FAQ

One MFA Design. Many paths to shaping the future.
For Fall 2027, applicants interested in interaction design, graphic design, product design, and social impact should apply to MFA Design: SVA’s new multidisciplinary graduate design program.

Applications to the new MFA Design program are open and are reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early applications. The priority deadline to apply for Fall 2027 is January 15, 2026.

YES! We accept applications as spots in the program remain available.

Ideal candidates are individuals who are eager to expand and refine their design practices, tackle complex design challenges across various media and platforms, and bring their original ideas and concepts to the world. The MFA Design department welcomes applications from a diverse range of backgrounds, including experienced designers, emerging talents, and those from interdisciplinary fields such as technology, art, architecture, journalism, psychology, finance, medicine, and business.

Your portfolio is a collection of 5-7 projects that demonstrate your experience and interest in design. Projects should:

• Demonstrate an ability to identify and think through a problem.
• Articulate the designer's approach and resolution in compelling ways.
• Offer creative solutions.
• Demonstrate any technical experience with materials, tools, and craft.

For non-designers: MFA Design welcomes candidates without a formal design degree or professional design experience. Here, your portfolio will be a collection of projects that convey your ability to problem-solve and to think critically and analytically. It may also be a place to show hobbies and craft work. Maybe you have experience with materials and techniques, but have never thought of it as "design." We want to see it!

Project Examples (you are not required to present each type of project; these are simply examples):

• Websites or apps
• Research projects or project proposals
• Business plans
• Creative or critical writing
• Volunteer initiatives
• Community engagements
• Crafts, sculpture, or jewelry

Do not be afraid to show broken models, failed attempts, iteration, and learning.

Portfolio Submission Format:

• Portfolio must be submitted as an online portfolio site (preferred) or a single PDF document.
• Do not send links to Google Folders, DropBox folders, or individual jpg/mp4 files, please.

Yes. It is a New York State requirement that all students pursuing graduate study submit a copy of their undergraduate transcript with proof of their undergraduate degree to the institution where they will begin their studies. This documentation is required prior to the start of the fall semester. SVA cannot permit a student to attend classes until this documentation is on file.

The SVA Office of Financial Aid coordinates the many sources of aid to meet as many of the students' financial needs as funding permits. Contact the office directly at 212.592.2030 or fa@sva.edu for more information.

All students who apply are considered for merit-based scholarships from the MFA Design program.

MFA Design classes will be held in SVA's building at 136 W 21st Street in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, across three floors in the same building — all dedicated to design.

Yes! There will be courses that focus on physical computing, creative coding, user experience design, and research. All of these courses will be multidisciplinary, so students will learn interaction design skills in connection with visual design, storytelling, and social impact.

Yes! Yes, the Design MFA Program is STEM certified. Not only does this certification formally acknowledge the multifaceted qualifications and expertise gained by our students, but it also makes additional scholarship and grant funding available to both domestic and international students.

For our international students, this STEM designation opens up several opportunities. Students who earn STEM-designated master’s degrees are able to apply for a 24-month STEM extension to their 12-month Optional Practice Training (OPT) period, which allows them to work on a student visa. With this 24-month extension for this specific visa, the total time that international students can stay and work in the U.S. after graduation is 3 years, instead of 1 year.