Mastersprogrammes

MA, MFA, MArch, MDes, MMus and the national master’s degrees of France, Italy, Germany and Japan. For each of the 36 schools with a postgraduate route: what the degree is called, what the portfolio must contain, the English level, the international fee and the next deadline, as each school states them.

36 schoolsArt, design and music

SchoolDegreesPortfolioEnglishTuitionDeadline
Parsons School of Design, The New SchoolNew York, United States MA, MFA, MPS, MS Most postgraduate programmes require a portfolio, submitted through the Portfolio section of the online application (postal or email submissions are not accepted)… Non-native English speakers must submit (scores within two years): TOEFL iBT 92 / IELTS… Most Parsons postgraduate programmes charge full-time tuition of $31,970 per semester… Fall / Summer intake: 5 January; Spring intake: 15 October.
Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, United States MFA, MA, MArch, MDes, MAT, MS Studio graduate programmes require 10-20 visual works submitted via SlideRoom; individual programmes have more specific requirements (e.g. Digital + Media 10 works… Non-native English speakers (including US citizens) must submit one of: TOEFL minimum 5… USD66,460/year (2026-27 academic year); same tuition for international and domestic… Graduate application deadline: 5 January (fall entry only, no spring intake).
Central Saint MartinsLondon, United Kingdom MA / MFA / MArch / MRes Digital portfolio submitted via PebblePad after the initial application; specific requirements are set per course page (programme-specific). General UAL portfolio advice… IELTS varies by course; e.g. MA Fashion / many CSM taught masters require IELTS 6.5 (or… Representative MA fee (LCC / UAL 2027/28): £31,510 (International). CSM-specific MA fees… Postgraduate taught: Round 1 – 1 December 2026, 1pm (GMT); Round 2 – 17 February 2027, 1pm (GMT).
Pratt InstituteBrooklyn, New York, United States MFA / MA / MS / MPS / MArch / MDes etc. Requirements vary by department; some programmes require a visual portfolio. For example, Fine Arts MFA: 15-20 individual images (JPEG/PNG), multipage PDFs prohibited… Accepted: TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Cambridge, Duolingo, PTE; scores vary by programme… Varies by programme; 2025-26 examples: MFA art programmes $66,600/year (30 credits)… Fall 2027 priority deadline January 5; Spring 2027 priority deadline October 1.
California Institute of the ArtsValencia, California, United States MFA / MA / DMA / MDes Varies by programme, all submitted through the CalArts Application. Example MFA Art and Technology: about 20 examples of current work, accepting JPEG/PNG/GIF/MP4/MOV and… IELTS 7.0; TOEFL iBT (before 21 January 2026, 100+; on or after, 5+); PTE 63+; Duolingo… USD62,954 per year (2026-27 academic year, full-time graduate MFA/DMA etc. USD31,477 per… Fall 2027: 1 December 2026 priority deadline; 5 January 2027 regular deadline.
Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA / Atlanta, GA, United States MA / MFA / MDes (among others) Postgraduate applicants must submit a programme-specific portfolio or audition to receive an admission decision; the portfolio must meet the specific requirements of the… Non-native English speakers must demonstrate English proficiency. IELTS overall at least… 2026–27 postgraduate full-time tuition: annual tuition $43,965 ($14,655 per quarter, 3… Rolling admission; applications are accepted year-round with no fixed deadline; it is recommended…
University of the Arts LondonLondon, United Kingdom MA / MFA Digital portfolio or video task submitted via PebblePad after initial application; course-specific guidance on portfolio advice page. Overall IELTS between 5.0 and 7.5 depending on course (e.g. MA Fine Art Chelsea IELTS 6.5… Varies by course; e.g. MA Fine Art (Chelsea) £35,585 per year (International) for 2027/28… Round 1: 1 December 2026, 1pm (UK time); Round 2: 17 February 2027, 1pm (UK time).
Domus AcademyMilan, Italy Academic Master / Dual Award Master / 2-year Master of Arts Portfolio (Artistic and Professional Portfolio of Projects): digital or physical format, including sketches and finished work. Not mandatory for: Business Design… Academic Master IELTS 5.0; Dual Award Master IELTS 5.5 (each band >=5.5); 2-year MA IELTS… Non-EU: Academic Master €28,900 (full fee, includes pre-enrolment + tuition); Dual Award… No unified master's application deadline found on the website (rolling admission, notified within 7…
School of Art & Design, UNSW SydneySydney, Australia Master of Design (Program 9313) Depending on background, a portfolio may be required: a 10-page A4 digital portfolio (with critical reflection text) plus a cover letter (up to 400 words, stating… Same as undergraduate: IELTS 6.5 overall (min 6.0 each); TOEFL iBT 90 overall (min 23… 2026 indicative: full first-year fee AU$48,500, complete-degree fee AU$101,500 (the 2026… Not stated on the official site
Tokyo University of the ArtsTokyo, Japan MFA (Master's programme) / MA Most research areas require a portfolio: Japanese Painting, Oil Painting, Printmaking, Mural Painting, Oil Painting Techniques and Materials, Sculpture, Crafts, Design… No English proficiency proof required (IELTS/TOEFL/Duolingo not set); the graduate… Admission fee 338,400 JPY; annual tuition 642,960 JPY (standard for Master's programme… Round 1 (Architecture / Cultural Properties Conservation / GAP etc.): online application 24 July…
Musashino Art UniversityTokyo, Japan MFA (Master's programme) / MA Master's programme selection (Schedule A/B): most courses require a portfolio. For example, the Basic Design course requires one A3-size document (mailed, containing 3… Some courses have a 'foreign language (English)' examination (e.g. Basic Design, Art and… For 2027 entrants: admission fee 130,000 yen; annual tuition 1,270,000 yen (635,000 x 2… Schedule A: application 21-27 August 2026, examination 26-27 September 2026; Schedule B…
Tama Art UniversityTokyo, Japan MFA (pre-doctoral course) The pre-doctoral course requires submission of work / portfolio, varying by specialisation: Japanese Painting (up to two works of 50-gou or larger); Oil Painting (one… IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo are not required; the Art Studies specialisation allows the… Pre-doctoral course: annual tuition ¥1,237,000; facility fee ¥240,000; maintenance fee… The specific application deadline for the 2027 pre-doctoral course was not found on the official…
École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts de ParisParis, France DNSAP (Diplôme national supérieur d'arts plastiques, valant grade de… Same digital portfolio requirements as in-course entry: single PDF max 20 MB (+ optional 1-2 MP4, 2 min each), CV, letter of intent; admission via oral interview and… French B2 required for foreign candidates (doctoral SACRe: certificat de maîtrise du… €458 per year (2025-2026) + €103 CVEC, regardless of nationality (boursiers exempt).… Apprenticeship Master/DNSAP 2026: administrative file 19 Jan-19 Feb 2026; project 19 Jan-20 Feb…
École nationale supérieure des Arts DécoratifsParis, France Master (Diplôme de l'ENSAD, 4th year / M1 and 5th year) In-course entry to M1: a portfolio PDF of up to 15 pages (20 MB), a detailed CV, a motivation letter of 1 page (may be in English), plus a mémoire project outline (a few… French B2 (TCF or DELF) is required for non-francophone candidates at administrative… €458 per year (2025-2026) plus CVEC €105; the same for all nationalities (boursiers… In-course / first year of master's 2026: inscriptions 17 March–30 April 2026.
NABA Nuova Accademia di Belle ArtiMilan / Rome / London, Italy Master of Arts (MA) / Academic Master No uniform mandatory portfolio requirement is clearly stated on the official website (the postgraduate admission page lists language requirements and visa procedures but… English-taught programmes require IELTS 5.0 or equivalent (Cambridge total >=160, TOEFL… Non-EU students: Two-Year Master of Arts EUR22,250/year (A.Y. 2026/27); One-Year Academic… No uniform postgraduate application deadline found on the official website.
Universität der Künste BerlinBerlin, Germany Master (e.g. MA Visual Communication, MA Design, MA GWK, MA SODA) Varies by programme. Example Visual Communication MA: portfolio on Bemus, 3 files max 350 MB, PDF 50 MB / video 150 MB (max 2 videos 3 min), + 1 A4 page project… Programme-dependent: e.g. SODA Master requires English C1 (GER); GWK Master requires… No tuition fees (except few continuing-education Masters); semester fee ~€370 per… Programme-specific. Examples: Design Master 15 Jan–15 Feb (WiSe); GWK Master 01 April–30 April…
Royal College of ArtLondon, United Kingdom MA / MFA / MArch / MRes / MPhil/PhD Digital portfolio, specific to the programme applied for. General guidance: School of Communication & Design (incl. Architecture, Communication, Design) should include… IELTS Academic accepted (also Password Skills PLUS, LanguageCert Academic, PTE Academic).… £39,250 (Overseas and EU) for Service Design MA, September 2027 entry (representative… 2027 entry - Round 1: 8 January 2027, 12 noon UK time; Round 2: 23 March 2027, 12 noon; Master's…
London College of Fashion, University of the Arts LondonLondon, United Kingdom MA Digital portfolio submitted via PebblePad following initial application; course-specific (e.g. practice-based courses require recent work, completed artwork in any media… IELTS typically 6.5 or above with at least 5.5 in each skill (varies by course); overall… Varies by course; e.g. UAL MA courses £35,585 per year (International) for 2027/28 entry… Round 1: 1 December 2026, 1pm (UK time); Round 2: 17 February 2027, 1pm (UK time).
London College of CommunicationLondon, United Kingdom MA / MFA / MRes Digital portfolio via PebblePad after initial application; specific requirements set per course page (programme-specific). General UAL portfolio advice applies. IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) with minimum 5.5 in each of the four skills for most LCC MA… £31,510 (International) for 2027/28 entry, e.g. MA Interaction Design, MA Design for… Postgraduate taught: Round 1 – 1 December 2026, 1pm (GMT); Round 2 – 17 February 2027, 1pm (GMT).
The Glasgow School of ArtGlasgow, United Kingdom MA / MFA / MDes / MArch / MSc / MRes / PhD Digital Portfolio (PDF format, maximum 15 pages) plus a Portfolio Statement (maximum 500 words) uploaded to the GSA Digital Portfolio site after application. Specifics… Programme-specific English Language entry requirements (see GSA English Language Entry… Not found on the official website (the fee page captured does not clearly list the… Not found on the official website (the specific postgraduate application deadline is not listed on…
School of the Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, United States MFA, MA, MArch, MDes, MS, Low-Residency MFA Must submit ePortfolio (SlideRoom), requirements vary by programme; e.g. MFA in Studio generally 15–20 still images or up to 15 minutes of time-based work; Fashion, Body… Non-exempt international students must submit: TOEFL IBT minimum 85 (before 21 January… $61,980/year (30 credits), 2026–27 academic year; $2,066 per credit. Also includes… Application fee waiver deadline: 1 December; final application deadline: 10 January.
School of Visual ArtsNew York, New York, United States MFA / MA Varies by programme, submitted through Graduate Admissions SlideRoom. For example, MFA Fine Arts: 10–20 media files (images ≤5 MB, video ≤60 MB), each as a separate file… International students must demonstrate English proficiency; required scores vary by… 2026–27 academic year, most postgraduate programmes charge $30,845 per semester (about… Priority postgraduate application deadline 15 January 2027 (Fall / Summer); thereafter reviewed on…
ArtCenter College of DesignPasadena, CA, United States MFA / MS / MDes Each programme requires a portfolio, written essays and CV; some programmes require recommendation letters. E.g. Art MFA requires 15–20 recent works; Graphic Design MFA… Applicants with non-English-taught bachelor's degrees must submit TOEFL iBT / IELTS /… Full Time Graduate Tuition (per term): $30,312 (Fall 2026 through Summer 2027 academic… All graduate programmes admit only in Fall; applications open 1 August; Priority Application…
Maryland Institute College of ArtBaltimore, MD, United States MA / MFA / MPS / MAT Each programme requires a portfolio (via SlideRoom, etc.), requirements vary by programme. For example, Graphic Design MA suggests 15-18 digital images; Filmmaking MFA… Graduate applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English… 2026-2027 Fall/Spring graduate tuition: Academic year $58,310 (per credit $2,430)… Residential MFA/MA: Round 1 19 January, Round 2 19 March (both Fall entry); Online graduate: 20…
Slade School of Fine Art, UCLLondon, United Kingdom MA Fine Art / MFA Fine Art Invitation to submit sent by UCL email after online application; digital portfolio maximum 20 pages, each image not exceeding 5MB, including title, date of creation… MA: UCL English language level 1; MFA: UCL English language level 2 (the two requirements… MA Fine Art International: £40,800 per year (2027/28); MFA Fine Art International: £40… Applications close: 5pm (UK time), 5 January 2027; Portfolio submission deadline: 2pm (UK time), 12…
Goldsmiths, University of LondonLondon, United Kingdom MFA / MA Submitted through the Goldsmiths online application system; up to 20 images (PDF), movie clips or web links suggested; include work dimensions, medium, duration and year. MFA Fine Art: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.5 in writing, no element lower than 6.0. MFA Fine Art International full-time: GBP33,300 (2026/2027). Application deadline: midnight on 31 January 2027.
The Juilliard SchoolNew York, United States MM (Master of Music); MFA (Acting); GD (Graduate Diploma); DMusA; AD Centres on prescreening materials plus a live audition (e.g. Composition MM requires prescreening, then a live audition in New York; video auditions are not accepted). MM/GD non-native English speakers minimum scores: IELTS Academic 6.5; TOEFL (before 21… Tuition USD57,200 (2026-27 academic year, same rate as undergraduate). MM/GD and most postgraduate programmes: 1 December 2026 (Online Application, Prescreening…
Berklee College of MusicBoston, United States MM (Master of Music); MA (Creative Media and Technology etc.) Varies by programme; e.g. Master of Music in Global Jazz 'Portfolio is the audition', requiring 4 performance videos (blues, Footprints/Impressions/Naima, original… Non-native English speakers whose undergraduate degree was not taught in English must… Not stated on the official site Varies by campus/programme: Boston Global Jazz / NYC etc. Regular Action 15 January 2027; Valencia…
Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de ParisParis, France 2ème cycle supérieur (Diplôme d'artiste de niveau supérieur / DNSPM… Same concours d'entrée process via the online portal with dossier and required works; repertoire/épreuves specific to each discipline at 2ème cycle level. French… French proficiency required (DELF/TCF B1 or higher) for non-francophone admitted… 533 € for 2026/2027 + 103 € CVEC + 15 € médiathèque (same tuition structure as… Per-discipline concours calendar published each autumn; registration typically opens in October…
Curtis Institute of MusicPhiladelphia, United States Master of Music (MMus) / Diploma / Post-Baccalaureate Diploma /… Same two-step apply + audition process. Required: bachelor's/equivalent transcript (MMus, Post-Bacc), official English test scores for non-native speakers, prescreening… Non-native English speakers (grad): TOEFL iBT 79–80 (pre-2026) / 4 (post-2026); IELTS… Tuition free — full-tuition scholarship. Annual value 2026-27: $69,527 (graduate). December 10 (enrollment deposit due April 15 for graduate students).
Kingston School of Art, Kingston University LondonKingston upon Thames, United Kingdom MFA / MA Digital portfolio of 15-20 pages, 1-2 images per page, landscape, PDF (minimum 72 dpi); include work title, date, medium, dimensions and an optional 50-word annotation… Postgraduate (Kingston School of Art): Academic IELTS 6.5 overall, 5.5 in all elements… Fine Art MFA International full-time: £23,700 (2026/27); £21,800 (2025/26). Early application is encouraged; courses close when full (no fixed deadline listed).
Politecnico di Milano – School of DesignMilan, Italy Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to Master of Science) A portfolio is compulsory (for Architecture, Urban Planning and Policy Design and all Design programmes). Upload it through the online portfolio under the 'Master of… All applicants must provide proof of English proficiency. IELTS (Academic / General) 6 or… Non-EU (reserved non-EU category) master's students not holding a scholarship (highest… Design School master's programmes admit only for the first semester (September intake). The general…
RMIT University - School of Art / School of DesignMelbourne, Australia Master of Fine Art (MC266, School of Art) / Master of Design… Master of Fine Art: a curated portfolio folio (PDF, up to 20 pages, ≤100MB, with author/title/year/medium/dimensions/duration notes; collaborative works must state the… IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall (no individual band below 6.0); TOEFL iBT for Australia 79… Master of Fine Art 2027 tuition AU$43,200/year; Master of Design Innovation and… Semester 1 2027: direct RMIT application; Master of Fine Art applications via the RMIT portal, with…
Royal Academy of MusicLondon, United Kingdom MA (Master of Arts) / MMus (Master of Music) / Professional Diploma /… Audition via Acceptd; MMus, Professional Diploma, Advanced Professional Diploma, CPD and Advanced Artist Diploma applicants must also upload required written work. Video… MMus / MPhil-PhD: IELTS Academic 7.0 overall, with at least 5.5 in each skill. MA /… MMus (Standard Two-Year Track): £36,850 (2027/28); £35,800 (2026/27). MA (Standard… 1 October 2026 for most postgraduate courses (check the course page); the Acceptd submission…
Royal College of MusicLondon, United Kingdom MPerf; MComp; MMus (Performance/Composition); MMusEd; MSc Performance… Composition programmes require a portfolio: at least 2 contrasting works, total duration 5-10 minutes (Composition for Screen requires at least two-thirds to be to… MPerf/MComp/MMus (Performance/Composition)/MMusEd/AD Conducting/PhD require CEFR C1… Overseas MPerf/MComp/MMus £31,500 (2025/26 academic year). Most taught postgraduate programmes share the BMus deadline of 1 October 2026 (UCAS Conservatoires)…
Victorian College of the ArtsMelbourne, Australia Master of Contemporary Art A written proposal (up to 500 words, covering concept/research framework, technical material needs, recent practice and influences), a portfolio (folio, up to 10 images… IELTS 6.5 (writing 6.0; speaking 6.0; reading 6.0; listening 6.0); TOEFL 81… Not stated on the official site For the 2027 start year: applications open 3 August 2026 and close 31 October 2026; shortlisting…
MA or MFA: which one do art schools offer?

It depends on the school. Several schools in this catalogue offer both (for example the Royal College of Art lists MA and MFA, Goldsmiths MFA and MA), others only one, and schools in France, Italy and Japan use their own national degree titles. The degree line for each school below is copied from its site.

Do masters programmes in art and design need a portfolio?

Almost all catalogued postgraduate routes ask for one, often with a written statement or proposal; a few ask for a video. The portfolio column summarises what each school states for its postgraduate applicants.

When are masters deadlines?

They vary from summer of the year before entry to late spring of the entry year, and many schools run rounds. The deadline column gives the next round each school publishes; check the official page for the programme you want.

Choosing between master’s programmes?

Tell Yixiaoliu your undergraduate subject, your portfolio direction and budget, and compare the programmes above in the chat.

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