Admissions

International Students

A blonde student in a white shirt smiles and talks to another student looking down at a piece of paper.

International students play a vital role in our vibrant community, with students from 32 countries calling MassArt their home.

We’re thrilled you’re interested in attending MassArt for your degree program! Ready to apply to MassArt? Here’s an overview of how the process works for international students.

You are an international student if you are not currently a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

You may apply to MassArt as either a first time undergraduate student, transfer student, or graduate student, depending on your level of education.

Which type of applicant am I?

You’re a first time undergraduate if:

You’re still in high school (even if you completed dual-enrollment credits), or
You graduated from high school or earned your GED, and didn’t enroll in college-level coursework.

First Time Undergraduates

You’re a transfer applicant if:

You enrolled in university coursework (after your high school graduation).

Transfer Students

You're a graduate student if:

You have completed (or about to complete) a 4 year Bachelor’s degree program.

Graduate Students

International Student Application Requirements

All admissions application requirements are the same for international and domestic students, with the exception of the additional requirements below.

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Massachusetts College of Art and Design requires official translations and course-by-course evaluations of transcripts or records from outside the U.S. These evaluations can take up to six weeks to complete, so please begin this process early.

Evaluations must be arranged through a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) approved member, or provider listed below:

Evaluated transcripts must include:

Name of the educational institution
Country where it is located
Length of study and its U.S. equivalent
Courses studied by year
A conversion of grades and/or examinations to the U.S. grade equivalents of A, B, C, D and F on a 4-point scale
Total credits earned and conversion of course hours to U.S. semester hours
U.S. degree equivalent

MassArt does not offer an intensive English language program. Students are expected to be proficient in English before applying for admission. To demonstrate English proficiency, an official copy of TOEFL, IELTS, DuoLingo, or Pearson Test of English exam scores is required:

MassArt’s code is: 3516

213 Computer-based test score
550 Paper-based test score

550	Paper-based test score Internet-based composite test score (iBT) and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition:
21	Reading
19	Listening
23	Speaking
22	Writing
85	Overall total
	TOEFL Essentials test score:
9	Reading
8	Listening
9	Speaking
9	Writing
9	Overall Total

IELTS
6.0

DuoLingo
105

Pearson Test of English
59

MassArt can generally waive English Language Proficiency Exams for:

Students currently studying in the U.S. for all 4 years of their high school education.
Students who have earned a 3.0/B or better in two consecutive semesters of college-level (non ESL) English courses at a U.S. college or university.
Students who have completed a 4 year Bachelor’s program, in good standing, at a school where English is the primary language of instruction.

Questions about exemptions should be sent to admissions@massart.edu.

Admitted international students applying for visa sponsorship through MassArt (F-1 Student status) are required to provide additional information and documents to be issued a MassArt Form I-20. Click here for details.

Recommended Tuition Deposit Deadlines

While official deposit deadlines may be later than those outlined below, international students planning to apply for visa sponsorship through MassArt (F-1 student status) should pay their deposit as early as possible and at the latest by the deadlines listed below:

Graduate Programs with Summer Start: March 15
All Programs (Graduate and Undergraduate) with Fall Start: May 1

MassArt starts processing Form I-20 applications upon receipt of the tuition deposit and all required I-20 application documents. The sooner your application is complete, the sooner your I-20 will be issued. Allow ample time to fulfill legal requirements associated with obtaining a visa.

Questions about obtaining a student visa should be directed to MassArt International Education at intl.admissions@massart.edu.

Upon receipt of tuition deposit and all required Form I-20 application documents:

I-20 document issued by MassArt in approximately 3-4 weeks
Scheduling a visa appointment can take 5-6 weeks or longer
Students can arrive in the U.S. a maximum of 30 days prior to the start of classes (as noted on their Form I-20)
*Please note that MFA Low-Residency students must pay a new SEVIS fee each time they enter the U.S.