business, technology, and education. Singapore’s official languages include English, Malay, Chinese (Mandarin), and Tamil.
Does the admissions process include an interview?
Yes. An applicant’s interview is part of the criteria used to evaluate each candidate. The Tisch Asia admissions committee will contact selected applicants for an interview. Interviews will be conducted in Singapore or via conference call.
Will I need a student visa to study at Tisch Asia?
Yes, students who are not Singapore citizens will apply for a student visa. Information and instructions will be provided to accepted students about how to obtain a Singapore student visa. More information is available at http://app.ica.gov.sg.
Will I be able to work in Singapore?
International students may be permitted to work on campus with proper authorization from the Singapore government.
How much is tuition and fees?
Please see the Tisch Asia Tuition and Expenses page for information on costs for the programs at Tisch Asia.
Will I be able to transfer to New York?
No, students will complete their MFA in Singapore. Tisch School of the Arts Asia’s conservatory system is designed and structured around a sequential curriculum where courses build directly on those which preceded them.
Are scholarships available?
There are scholarships available to Tisch Asia students. The admissions department and office of financial aid works with students on an individual basis to determine the best strategy to funding their degree.
What type of housing is available.
Students at Tisch Asia are responsible for securing their own housing in Singapore. Accepted students will receive information to help them find an apartment, including housing agency info and roommate matching resources. Please visit the Housing page for more information.
Does Tisch Asia offer career counseling?
Yes. The Tisch Office of Career Development, is an active and useful resource for Tisch students and recent alumni. The office offers a range of services, such as individual career counseling specific to the arts, resume-writing assistance, consultations, interview coaching, a screenplay bank, and a job list serve. More information can be found on the Office of Career Development’s webpage.
http://students.tisch.nyu.edu/object/about_careerdev.htmlIs it a problem if my undergraduate degree is in a field unrelated to what I want to study on the graduate level?
No. We have many students who apply from a wide variety of undergraduate and professional backgrounds. What is important is the creative material (portfolios, writing samples or auditions) for conservatory training departments.
Recent Tisch MFA accepts have included teachers, surgeons, photographers, software engineers, lawyers, performance artists, sculptors, literature majors, journalists, musicians, designers, actors and actresses, and psychology majors.
Can I apply for Spring admission at Tisch Asia?
No. All of our programs begin in the Fall.
Can I apply to more than one program at Tisch Asia?
You may apply to a maximum of two programs per academic year as long as you observe the deadlines for each department. You must submit two separate online applications, two application fees, and two sets of recommendations and transcripts. We cannot use one set of materials for two applications. Use a cover sheet for each set of transcripts and clearly mark the program they are intended for.
Note: You should not apply to the New York City Graduate Film program and the Tisch Asia Graduate Film or Animation programs, or the New York City Dramatic Writing program and the Tisch Asia Dramatic Writing program.
Can I defer my admission to Tisch Asia?
Due to the nature of the conservatory training programs and the rigorous selection process, we do not grant admission deferments. Deferment is not an available option for accepted students to most Tisch programs.
Can I study part-time at Tisch Asia?
No. All Tisch Asia programs are full-time only.
When will Tisch Asia admission decisions be announced?
In general, most decisions are finalized and sent by the first week of May.
Can I earn college credit by taking Professional courses?
No. Professional Courses offered at Tisch Asia are not offered for college credit.
Certificates of completion are awarded to students who satisfactorily complete Professional Courses.Do you require IELTS, TOEFL or other English proficiency scores?
Because coursework is conducted in English, students are expected to be proficient in English. However, no proficiency exams are required for registration.Is there a minimum age requirement?
Students under the age of 18 will need written approval both from their parent or guardian and also Tisch Asia administration before enrolling in Professional Courses. Please contact the Tisch Asia Office of Professional Courses for more info.
