Graduate Application Process

Thank you for your interest in the MFA in Studio Art in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design. Graduate admissions will re-open in fall of 2026 for graduate students beginning in 2027-28. Application deadline: January 5, 2027.

Group info-sessions and group tours (virtual and in-person) will resume and will be posted here fall semester of 2026. Due to high demand individual sessions or tours are not possible.

Requirements and Application Process

Michigan State University has an online application system through the Office of Admissions. To be considered for admission to the Master of Fine Arts Degree Program in Studio Art, an applicant must submit all materials digitally to MSU’s Graduate Admissions System. 

If you have additional questions after reading this, please consult our FAQs.

We do not review portfolios in advance of the admissions process. Contact your references for feedback on images and materials. We do not accept late application requests, no exceptions. Please consider applying next year if you missed this year’s deadline.

Required Application Documents

    • Statement of Intent / Artist Statement: This brief statement provides the applicant an opportunity to discuss their work, the issues they find most compelling that drive this work, and address sources that inform their work. Please address reasons/goals for pursuing the MFA degree track in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design at Michigan State University.

    • The personal statement is an opportunity to share biographical information relevant to the review committee to know, but that doesn’t necessarily fit within the statement of intent/artist statement. Consider biographical information, interests, hardships, your past education experience, and future educational goals, and professional goals.

    • Transcripts from your undergraduate institution(s) must be official transcripts (generally sent directly from the institution). A cumulative 3.0 GPA is a requirement of the Department of Art, Art History, and Design at Michigan State University for regular admittance. We will accept transcripts sent from the student if they are stamped and or signed officially on the back by the institution.  

    • Current resume/CV should include academic honors, scholarships, exhibition record, special skills and expertise, and prior teaching experience

    • Three letters of recommendation from faculty members or others who are familiar with the applicant’s creative research. Your recommenders will be notified that you have added them as a reference and they will be able to upload their recommendations directly to the admissions platform. Letters of recommendation must be written in English. If the original documents are not in English, you must provide an official translation of each document with the original. The translation can be done by the school, college, or university you attended, or by an authorized translator in your country of study.

    • TOEFL / IELTS – International Students are required to take an English Language Proficiency exam. For more information on minimum scores and eligible tests, please visit the Graduate School’s website. We do not grant language waivers prior to application submission. Please refer to the List of English Speaking Countries that do not need a Language Proficiency exam from MSU.

For more information, please contact: artgrad@msu.edu 

All Virtual Information sessions and Kresge Art Center In-Person Guided Tour and Info Session Dates will resume in Fall 2026. New Dates TBA Here in September 2026 

Due to the large volume of requests, individual tours and virtual sessions are not offered. Registration Required.

Virtual Information Sessions and In-Person Group tours for prospective applicants will re-open for registration in fall 2026