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 Tuition and Fees) 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 of 213 on the computerized version, 79 on the Internet version, or 550 on the paper-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Please note that the CEEB code for 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). 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. For information on taking the NYU test, call 212.998.7040.
• Applicants who have successfully completed the following coursework may also submit official transcripts to be considered as demonstration of English proficiency: one year of full-time study at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, including two semesters of English composition, with a minimum grade of B each semester. Note: Coursework taken in conjunction with English as a Second Language (ESL) is not applicable.
• Note: Students accepted to Undergraduate Programs who wish to improve their English proficiency may take advantage of SVA's English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. The program is offered in the summer as well as during the academic year.

The following are the estimated 2013-2014 program expenses (unless otherwise noted) for undergraduate level programs that international students must substantiate in order to be considered for admission.Totals include tuition, fees, estimated cost of supplies and living expenses for the nine-month academic year. Costs are subject to change with inflation:

• Undergraduate Program Costs: $57,000
• International Exchange Program Costs: $13,000
• ESL/Studio Program Costs (summer 2013): $62,000
• CDFNY Summer 2013 Program Costs: $5,000

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 beginning with the first year of secondary school or high school. These records should be in the original language issued. Secondary school transcripts can be waived for transfer applicants with more than 24 college credits from a regionally accredited college.

For records not in English, applicants must also 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. Please note that all documents submitted become the property of the School of Visual Arts and will not be returned.

All foreign secondary (high school level) and 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 (high school/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): Course-by-course evaluations for both secondary school (high school) and college transcripts.

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): Course-by-course evaluations for college transcripts only.

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): Course-by-course evaluations for college transcripts only.

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

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.