HOW TO APPLY

Please follow these guidelines when submitting your application.

Application for the Class of 2027 is currently closed.
The next application cycle will open on October 1st, 2025 for the Class of 2028.

Step 1

Visit the Application to Graduate School website.

Complete their application and upload the following required materials:

Official transcripts
For international students from countries where English is not the official language, the TOEFL or IELTS Requirement (minimum score of 80 overall with at least a score of 20 in the speak and writing sections)
Statement of purpose: A one to three-page statement of your career goals and how you believe this degree will help you achieve those goals.

3 letters of recommendation
Résumé/CV

Step 2

Email these supplemental materials to mfafilm-application@uga.edu

Be sure to include the following required materials:

Supplemental application to Grady
15 to 20 pages of (1) screenplay
Link to any video samples on a PDF you’d like the admissions committee to view.

Application Process

Deadline Overview

The program accepts applications until all positions are filled, but for best consideration apply by January 1st.
Applications are due by February 1st. Deadline extensions will be announced separately from the listed deadline overview.
Each cohort begins early June. Fall and Spring semester starts are not available.

Application Status

Applicants will be notified by March if they are selected for an interview.

FAQ: Applying to MFA Film at UGA

Can I apply to the MFA Film program without having film undergraduate degree?

An undergraduate film degree is not required to apply to the MFA Film program. However, experience working on film sets will help students going through the program as it is production-heavy.

Could I get my application fee waived?

The MFA Film program currently does not offer any application fee waivers.

Are there financial aid or assistantships offered by the MFA Film program?

The program currently does not provide assistantships or scholarships. However, UGA has graduate assistantship positions available across the campus. The Graduate School also offers scholarships and fellowships. Please reach out to the Office of Student Financial Aid for more information.

Where does the program take place? Does tuition cover lodging?

The MFA Film program takes place on the main campus of University of Georgia in Athens, GA. While the residency in Athens is not required, it is highly recommended to meet the demands of rigorous production requirements.
Housing cost is not covered by tuition and fees. Students are responsible for securing their own housing. Read about Athens housing: Off-campus Living Guide & On-campus housing

What is the difference between the MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media program and the low residency MFA Program in Narrative Media?

The MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media program is an intensive six semester, two-year residential program in which students will be trained in the above-the-line roles of screenwriting, directing and producing. They will also have coursework in camera and lighting, postproduction, and production design. Students in this program will produce a number of short films, as well as a graduate thesis film or a Webseries pilot. If you want to learn a comprehensive set of filmmaking skills and can reside in Athens, Georgia, this program may be for you.

The MFA Program in Narrative Media is a 2 ½-year, five semester low-residency program that offers two tracks: Screenwriting and Narrative Nonfiction Writing. Students attend two week-long residencies each year on the Athens campus, one in August and one in January, and then complete the remainder of their work online under the supervision of a faculty writing professor. Screenwriting students in this program will develop at least two full-length screenplays or television pilots. If you are specifically interested in screenwriting, or are unable to relocate for two years, this program may be for you. Please see our MFA in Narrative Media website for more details.

Do you accept any transfer students from another MFA program?

The MFA Film program currently does not accept transfer MFA students.

Contact Us

Heidi Choi

MFA Film Operations Manager

MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media

Email: mfaftvdm@uga.edu

Considering Applying?

This is the first dual-college graduate program at the University of Georgia. It is offered to students at a tuition rate comparable to other graduate programs at UGA, making it one of the most affordable programs of its caliber in the country.

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