Required Application Documents

Applicants may upload unofficial transcripts into their Admissions Portal for initial review. If admitted to UNCSA, official transcripts must be sent to UNCSA directly from each attended institution so that UNCSA can confirm the final grades at each school.

Transcripts should be submitted electronically to the UNCSA Office of Admissions whenever possible. If an institution does not have the capability to send a transcript electronically, the official transcript may be mailed to the Office of Admissions.

Official Transcripts should be sealed, signed or notarized for all secondary school academic records, and should include a list of courses in which the applicant is enrolled at the time of application. Any transcript uploaded by the student through the Admissions Portal is considered unofficial.

Please have transcripts sent as soon as possible to be granted an interview.

• Preferred primary applicants for the Creative Producing or Screenwriting concentrations should have completed an undergraduate degree and have a minimum of two years work experience.

• Preferred applicants to the Film Music Composition concentration should have an undergraduate degree in music or music composition

International Applicants
Transcripts MUST be translated to English with both a credential evaluation and a GPA equivalent from a certifying agency. Transcripts from each school attended must be sent to the certifying agency for evaluation and certification. Approved agencies can be found at www.naces.org or www.aice-eval.org. 

A certified credential evaluation is required in order to be reviewed for admission.

GRE Scores (Optional)
The GRE is not required for admission, but scores will be considered. If you choose to submit scores, please mail hard copies to the Office of Admissions.

International Applicants:
International applicants should submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores. Minimum score requirements for international students are:

• TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 79
• IELTS Academic: 6.5
• Duolingo English Test: 100

UNCSA requires applicants to submit contact information for two references. UNCSA sends references a recommendation form and the ability to upload their letter. UNCSA requires contact information for the following:

• One letter from an arts instructor
• One letter from an academic instructor

If not currently enrolled in school, a letter may come from an employer, mentor, instructor, director, etc

The letter of intent should express creative and professional interests, goals, and information that provides insight into your work.  

• Consider sharing what kind of work you believe has made an impact and how you intend to make impactful work.  
• Discuss your goals as a filmmaker: is your creative work a vehicle of personal expression, social commentary, and/or commerce? 
• Expand on the above ideas, and include any additional remarks that will allow the committee to learn as much about you, your work, and aspirations as possible.
• Please be sure to include a statement about your goals as they relate to UNCSA and why you believe this university’s graduate program is the right place for you to further those goals.  
• Maximum length: three pages. 
• Be sure to include your full name on this document, which may be used if you are recommended for scholarship consideration. 

Upload a two-page document:   

• The first page should list educational objectives, work experiences, extra-curricular activities, and/or community service;   
• The second page should consist of an essay describing how you have integrated your extra-curricular activities and/or community service into our world artistically as well as personally. 

Applicants to the Creative Writing and Screenwriting programs are required to submit recorded responses to provided questions.

The application includes access to a video essay page for recording the responses. Applicants will need to use a computer with a webcam and a browser that supports media recording (Chrome and Firefox). 

The video essay page includes the ability to do a test recording. This is to ensure that webcams and microphones are working as desired prior to recording a video essay. 

The duration of the video should not exceed three minutes. Applicants are provided two attempts to complete the video essay.

Creative Producing or Screenwriting Applicants
Submit a portfolio of two writing samples in PDF format.

Film Music Composition
Provide a portfolio of three to five original compositions.

Read more about portfolio requirements.

In addition to the documents listed above, international applicants should be prepared to submit the following documents to an Admissions Counselor after notification of being accepted to UNCSA has been received:

• A copy of a current passport
• If holding an F-1 Visa, submit a copy of this visa and Form I-20
• Complete a Certificate of Financial Responsibility