MFA FAQ

For full consideration for Fall admission to the MFA program, you should submit all required materials by January 15. If spots remain, a second round of reviews is available for completed packets received by March 15. However, we strongly recommend you submit all application materials in January for the best chance to be considered for UNT scholarships and other assistance.

Please note, our department's deadline to apply is earlier than the UNT Graduate School's date of July 15.

For Fall 2025 M.F.A. admissions you can anticipate a notification of early admission around end of February (M.F.A.s only) and regular admission around April 2025.

• Your application, application fee, GRE scores, and official transcripts need to be sent to UNT Graduate Admissions Office. The UNT graduate school fee is $75.00.
• An academic writing sample, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose need to be sent directly to the Graduate Director of the M.F.A. program, currently Eugene Martin.
• M.F.A. applicants only: send your digital portfolio materials to the M.F.A. Director.

Your statement of purpose should clearly indicate why you want to pursue an MFA degree.

• Identify what experiences have served as a foundation for success in graduate work in Media Arts, specifically documentary production work. Your answers should focus on your academic background, relevant coursework, and related professional experiences.
• Communicate how pursuing a graduate degree in our department and in your specific program will aid in your professional plans and/or career aspirations.

All application materials should be e-mailed to MFA Graduate Director.

There is no length requirement, but note that heavy emphasis is placed on this statement in our review of your application materials.

Students from outside the United States must apply through UNT-International (UNT-I). Contact the UNT-International office, not the Department of Media Arts, for all TOEFL questions.

Materials do not have to be sent as a single email package, however the admissions committee will not review your application until all materials have been received.

You can anticipate contact from either the UNT Graduate School or the Graduate Director approximately one month after the respective semester deadlines.

A limited number of paid graduate assistantships are awarded each year to graduate students. There are various assignments that fall under the Teaching Assistantships (TAs) category, which are:

• Teaching Assistant (TA) -- Assist a professor in duties including attendance, grading, teaching, and advising students enrolled in a class.
• Research Assistant (RA) -- Assist with duties concerning a research project undertaken by a professor or other administrative duties.
• Teaching Fellows (TF) -- Teach lower-level undergraduate courses on your own, usually courses like writing or basic equipment operation. A minimum of 18 hours of graduate credit is required to qualify as a TF.

The assistantship application form is on the Forms & Applications page of the Department of Media Arts website.

The assistantship application should be sent in with your other application material to the Director of your program.

Follow the specific directions given to you in the email or letter you received regarding your assistantship. This will include such things as:

• Contact the faculty member with whom you have been assigned.
• Contact the Media Arts office to ensure the appropriate employment paperwork has been completed.

Assistantships are assigned on a semester-by-semester basis for one semester only and renewal is based upon your performance in the job. While we try to maintain assistantships for both the fall and spring semesters, students need to submit evaluation forms and re-apply each semester.