Transfer Students

Transfer Requirements

To be considered for admission, transfer applicants must submit the following:

• A completed New York Film Academy BFA Application (available online at www.nyfa.edu/applications)
• $75 non-refundable Application Fee
• Official Academic Transcripts (minimum of high school equivalency), sealed and sent by the issuing institution directly to NYFA’s Admissions Office
• SAT or ACT scores (DI code: 6513)
• SAT/ACT are optional for international students
•  Two Letters of Recommendation (see below)
• Narrative Statement (see below)
• Creative Portfolio (will not be returned; see below)
• Transfer Credits to be evaluated must be submitted 30 days prior to class start date (See below for Credit Transfer Policy)

Test Score Requirements

Our Bachelor of Fine Arts programs are an intensive, rigorous and specialized degrees, where standardized test scores are not always the most useful factor in predicting success. However, when considered thoughtfully among many other factors, test scores can help give the admissions committee a useful indicator of the applicant’s academic strengths and weaknesses. For these reasons, no specific minimum test score is required.

Credit Transfer Policy

The Office of the Registrar receives credit transfer requests. Decisions regarding the award of credit rest with the Academic Dean. If credit is awarded, the length and/or requirements of the program, may be adjusted.

Only official transcripts, official score reports, and official evaluations of foreign credits shall be used for this review. Transfer students must meet the same overall academic standards and requirements as students who enter the BFA as freshmen.

Because the studio arts curricula of NYFA’s programs are highly specialized and integrated with very few electives, it is the general policy of New York Film Academy not to accept transfer credits in studio arts from other academic postsecondary institutions. Students desiring credit for previous academic work or training may submit a written request for such credit to the Registrar, along with any supporting documentation (e.g. transcripts or syllabus).

To be accepted in transfer, courses must have been taken at an accredited institution, must have been taken for a letter grade and the grade earned must be a C or higher (where the C grade has the numerical equivalent of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 point scale), must be a college-level course and must be the substantial equivalent of a course offered at New York Film Academy. Grades from transfer courses are not used to calculate the NYFA grade-point average; only the course credits transfer. When a transfer course does not have the same credit value as its closest NYFA equivalent course, the course may still be used to fulfill a specific degree or program requirement. All aggregate credit requirements must be met.

NYFA may place further restrictions on the acceptance of transfer credits in order to maintain the integrity of the BFA degree program. For this reason, courses, practice, internships, taken at other institutions may not transfer.

Acceptance of credits in transfer does not guarantee that those credits will be applicable to the BFA degree.

Credit for Nontraditional Experience

The Dean or their designee may authorize non-traditional course work for transfer upon review of relevant transcripts and other supportive materials. Such credits, if granted, are only to be used for program requirements. No credit is granted for life experience.

Transfer of International Credits

Credits from colleges and universities outside the United States must be equated to those at accredited U.S. colleges and universities and NYFA. It shall be the responsibility of the student making application to the New York Film Academy to furnish the College with an original certified copy of an evaluation of his/her international credits performed by World Educational Services, or an equivalent service approved by the Office of the Registrar. The acceptability of credits is governed by the same principles stated above.

Transfer Credit After Matriculation

Once a student has matriculated at NYFA, credits from other institutions will only be awarded unless special permission is granted. Such permission must be approved by the Dean.

Additionally, such permission will not be granted for:

• Any student who has lower than a 2.5 cumulative average at NYFA
• Any student who proposes to take a course for which they have previously received a grade lower than B- at NYFA
• Any student who has 76 earned credits, nor for any student who has 48 earned credits and proposes to take courses at a two-year institution. The policies governing the acceptability of credits are the same as stated above.

Other Course Work: Approved Internships, or NYFA Summer Abroad programs shall be listed on the NYFA transcript as transfer credits.

Proof Of English Proficiency

NYFA believes that to be successful in our degree programs an applicant must have a strong command of the English language. Non-U.S. residents or international applicants, for whom English is not their first or native language, who apply to NYFA’s MFA, MA, BFA, BA, AFA, or long-term certificate programs, are asked to provide one of the following as proof of English language proficiency:

• A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score iBT of 68 or an IELTS score of 5.5 for AFA, BFA, BA, and Conservatory programs. For the MFA and MA programs, the required score for TOEFL iBT is 79 and IELTS of 6.5.
• A report from a valid English Language School verifying completion of course level equivalent to a 550 Paper-based TOEFL Score.
• Duolingo English Test with a score of 101 for MA and MFA programs, and a score of 90 for AFA, BFA, BA and Conservatory programs.
• Applicants might be eligible to receive an English proficiency waiver under the following conditions:
• Verification that the applicant has been studying in a college or university where the sole language of instruction is English for at least 1 full year at the time of his or her application; or
• Verification that the applicant has been studying in a high school where the sole language of instruction is English for at least 3 full years at the time of his or her application.
• Applicants who wish to confirm eligibility for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver can contact an admissions representative for assistance.

For short-term and long-term non-degree certificate programs, NYFA will accept a positive language evaluation via phone or Skype in lieu of the other requirements.

PLEASE NOTE: All students will take English assessment tests during the registration period at the beginning the program. Students may be referred to additional English study in an ESL program or a blended program depending on their English level. This may add a semester or more to the time needed to complete the program of study at NYFA.

All courses at all NYFA locations are taught in English.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to the New York Film Academy BFA program must submit a minimum of two (2) letters of recommendation verifying the applicant’s ability to successfully take on undergraduate study in the relevant field. Letters must be sealed and stamped, and should be submitted directly to the Admissions Office from the individual writing on the applicant’s behalf.

Narrative Statement

The narrative statement should be a mature and self-reflective essay (2-3 typed pages) detailing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in the motion picture arts. The essay should take into account the individual’s history, formative creative experiences, contemporary influences and inspirations, and personal artistic dreams.

Creative Portfolio

The creative portfolio is a contributing factor for admission. However, NYFA does not assume applicants have prior filmmaking experience or examples of film work. The admissions committee understands that many applicants have a wide range of creative interests, and welcomes examples of creative writing or other art forms (please see details below). For many applicants, the narrative statement and letters of recommendation, reveal the most about an applicant’s potential for success in the program.

• Applicants must submit one or two examples of original work that best demonstrate their talent and ability as creative individuals.
• All film/video submissions must be submitted on DVD or hyperlink where the submission can be viewed, regardless of image capture format (20 minutes maximum). Applicants may also submit supporting materials such as slides or photographs (10 maximum).
• Creative samples are accepted in various stages of development, or as completed work. Examples of work can range from drawings, conceptual illustrations, storyboards, designs, photographs, three-dimensional models, or digitally generated images. Students may choose to submit a typed screenplay or short story (10 page maximum).

Acting program applicants may choose to make an appointment for an on campus audition, or submit a DVD or hyperlink. Musical Theatre applicants must participate in an audition. Acting applicants must perform two one-minute contrasting monologues from either a published play or screenplay. Musical Theatre students need to prepare a 60-90 second monologue and two contrasting musical theatre songs. When choosing audition materials, it is important to choose roles that are age and type appropriate. It is also important to read the entire play or screenplay prior to your audition.