International applicants must submit an English proficiency score if the native language of their country of citizenship is not English* or be exempt as described below. The AFI Conservatory accepts TOEFL (iBT, MyBestScore, and Essentials), IELTS or Duolingo.

Minimum scores required:

• TOEFL iBT/MyBestScore = 100
• TOEFL Essentials = 11
• IELTS = 7.0
• Duolingo = 130

Test scores must reflect tests taken within 24 months of submission. Please allow for appropriate time for test scheduling and distribution of results. Test scores must be received by the deadline date described in the Admissions Requirements. AFI only accepts official test results and not results submitted by the applicant. Please use the following codes when submitting official test results: TOEFL code B886, IELTS code 9760.TOEFL and IELTS scores are sent to the application system GradCAS, and not directly to AFI for processing. For Duolingo, the GradCAS system does not process these scores, so please have Duolingo send the test scores directly to the American Film Institute for processing.

Please Note: An I-20 cannot be issued without the receipt of the minimum TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score requirement, or qualifying exemption.

*U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. with an Alien Registration Number do not need to submit an English proficiency score.

International applicants may be exempt if one of the following criteria has been successfully completed in the United States or other English-speaking country:

1. Completion of an undergraduate degree program that includes two English Composition and Literature classes or its equivalent.
2. Completion of two classes of non-remedial English Composition and Literature.
3. Completion of an intensive English program (minimum one year) with results that equal the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo requirements.

To request an exemption, click here to complete the English Proficiency Test Exemption Request Form. Please upload PDFs of your transcripts to be evaluated. Applicants should not assume they are exempt based on the above criteria. All transcripts will be evaluated for exemption by the Admission’s Office for admissions purposes. Level of English language competency as it relates to admission into the AFI Conservatory will be determined by, and at the discretion of, the Admissions Committee.

*Please note a master’s degree program will not be considered for an exemption unless it includes the above English courses.

AFI Conservatory accepts unofficial transcripts for the admissions process. All unofficial transcripts must be uploaded in the GradCAS application portal. All transcripts that are not in English must have an English translation attached to them either via the undergraduate school or by a certified translator. Applicants may choose to submit official transcripts during the admissions process.  Official transcripts must be sent by the issuing school and/or the translating service directly to the Admissions office at Applications@AFI.edu or via post mail.

Applicants need to submit official transcripts after they have been selected for admission and decide to enroll at the AFI Conservatory. Transcripts are considered official only when they are received by the Admissions office via the issuing institution either digitally or via post mail. Transcripts and translations are not considered official if they were uploaded in the GradCAS application portal.

All credentials and transcripts must include an original (no copies) plus an official English translation (if applicable) to be enrolled. The Registrar determines final evaluation of applicants’ records. If official transcripts and translations were sent to the Admissions office during the application process, applicants do not need to resend them.

Applicants who are pursuing the Master of Fine Arts degree from the AFI Conservatory and have completed a degree outside the United States must submit an International Bachelor’s Equivalency Report or IBE report upon acceptance into the program. In order to earn a master’s degree in the United States, graduate candidates must have earned a bachelor’s degree first or equivalent from another country. Educational credential evaluations determine if an international degree meets the same course requirements as a U.S. bachelor’s degree.

Requesting an IBE Report
The AFI Conservatory does not perform educational credential evaluations. Applicants will need to acquire an IBE report from an outside service. The following are a few organizations that provide credential evaluation services:

• globaledu.com Global Education Group
• IERF.org International Education Research Foundation
• WES.org World Education Services*
• acei-global.org Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute
• ECE.org Foreign Credential Evaluation Reports

Applicants should request a document-to-document evaluation which can cost on average between $75 and $200. All documentation needed to conduct the evaluation will be provided by the applicant to the service agency directly.

Other organizations not listed above provide similar evaluation services. AFI will only accept evaluations made by a U.S. company that is a member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services). Applicants should check with the Admissions Office to verify accreditation if using a service not listed above.

Once the evaluation has been received by the Registrar’s Office, the results will be officially posted to the Fellow’s record.

*Applicants who have received their bachelor’s degree from India are highly encouraged to use World Education Services (WES) for their IBE report.

Non-Equivalent Degrees
When a degree comes back as not equivalent, AFI will review the case individually and will notify an incoming Fellow of their enrollment options. Non-equivalent degree cases are reviewed only after a candidate has been admitted into the program. For more information, please contact the Admissions Office at Admissions@AFI.edu.

General Guidelines for International Applicants
Degrees earned outside of the United States should be recognized by the ministry of education in an applicant’s home country and should allow the applicant to pursue a master’s degree domestically and abroad.

For degrees earned in the following countries, here are some general guidelines AFI follows for equivalency of three-year degrees:

• India: the AFI Conservatory may consider three-year Indian bachelor’s degree if they were earned in Division 1, and the awarding institution is currently accredited by India’s National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a letter grade “A” or better. Applicants and incoming Fellows with degrees earned from India are highly encouraged to choose WES as their IBE evaluator.
• Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand: three-year degrees may be considered equivalent if they were earned at a school accredited by their ministry of education.
• European schools outside of the United Kingdom: AFI may consider earned degrees if the institution follows ECTS (European Credit Transfer Accumulation System) with a completion of at least 180 ECTS credits.
• All other countries: When a degree comes back as not equivalent, AFI will review the case individually and will notify an incoming Fellow of their enrollment options. Non-equivalent degree cases are reviewed only after a candidate has been admitted into the program. For more information, please contact the Admissions Office at Admissions@AFI.edu.

After acceptance, international applicants will be required to apply to receive their I-20 certificate from AFI Conservatory. The following items must be provided along with the completed application:

1. PASSPORT – A copy of the applicant’s bio page must be submitted as part of the I-20 application. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the start date of the program.
   1. If bringing dependents, copies of their passports’ bio pages must also be submitted. All passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the start date of the program.
2. FINANCIAL VERIFICATION – Applicants must provide financial verification in the form of liquid funding to cover the full cost of tuition, fees and living expenses for their first year of study.
   1. If bringing dependents, an additional $4,570 will be added to the overall budget, which must also be shown in liquid funds.
   2. All financial documents must be official and in English
   3. International Fellows must determine proposed source(s) of funding beyond the first year of the program to avoid financial difficulties in the Second Year, and to avoid delays during the visa interview.
3. DEPOSIT – AFI Conservatory’s tuition deposit must be submitted first in order to issue an I-20. Please reach out to the Admissions Office at Admissions@AFI.com for more information.

Once the I-20 application and all necessary documents have been submitted, the AFI Conservatory will issue an I-20 certificate, which is required to obtain the F-1 student visa (Canadian citizens must apply for the I-20 but are exempt from the F-1 student visa requirement).

Visa processing times vary by consulate and may also depend on individual circumstances. Visas may only be issued in the originating country; visas cannot be issued in the United States. Information on how to obtain a visa will be sent upon acceptance to the AFI Conservatory.

• AFI Scholarships – Applicants must submit an AFI Scholarship application by February 1 to be considered for AFI merit and need-based scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to first year Fellows and are renewable in the second year provided satisfactory academic progress is maintained.
• Private Educational Loans – There are several U.S. based educational loans available to international students with a U.S. co-signer. These loans generally require that you have the support of a cosigner who is a legal resident of the United States with good credit. AFI does not partner with or endorse any of these lenders.

• • International Student Loan
  • Discover Loan for International Students
  • OAS Rowe Fund (for students from Latin America and the Caribbean)
  • Sallie Mae Smart Option Loan

• Outside Scholarships– Private scholarship funding opportunities may be available an applicant’s home country or from private organizations. For a list of some scholarship resources for international Fellows, visit the scholarship page here. It is highly recommended to begin searches as soon as possible.

For additional information, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 323.856.7699 or FinancialAid@AFI.edu.