Bachelor Programme
Drama (Theatre)
NYU Tisch's BFA in Theatre, taught by the Department of Drama, combines conservatory training in renowned New York City studios with theatre studies and liberal arts courses. Students audition into one discipline, such as acting or musical theatre, and are placed in a studio for their primary training in the theatre capital of the world. Students apply through the Common App to Tisch Drama and complete an artistic review.
University
New York University
Country
United States
Level
Bachelor
Field
Arts & Humanities
Duration
4 years full-time
Language
English
Campus
Washington Square (Manhattan)
Degree
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theatre
Intake
Fall (September)
Application Deadline
Fall 2027 entry (first-year applicants, Common App): Early Decision I closes 1 November 2026, with decisions on 15 December 2026. Early Decision II closes 1 January 2027, with decisions on 15 February 2027. Regular Decision closes 5 January 2027, with decisions by 1 April 2027. NYU has no Early Action round. Deadlines are 11:59 pm in the applicant's local time zone, and NYU allows one application per year. Tisch Drama's artistic review must be scheduled by 9 November 2026 (Early Decision I), 11 January 2027 (Early Decision II) or 18 January 2027 (Regular Decision), each at 9:00 am New York time. Tisch recommends submitting the Common App by 15 October or 15 December.
Tuition Information
2026-27 tuition and fees: US$75,326 for the year (NYU's estimate for the Tisch School of the Arts). The same rate applies to US and international students. NYU's estimated total cost of attendance for 2026-27 is US$107,748: tuition and fees plus food and housing (US$26,438), books and supplies (US$1,492), transportation (US$2,438) and personal expenses (US$2,054). Health insurance is extra unless waived. 2027-28 rates have not been published yet. Under the NYU Promise, NYU meets 100% of demonstrated need for first-time, first-year students admitted to the New York campus.
Admission Requirements
- School: Tisch School of the Arts. Apply with the Common App and NYU supplement, choosing this school and major
- Testing: NYU is test-optional through the 2027-28 application cycle. Applicants who choose to submit testing submit one form: SAT or ACT (both superscored), or one of NYU's other accepted options such as the IB Diploma, AP or IB Higher Level results, or national exams
- English proficiency (international applicants): required if English is not your first language and your last three full years of school were not taught entirely in English. Accepted tests are TOEFL iBT, Duolingo, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, and C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, taken within the last two years. NYU sets no minimum score, but competitive applicants score TOEFL iBT 100+ (or 5+ overall and in each section on the new scale from 21 January 2026), IELTS 7.5+, Duolingo 135+, PTE 70+ or Cambridge 191+
- Audition (required): every applicant completes an artistic review (audition or portfolio) in one discipline through the Drama Artistic Review Portal. NYU emails a link a few days after the Common App is submitted, and the portal opens in mid-October 2026. Reviews take place in person in New York City (and in Chicago for Regular Decision) or online
- Regular Decision Acting and Musical Theatre applicants first submit a Phase 1 video by 18 January 2027 and may then be invited to a live Phase 2 review. Applicants must bring a performing-arts résumé without a photo