MFA in Painting (and other School of Visual Arts MFAs)
Boston University College of Fine Arts · Boston, MA
- Field: Studio Art & Design (MFA)
- Degrees: Master's
- Application fee: $95
- GRE: Not required
- Letters: 2 (recommendations)
Deadlines
- All on-campus MFA and MA programs, including portfolio and test scores: Jan. 15, 2027
Essays
Personal statement (One page)
Indicate your purpose in pursuing graduate work, career objectives, and particular interest in BU.
Portfolio (Painting) (15–20 images of your strongest work; at least half from the last year and all from the last three years; no more than four detail/installation views)
Portfolio (Sculpture) (15–20 images; video documentation acceptable as supplement)
Portfolio (Print Media & Photography) (20 images of recent studio work; no more than four details)
CV or résumé
Editor's notes
- BU asks for only a one-page personal statement covering why graduate study, your career goals, and why BU specifically, so be concrete about the program you are applying to. Painting applicants should follow the recency rule closely (half the images from the past year, all within three years) and limit detail shots to four. Portfolio counts differ by MFA, so check your program's list before editing images. Merit scholarships are automatic for admitted on-campus students, and the Painting program says its MFA students are typically awarded graduate or teaching assistantships.
