How to Apply

Applicants are required to apply online. You must complete all required fields and upload materials prior to submission. Most materials can be submitted electronically via the online application. Any additional supporting documents that need to be sent electronically or by mail must include an Application Materials Cover Sheet. All supporting materials must be received before your application can be reviewed.

If you're planning to apply using a school email address, please confirm you can receive our email first. Some schools block email from outside their domains. 

The 2025 application will become available in mid-September.

The application fee for U.S. domestic applicants and international transfer applicants is $50. Application fees are paid through the online application and are non-refundable. The New School waives application fees for those who meet the eligibility guidelines listed in the Application Fee Waivers section of our university-wide undergraduate and graduate How to Apply pages.

Arts Management and Entrepreneurship MA

Submit answers to the following questions:

1. Describe the ways in which your creative practice in the performing arts and other experiences make you a good fit for the Master of Arts program in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship. Please describe specific examples of your work wherever possible. (300-400 words)
   
2. Using specific examples drawn from your own work or the work of others that has had an impact on you, describe the role(s) you believe an artist can play in effecting positive social change. (300-400 words)
   
3. Tell us about your entrepreneurial, leadership, and/or management skills and how you will apply the skills you will gain in these areas after you complete this program. (300-400 words)
   

CoPA Integrated Bachelor's-Master's Applicants

Submit answers to the following questions:

1. Describe the ways in which your creative practice in the performing arts and other experiences make you a good fit for the Master of Arts program in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship. Please describe specific examples of your work wherever possible. (300-400 words)
   
2. Using specific examples drawn from your own work or the work of others that has had an impact on you, describe the role(s) you believe an artist can play in effecting positive social change. (300-400 words)
   
3. Tell us how you will apply the entrepreneurial, leadership, and/or management skills you will gain in these areas after you complete this program. (300-400 words)

MM Performer-Composer Applicants

Submit an answer to the following question:

1. The New School is interested in how artists relate to their communities and how they can use their skills to shape the future of their profession. Describe your work as a performer, composer, and improviser and explain how you hope it will contribute to the growth of the performing arts in the future. How will The New School help you achieve that vision? (500 words maximum)
   

MA Arts Management and Entrepreneurship Applicants
You must submit a portfolio with your application. Your portfolio will be evaluated in three areas:

• Artistic skills
• Entrepreneurship, leadership, or management skills
• Socially engaged practice or social justice values and goals

Submit a range of materials that provide evidence of your work in these three areas. Materials submitted as evidence of your artistic skills must be in the form of video or audio files. Your portfolio can also include writing samples, images, Web applications, work samples, and other items.

Please upload a minimum of four items demonstrating your relevant work and experience in these areas. Please limit the length of each individual submission to a maximum of five minutes. If submitting an item representing a group performance, please provide a time stamp for the section in which your work is featured. Please limit your portfolio to ten items.

Please do not submit links to external sites such as blogs, personal webpages, YouTube channels, or digital portfolios. All pieces must be added directly to your portfolio.

CoPA Integrated Bachelor's-Master's Applicants

Applicants to the Integrated dual-degree program at CoPA must submit a portfolio with their application. The portfolio should respond to the following prompt: You have the opportunity to pitch an idea to potential investors, partners, collaborators, volunteers, government representatives, or any other group of people whose support and resources you need in order to make your idea come to fruition. 

Please create the presentation you would use for your pitch. The idea can be anything: a production of your work, an event, a business venture, an organization. 

Your presentation should present a clear goal for the idea, plans for executing the idea, the form of assistance you need from the people to whom you are pitching, and a description of any potential financial needs and/or returns associated with the idea. 

The presentation can include examples of your own work and any other content you choose in any format.  Please do not submit links to websites or social media pages or video content more than five minutes in length.

MM Performer-Composer Applicants

All applicants to the MM Performer-Composer program are required to submit an Artist Portfolio, including two to four samples of artistic work and one Process Statement for the entire portfolio. 

Your Process Statement should enlighten us on your way of working. How did you take your projects from idea to execution? How does your work relate to the values outlined in your Statement of Intent? (300 words maximum)

Each work sample captures a single project and must consist of the following elements:

• Primary Document: This document presents the piece of work itself. The primary document should be an audio or video excerpt (five minutes maximum) of the work. If this type of documentation is not available for the work sample, please explain in the written description.
• Supporting Materials: These materials illuminate your process and can include scores, transcriptions, source materials, renderings, and other materials.
  

At least one work sample should demonstrate your experience with socially engaged artistry, experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and/or technology-based exploration if that is relevant to your application.

Upload each of these materials as a separate file. For example, for a given work sample, upload the video file, transcription, program notes, and written description as four separate files.

At least two letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic references are required. Recommendations must be submitted by recommenders directly via the online application portal. Instructions are included in the online application.

Applicants must upload an unofficial transcript, mark sheet, or academic record for each institution (even if you didn’t receive a degree) in the Academic History section of the online application.

All uploaded transcripts must be accompanied by a key, a legend, or the back copy of the transcript. Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an English translation. Records from non-U.S. institutions must have grades or marks and contain a copy of diploma if the degree has been conferred. Make sure your name appears on the transcript/record. Scanned documents must be clear and legible.

If you experience trouble uploading your transcript, email [email protected] and give a detailed description of the issue and attach the document in question.

The New School reserves the right to require official transcripts or an official NACES course-by-course evaluation at any time during the admission process. Any fraudulent activity or discrepancies found between uploaded and official transcripts will result in the immediate revocation of admission and/or dismissal from The New School. Transcripts uploaded with the online application are considered unofficial.

Applicants offered admission will be required to submit official transcripts with proof of their degree conferral(s) prior to enrollment. Admitted applicants must submit all official transcripts pertaining to their entire academic career. Transcripts uploaded with the online application are considered unofficial, and do not satisfy this requirement.

How to Submit Electronic Transcripts
The New School accepts electronic transcripts only from our approved vendors:

• National Student Clearinghouse
• Parchment Exchange
• Credentials eScrip-Safe
• TrueCopy Credentials

Electronic transcripts sent directly by a student are not considered official.

Whenever possible, please send all official communication electronically, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and tuition deposits.

In rare circumstances where items must be mailed, please send to:

The New School
Office of Admission
55 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10011

All materials and documents submitted in association with a New School application become the property of the New School and cannot be returned to you or transmitted to a third party.

All applicants whose first language is not English must submit valid TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or DET scores. Minimum required scores are:

• TOEFL iBT - 100
• IELTS - 7.0
• PTE - 65
• DET - 135

Our TOEFL institution code is 2521.

The New School does not accept English language proficiency test results from IELTS Indicator, IELTS for UKVI, iTEP, TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL ITP Plus for China, TOEFL My Best Score, or the University College London preparatory certificate program.

The New School does not require TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or DET scores for applicants who have earned a four-year degree from a U.S. college or university or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction (minimum of three years' attendance). After reviewing your application, the Office of Admission may require you to submit an English language proficiency test score to evaluate your candidacy.

We accept scores from tests taken within the past two years. If your scores are older, you must retake the test.

Applicants also have the option of enrolling in The New School's English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Students must pass Level 6 to waive the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/DET requirement. Visit the ESL website for more information.

All admitted students are considered for merit scholarship awards determined by the strength of their applications. International students are eligible only for merit scholarships. If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid  (FAFSA) in order to be considered for federal financial aid. The FAFSA is available each year on October 1. The New School’s federal school code is 002780. You don’t need to wait for an admission decision to apply for federal aid. Our Financial Aid staff are available to guide you through the process of applying for financial aid.

Arts Management and Entrepreneurship MA and Performer-Composer MM

Applicants will be invited to schedule a virtual Portfolio Conference with faculty once a complete application and portfolio have been received. The Portfolio Conference is an informal 15-minute interview with faculty, during which applicants may be asked to discuss their work, artistic and professional goals, and specific aspects of the program they feel will help them achieve those goals.

Applications become complete and ready for review once all required items have been received by the Office of Admission. You can check your application status in the Admission Hub.

Allow at least 14 days from the date you submitted your application for items to be marked as received in your Admission Hub. Applicants are responsible for following up with schools and recommenders to confirm that transcripts and recommendations have been sent.

The Office of Admission will periodically notify applicants by email if their file is missing any documents and again when their file is complete for review. These notifications are sent to the email address provided in the online application.

If you need to change your email address, mailing address, or other contact information, email the Office of Admission.

Spring admission decisions are released on a rolling basis starting in November.

Fall admission decisions are released on a rolling basis starting in late March.

Fall transfer admission decisions will be released on a rolling basis starting in April.

In any given academic year, a student can apply to only one department or program within The New School. Applicants who file more than one application in an academic year will be required to withdraw one of the applications, and application fees will not be refunded.

All materials and documents submitted in association with The New School application become the property of The New School and cannot be returned to you or transmitted to a third party.

Students who wish to return to a graduate degree program after an absence of four semesters must reapply via the graduate application. They must first confirm that their program is still accepting applications and that they are meeting time limit requirements (if applicable), before completing the application.

Students who wish to apply to the dual-degree Bachelor's-Master's program, adding the MA Arts Management and Entrepreneurship degree to their studies at CoPA, may do so in their second year. Applicants will select the "Bachelor's-Master's" application type in our Online Application Center and are not required to submit an application fee. Applicants may choose to seek informal recommendations from current Performing Arts faculty to satisfy recommendation letter requirements.

The New School welcomes undocumented students and students who hold DACA status to apply. Undocumented status does not affect the admissions process or your final admission decision. For questions about financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected].

Learn more about how we support undocumented students.