New York Film Academy NYFA Acting, Photography, Film School
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Programs and prices, tuition fees in New York Film Academy NYFA Acting, Photography, Film School
Undergraduate Programs
- Age β from 18 years old,
- The term of study is from three years (eight to nine semesters).
The academy offers students a variety of specializations to earn a Bachelor of Science degree. The training lasts for 8-9 semesters (about three academic years) and will include theoretical classes in modern classrooms, as well as practical activities based on studios, computer rooms, laboratories, and the infrastructure of partner organizations. In the last year of study, students will have the opportunity to get an internship, during which they will be able to get acquainted with professional activities, make useful acquaintances, and gain applied experience.
Some of the undergraduate programs are:
- Musical Theatre,
- Entertainment media,
- Film Directing,
- Producing
- Screenwriting,
- Photography
- Game design,
- 3D animation, visual effects,
- Acting for cinema,
- Media Research.
Graduate Programs
- Age β from 21 years old,
- The term of study is one and a half years (four semesters).
Master's programs will give students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and improve their professional skills through intensive subject courses, internships, and internships. Under the guidance of experienced specialists, they will master the direction they like for four semesters in order to have wider opportunities for employment and career growth in the future.
The academy offers the following specialties:
- Acting for cinema,
- Photography
- Documentary
- Producing
- Cinematography
- 3D design, visual effects,
- Screenwriting,
- Film Directing,
- Game design,
- Film and media production,
- Entrepreneurial production, innovations.
International Pathway
- Age β from 17 years old,
- The term of study is two semesters.
International Pathway programs are aimed at international students who want to get higher education at the academy, but are not yet ready for direct admission due to insufficient language and academic knowledge. Preparation courses will help students continue their studies at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
During the training, students will focus on improving their English proficiency, gaining experience living in the United States, earning academic credits for later study at NYFA. Language classes in the format of seminars in small groups will give students the tools to develop reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
Preparatory programs serve as a link for admission to any of the following degree programs:
- Bachelor's degree: Film Production, Film Acting,
- Master's degree: Film and Media Production, Film Directing, Film Acting.
One- and two-year programs
- Age β from 17 years old,
- The duration of training is one to two years.
During one-, two-year certificate programs, students receive practical training, experience in their chosen field. The courses are designed for students who learn by doing, thanks to which they develop technical skills, acquire solid knowledge in their discipline.
To help students create a portfolio or a selection of their best work, teachers organize extensive mentoring. Under the guidance of specialists, students will master all the subtleties of the chosen field of art: from theory, history and modern methods to the use of professional equipment, teamwork. Upon graduation, students will receive a Certificate with college credits.
Courses are offered in the following areas:
- Documentary
- Photography
- Filmmaking
- Game development,
- Acting
- Producing
- Cinematography
- Musical Theatre,
- 3D design, visual effects,
- Scripting
- Broadcast journalism.
AFA Degrees Programs
- Age β from 18 years old,
- The term of study is two years.
Two-year Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree programs are intensive, dynamic courses aimed at providing students with hands-on, undergraduate-level training in their chosen major. Most programs allow students to earn an associate's degree in four semesters.
Degrees offered:
- Filmmaking
- Acting for cinema,
- Producing
- Screenwriting,
- Game design.
Short University Programs
- Age β from 18 years old,
- The duration of training is from two days to one semester.
Short-term programs allow students to gain professional knowledge that will broaden their horizons, improve their understanding of theory, and develop applied skills. Under the mentorship of experienced teachers, third-party specialists with personal achievements in the industry, students will master the direction in a short time: from two days to a semester.
Areas available for study:
- Documentary
- Musical Theatre,
- Filmmaking
- Acting for cinema,
- Photography
- Production
- 3D design, visual effects,
- Game Design,
- Digital editing,
- Screenwriting,
- Virtual reality,
- Broadcast journalism.
Summer camp for teenagers
- Age β from 14 to 17 years,
- Dates β June-July,
- The duration of training is one, three, four or six weeks.
NYFA's summer programs provide high school students with the opportunity to gain professional knowledge about activities they enjoy. Teachers of the academy conduct seminars, master classes and practical classes for students to expand their horizons, show career opportunities, and provide a choice for further academic path.
Courses are available in different durations, ranging from one to six weeks. Available destinations include:
- Game Design,
- Photography
- Filmmaking
- Musical Theatre,
- Acting
- Scripting
- 3D animation,
- Creation of documentaries.
Summer camp for children
- Age β from 10 to 13 years,
- Dates β June-August,
- The duration of training is one, two, three or 12 weeks.
Summer camp programs aimed at children aged 10 to 13 offer a diverse and exciting atmosphere to gain new knowledge and skills. The Academy provides one-, two-, three-, or 12-week courses in the following areas:
- Game Design,
- Photography
- 3D animation,
- Musical Theatre,
- Acting
- Filmmaking.
Children will attend seminars led by specialized specialists, lectures by invited speakers, master classes and practical classes in studios, laboratories, halls with professional equipment.
Description of New York Film Academy NYFA Acting, Photography, Film School
New York is an ever-young and dynamic city that never sleeps, the citadel of the American dream, the embodiment of success and recognition. Yes, it may seem too mobile and even fussy, but it is such a rapid flow of time that inspire generations of filmmakers, designers, writers and musicians, artists and actors.
The New York Academy of Motion Picture Arts was founded on the basis of the famous movie actor Robert de Niro's movie center in 1992. Since then, every year the educational institution hosts a huge number of students from all over the world who decided to dedicate their lives to cinema. The Academy is considered by many specialists to be the best educational institution for applied studying in the professions connected with the cinema. The Academy is a real forge of professionals for the film industry - at different times this educational institution was completed by such stars and masters as:
- Steven Spielberg
- Peter Bogdanovich
- Martin Scorsese
- James L. Brooks
- Al Pacino
- Kevin Kline
- Bruce Springsteen
- Pierce Brosnan
- Robert Downey Jr
- Susan Sarandon
- James Fox
- Tim Robbins
- Jodie Foster
- Bono
- Steven Frears and many others.
The collective of the school is absolutely sure that it is applied teaching, the constant use in practice of learned techniques guarantees the effectiveness of studying. This model of studying is extraordinarily productive and puts the New York Academy much higher than many other institutions of similar profile.
At the academy students are divided into several faculties:
- Visual arts (photography, design of computer games, graphic design, 3D animation, computer games, graphic design, digital animation, documentary, script writing, television and radio journalism, Illustration)
- Acting skills (actor of cinema)
- Theater skill (actor of musical theater).
The New York Academy of Motion Picture Arts offers a large number of curricula, courses and directions:
Year course are offered:
- Film directing
- Acting
- Computer game design
- Production
- Digital Photography and Journalism
- Scenario
- Operational Art
- 3D Animation.
Accelerated undergraduate-intensive (3 years):
- Film directing
- Design of computer games
- Acting skills
- 3D animation
Master (2 years), beginning in September / January / March / July:
- Digital photography
- Film directing
- Directing the documentary
- Acting
- Operational art
- Production
- Scenario
The degree of associate (2 years):
- Film directing
- Design of computer games
- Acting
- Producing
- Scenario skills.
Also students can choose directions:
- The actor of cinema and television (baccalaureate)
- Film dramaturgy (degree course, master's degree)
- Actor of musical theater (diploma course, summer intensive course)
- Directing of digital editing (summer intensive course).
All courses are conducted in English - please make sure that your level of knowledge is sufficient for full-fledged studying. Age of students is 17 years and older.
Also in the school there are short summer intensive courses for professionals who want to hone this or that aspect of the profession. Summer courses are offered at school branches around the world, in specialized camps, which facilitates entry for residents of a wide variety of countries.
The number of students: 15000 people, foreign students among them about 3000.
There are also branches of the academy in other cities and countries:
- New York
- Los Angeles
- South Beach
- Gold Coast, Australia
- Florence, Italy
- Paris, France

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Educational process
Many academy programs include an internship component. NYFA's campuses are located in the centers of the arts and media industry, providing excellent access to companies looking for interns. Faculty and department chairs will train and advise students on how to seek and secure jobs to improve professional skills, deepen knowledge, and advance their careers in the future.
Faculties and colleges
The Academy offers Bachelor's, Master's, Certificate and Short Course programs to gain specialized knowledge in the following areas:
- 3D animation, visual effects,
- Filmmaking
- Screenwriting,
- Acting in films,
- Cinematography
- Photography
- Broadcast journalism,
- Production
- Documentary
- Virtual reality,
- Digital editing,
- Musical Theatre,
- Game design.
Things to know about
During their time at NYFA, many students will participate in production workshops on the set of Universal Studios. The studio's iconic set is home to hits such as Gremlins (1984), Back to the Future (1985), Jurassic Park (1993), Apollo 13 (1995), War of the Worlds (2005), Transformers (2007) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), as well as the popular TV shows Desperate Housewives (2004), In a Better World (2016) and Never Me (2020). By visiting and working on a real set with instructors, students improve their skills in a professional environment by learning how to use cutting-edge equipment in a real-world studio setting. At Universal Studios, NYFA alumni can also rent costumes from the award-winning Edith Head department at a discounted price.
Accommodation, meals, prices
STUDENT VACANCY OPTIONS
- Residence
For students who would like to live in a hostel, the New York Film Academy offers accommodation in a choice of single, double or triple rooms. Each room has its own bathroom, refrigerator, microwave, WiFi, cable TV, and also quite spacious. This type of accommodation is located close to NYFA. The average cost of living in the residence on average is $ 1800 per month for one person. Please keep in mind that a refundable deposit is required to reserve a bed in the hostel. The amount of the deposit varies depending on the length of stay.
- Accommodation in apartments
The Housing Coordinator will help students find the desired accommodation, for example a furnished apartment. Students interested in living in the apartment should come 1-2 weeks earlier in order to personally look at the accommodation options.
Be careful and cautious about living outside the campus. There is deceptive advertising on the Internet, offering inexpensive and very affordable housing. You should never list any amount until you are sure that the company is legal. In the film academy there are housing coordinators - people who can help.
- Hotels
THE COST OF LIFE
Students should bear in mind the additional costs of housing, and for food.
SUMMER LOCATIONS
For summer programs, students living in a hostel are required to confirm the dates of their arrival and departure to the admissions office. Depending on the date and location, the day of arrival may include briefing, room allocation, key issuance and registration. On the last day of the summer program, students usually gather and prepare to leave. Students clean and prepare for the delivery of rooms.
Accommodation for summer and short-term programs:
Subjects and sports
Activities New York Film Academy NYFA Acting, Photography, Film School
Each of the locations where New York Film Academy classes are held offers a variety of opportunities for extracurricular talent development, encouraging individual student interests. Students can create their own thematic club or join an existing one - the directions of the clubs cover various hobbies: from charity, dozens of types of creativity to love books, cinema, and needlework.
Events are regularly held on each of the campuses:
- Networking – these events allow students to communicate with colleagues from other departments, discuss future collaborations,
- Public – allow students to relax, meet new friends, implement their ideas to the general public,
- Measures to maintain mental and physical health include sports, meetings with therapy dogs,
- Club – creation, organization of thematic meetings on the basis of student associations,
- DEI programs are events and initiatives designed to celebrate NYFA's diverse community.
Students are given the opportunity to participate in exclusive lectures by guest speakers-industry professionals, singing competitions, Broadway Comes to Battery performances, plays and musicals, student film screenings, film festivals and many other events that will showcase the exceptional talents of the students to a wide audience.
Advantages
Institution's rating: it is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the only organization recognized by the US Department of Education. Scenario Faculty is included in the list of the best programs for scenario skills according to the version of The Good University Ranking Guide. In the New York Academy of Motion Picture Arts, you can make a huge number of useful acquaintances and connections that will help you in your work and career development after graduation. The school is considered to be quite prestigious and elite, so its graduates will definitely not be left without jobs and profitable offers.
Facilities and equipment at New York Film Academy NYFA Acting, Photography, Film School
The Academy has its own independent film studio, so that students will have enough time for real work with modern technical equipment. Also, thanks to the established partnership of the Academy, students can practice at Universal Studios (Los Angeles), Disney-MGM (Florida), Harvard and Princeton universities.
Admission dates and extra charges
Additional costs are:
- School registration fee
- Studying aids and materials
- Medical insurance policy
- Accommodation and meals
- Round trip airfare
- Consular fee.
Enrolment process
NYFA organizes admissions throughout the year for most programs. For admission, applicants must fill out the registration form, attach the required documents to it and pay the application fee. The Admissions Committee considers applications within 14 days, then invites candidates for entrance exams: interview, audition, if it is provided for by the chosen direction. Based on the results of the entrance exams, applicants receive an official invitation to enroll, after which they must pay for the program and arrive on campus to start classes.
Perspectives
NYFA alumni include world-renowned professionals in a variety of arts, including:
- Alanna Masterson is an actress known for her role in The Walking Dead,
- Aubrey Plaza is an actress, writer, comedian,
- Bill Hader is an actor known for his roles in the film It 2, voicing characters in cartoons such as Inside Out, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Toy Story 4,
- Camille Luddington is an actress known for her role as Joe in the TV series Grey's Anatomy,
- Francesco Panzieri is a visual effects artist working on the films of G. J. Abrams, Denis Villeneuve, James Mangold,
- James Friend – cinematographer, Academy Award winner for his work on All Quiet on the Western Front,
- Oscar Kuchera is a Russian actor, TV and radio host.
Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol
The general requirements for applicants arriving from abroad will be:
- Personal documents: passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit,
- Upper secondary school diploma with graded transcripts/Bachelor's degree in a related field with transcripts,
- Language test results: TOEFL (from 520), IELTS (from 6.0), Duolingo (from 90) or equivalent,
- Letters of recommendation from the previous place of study,
- Creative portfolio.
Additional admission criteria depend on the chosen program.
Scholarships New York Film Academy NYFA Acting, Photography, Film School
NYFA strives to make education accessible to the majority of students, so it offers financial support programs, scholarships, assistance in obtaining government loans, credits, grants.
Students can apply for NYFA scholarships that directly cover tuition fees, are non-refundable, and are academically merit-based. Scholarships are provided by community groups, corporate foundations, or government organizations, each with its own requirements and application process.
The GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon program offers military families 15% of the total cost of academic and other expenses.
International students can take advantage of their home country's scholarship programs, which will also help cover the costs of tuition, accommodation, and other services.
Literature and references
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New York Film Academy β Wiki
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NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY β data USA
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New York Film Academy Commences its Fourth Decade with a Sleeker, Modern Look
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Film schoolβs ties with Matthew Modine face scrutiny in heated SAG-AFTRA election
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New York Film Academy Rankings
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New York Film Academy Musical Theatre BFA Students and Alums Perform 'Once Upon a Mattress'
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2023 Top 25 American Film Schools, Ranked β The Hollywood Reporter
Institution on the map
Residence permits, citizenship and other services
- Guardianship services during the studies
- Student supervision
Review about New York Film Academy NYFA Acting, Photography, Film School
Recommendations on when to apply
Language courses, schools and children's language camps | Primary and secondary education - private schools | Preparation programmes for entering universities - higher education | Higher education (after completing accredited programs A-level, IB, High School) - Bachelor, Master, MBA |
- we recommend to apply 6-9 months before the start of the course (some camps and schools offer discounts for early booking or for lengthy study programs) - there are some very popular and high demand children's camps, where the applications need to be submitted 1 year in advance (in particular Switzerland , Great Britain , USA , Canada , Austria) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the training program, - some schools have a specific time frame (September-November - please specify an individual school) - some schools require tests in several stages (UKISET, internal tests of the school: English, mathematics, logics, subjects, interview, some require a personal visit) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the program, - for Foundation and Pathway programs, IELTS and TOEFL certificates are usually required, respectively | - recommended submission one year before the start of the program, - the deadline normally closes in January, for TOP HEIs and, as a rule, in March in other universities - for a bachelor, a Foundation or Pathway preparatory program a completed A-level, IB, High School + IELTS / TOEFL are required - for Masters you need a graduated higher education, in some cases you need a pre-Masters program - MBA requires completed higher education, work experience preferably at least 2-3 years, etc. |

Sam is the Regional Director of Student Admissions at INTO Universities (Europe and Central Asia). Sam has nearly 20 years' experience in international education. Also, he has experience in student recruitment for institutions in the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand and is a qualified EFL teacher with many years of experience teaching abroad. He understands the challenges faced by international students and is aware of all these difficulties and have vast experience in helping foreign students.