Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree Programs

At our South Beach campus, NYFA gives motivated students the opportunity to complete a BFA program in film or acting for film — in three years. This accelerated schedule is made possible by an elongated academic year, enabling students to take three semesters’ worth of classes in one calendar year. Students have a rare opportunity to save on a year’s worth of expenses and graduate to pursue their professional goals a year ahead, or can also choose to finish NYFA’s BFA programs in the standard four-year framework with summer breaks. In either case, the BFA programs at NYFA South Beach in Miami give students an unparalleled opportunity to thoroughly explore the fundamental and advanced aspects of film or acting for film, while also obtaining a critical foundation in the sciences and humanities.

NYFA’s intensive, hands-on BFA programs are rooted in a project-based curriculum, designed to thoroughly prepare students for the realities of their chosen industry. BFA students spend roughly two-thirds of their time at NYFA studying and practicing their craft, with the other third dedicated to providing them with a solid foundation in the liberal arts and sciences.

Students not only study in the Academy’s world-class facilities and get to work with cutting-edge and industry-standard equipment, but they also get to film, shoot, and act throughout Miami, Florida, discovering new parts of the city to capture. Our prestigious faculty of professionals remain active in the fields of film and acting and boast extensive experience, offering students inestimable insight and relevant training. NYFA South Beach BFA students also have the option to enroll in a one-year conservatory program at NYFA and then apply to have their credits accepted for advanced standing in a BFA program.

Required Application Materials

Undergraduate (BFA) applicants must submit the following materials for admission:

• Completed Undergraduate (BFA) Program Application
• Application Fee
• High School Transcript
• SAT or ACT Scores (for Domestic students only)
• Narrative Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Creative Portfolio
• Proof of English Proficiency

The following sections provide detailed information regarding each required application material.

APPLICATION

Students must submit a completed undergraduate program application. Applications are available online at: https://www.nyfa.edu/applications/bfa1.php.

APPLICATION FEE

Students must submit a non-refundable $65 application fee, payable online as part of the online application.

HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT

All students pursuing an undergraduate degree from the New York Film Academy must submit an official, final high school transcript in order to complete their application.

Hard copies of official transcripts must be mailed to New York Film Academy directly from the high school in a sealed envelope.

Students wishing to submit transcripts digitally can do so by contacting their NYFA admissions representative for instructions. Digital transcripts may be submitted using a digital submission service (such as Parchment) or your high school’s own digital delivery service.

Home-schooled students must submit an official, original transcript accredited by their home state.

GED earners must submit an official, original state-issued high school equivalency certificate.

The New York Film Academy generally does not consider prior experiential learning as a substitute for the transcript requirements described above.

Students completing high school in a foreign country, where a language other than English is the official language, and who are able to produce an original transcript, must have it translated into English by an education evaluation service that offers translation services.

SAT OR ACT SCORES

NYFA South Beach does not have defined, required minimum SAT or ACT scores. Above all, our BFA programs are intensive, demanding, and particular degree programs where standardized scores are not always the best method for determining a student’s eligibility. However, when considered against additional factors, test scores can help give the admissions committee a useful indication of the applicant’s areas of strength.

NARRATIVE STATEMENT

The narrative statement should be a mature and self-reflective essay (max. 3 typed pages) detailing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in their chosen discipline. The essay should take into account the individual’s history, formative creative experiences, contemporary influences and inspirations, and personal artistic dreams.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Those applying to a BFA program at the Academy in Miami need to provide at least two letters of recommendation that testify to an applicant’s ability to undertake coursework in the chosen are of study. Letters need to be sealed, stamped, and sent directly to the admissions office from the individual author of the letter.

CREATIVE PORTFOLIO

In addition to their narrative statement and letter of recommendation, students are also required to submit a creative portfolio as part of their application for a BFA program. However, NYFA South Beach does not assume that students will have prior experience in their chosen craft and thus encourages applicants to demonstrate a variety of creative interests and therefore requires applicants to provide one or two samples of original work that best illustrate their ability and talent as creative individuals.

PROOF OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

Non-U.S. residents or international applicants, for whom English is not the first or native language, are required to submit proof of English proficiency, in the form of:

• An official transcript verifying completion of secondary education in which English is the primary language of communication.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 520 or higher (190 for computer-based test or 68 for internet-based test); IELTS 5.5 or the equivalent.
• A report from a valid English Language School verifying completion of course level equivalent to a 550 Paper-based TOEFL Score.

Students completing high school in a foreign country, where a language other than English is the official language, and who are able to produce a copy of their transcript and/or diploma need to have it translated into English by either an education evaluation service, which offers translation services, or by an individual who is college-educated and fluent in both English and the language of the transcript and/or diploma. The individual providing the translation must sign a notarized affidavit that: 1) attests to their not being an employee or otherwise affiliated with the licensed private career school that the student seeks to attend; 2) provides the name, address, email and phone numbers of the translator and the student; 3) the translator is knowledgeable of the English language and the language of the student’s transcript and/or diploma language was learned and where their college degree was obtained; and 4) affirms that the translation is a true and complete translation of the original.

INTERVIEW

As part of the admissions process, BFA applicants may be required to have an interview by phone or in person with a New York Film Academy representative. The purpose of the interview is to identify the applicant’s goals and prior experience. The ideal applicant has a passion for storytelling, creative expression, and artistic collaboration. The interview is also an opportunity to review the curriculum of the program with the applicant and to ensure that s/he fully understands the level of commitment required to successfully complete the degree.

TUITION DEPOSIT

Once admitted to NYFA, students must pay a required deposit to secure their place in the AFA program. The deposit for all long-term programs (one year or longer) is $500, which is applied toward the first term's tuition payment. Most of the deposit is refundable, except a $100 administrative processing fee.