The United States Citizen and Immigration Service requires that international applicants submit to SVA a Declaration of Finances (DOF) indicating that the applicant has financial resources adequate to provide for his or her educational expenses without resorting to unauthorized employment. The amount declared must reflect the total sum of tuition, fees and living expenses for one academic year of study (see Student Expenses) and must be dated within one year of initial enrollment at SVA. The DOF supplied with the application must be completed and returned to the Office of Admissions.

In addition to the general application requirements, all applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English. The following are acceptable ways to demonstrate English proficiency:

• A minimum score of 79 (internet-based) or 213 (computer-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• MFA Art Practice, MA Critical Theory and the Arts and MFA Illustration as Visual Essay applicants must obtain a minimum score of 100 (internet-based) or 250 (computer-based) TOEFL.
• The CEEB code for the School of Visual Arts is: 2835. This is the code that must be supplied to ETS in order to have TOEFL scores mailed to SVA.

• A minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• MFA Art Practice, MA Critical Theory and the Arts and MFA Illustration as Visual Essay applicants must obtain a minimum score of 8.0 on the IELTS.
• IELTS is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL), British Council and IDP Education Australia: IELTS Australia.

• A minimum score of 6 in all categories of the English proficiency examination administered by the New York University American Language Institute in New York.
• MFA Art Practice, MA Critical Theory and the Arts and MFA Illustration as Visual Essay applicants must obtain a minimum score of 9 on this exam.
• For information on taking the NYU test, call 212.998.7040.

• SVA will consider waiving the English proficiency exam requirement for students who have earned a degree at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university. Students seeking this waiver must submit a written request with their application materials. 

The estimated 2013-2014 program expenses for graduate programs that international students must substantiate in order to enroll varies by department. The total amount includes tuition, fees, estimated cost of supplies and living expenses for the nine-month academic year. Costs are subject to annual increases. For a list of all program expenses, click here.

Applicants who have academic documents from institutions outside of the U.S. are required to provide original, attested or certified true copies of academic records for all institutions attended. These records should be in the original language issued.

Records not in English

• Applicants must submit an official translation of all academic documents. Translations must be a complete, literal, word-for-word translation in the same format of the original academic document.

• All foreign post-secondary (university level) transcripts should be converted into U.S. educational equivalencies. Those records that are not converted into U.S. equivalencies must be evaluated by an external evaluation agency. The evaluation should be course-by-course and include:

• Name of educational institution
• Country where institution is located
• Length of study
• U.S. educational equivalent (two-year or four-year college)
• Courses studied per academic year
• Conversion of grades/marks/final examination results into equivalent U.S. grades of A, B, C, D or F for each course evaluated
• Total credits earned
• Conversion of course hours into U.S. semester hours of credit
• Cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4-point scale
• U.S. degree equivalent

• The School of Visual Arts should be listed as the recipient of the evaluation. Transcripts may take up to six weeks to be evaluated.
  
  
• The original academic records must be submitted in addition to the evaluation.
  
  

The School of Visual Arts strongly recommends that international academic records be evaluated by either of the following approved external evaluation agencies:

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE):
P.O. Box 514070 
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
Phone: 414.289.3400
Website: http://www.ece.org/

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO):
Office of International Education Services
One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 520
Washington, DC 20036-1135
Phone: 202.296.3359
Website: http://www.aacrao.org/international/foreignEdCred.cfm

World Education Services (WES):
Bowling Green Station
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087
Phone: 212.966.6311
Website: http://www.wes.org/application/

Please Note: Pending acceptance, ALL Graduate applicants currently enrolled in school for their Bachelors degrees for the Spring or Summer 2013 semesters are required to submit verification of graduation BEFORE they attend SVA.

All funds declared on the DOF must be substantiated by a Verification of Finances (VOF) letter from an officer of the student's bank or sponsor's bank. All documents must be in English and in U.S. dollars, or the current exchange rate must be supplied by the bank. If this is not possible, a translation of the documents will be accepted if signed and sealed by an appropriate government or bank official. All supporting documentation must be dated within one year of initial enrollment at SVA. Official and original documentation must be provided.