IMA Admissions Guidelines

The IMA-MFA Program is selective, enrolling approximately 20 students each year.  The opportunity to study with the top media practitioners and scholars that serve as IMA-MFA faculty attracts talented students from all over the world.

Application Deadlines for Fall 2024:  February 15th through April 15th

Contact the IMA Program Coordinator, Natalie Conn, to set up a time to meet via zoom. She can answer any questions that you have about the program and application. contact: imamfaassistant@gmail.com

In order to apply, you do not need prior professional experience and it is acceptable if you never formally studied media making.  If your background includes experience with only one art form, do not assume that you will be unprepared to enter our program.  Our students work in a number of forms and use diverse technologies, but virtually all have enhanced and expanded their toolkit since enrolling. What you must demonstrate is a commitment to immerse yourself in the study of integrated media arts and recognition of the inextricable connection between what you plan to study and what you hope to accomplish as an artist.

IMA-MFA Program Application Materials

To complete application for admission you must submit all required materials to Hunter’s Graduate Admissions Online Application. You can find instructions here.

You will need:

  • A completed Graduate Online Application
  • Application Fee $75
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation are only acceptable when submitted electronically directly from the recommender to the online application
  • TOEFL test scores (if applicable)
  • Your Personal Statement
  • Transcripts
  • Project Summary
  • Portfolio

Personal Statement (approx 500 words – 1 page)

Use the personal statement to describe your long-term objectives as a socially engaged media maker. You should also explain your reason for pursuing graduate study, and in particular, why Hunter’s IMA-MFA Program is relevant to your creative goals.  The personal statement is your opportunity to give us a sense of who you are, what you’ve done, what inspires you, and what you hope to do. Make your personal statement “personal,” not generic.  We have to read a lot of these, so make sure it specifically reflects your personality and perspective and how these fuel your interest in media making.

Project Summary (approx 500 words – 1 page)

Describe a media project you could envision making in the IMA-MFA Program. What medium/s is it? How might you present the work, as a film, a website, an audio piece, an installation, or in another form? What is it about? What inspired it? How does your past work inform your approach to this imagined project?  In what ways would the piece reflect your personal approach or connection to the material? Be specific about the details of your idea.

Portfolio Cover Sheet

Your portfolio submission contains examples of your creative work on which you had creative control or a significant creative role.  We recommend submitting between three and ten projects in your portfolio. Creative work can include films, sound recordings, web pages, game designs, interactive installations, reportage, photo series, documentation of performance, etc. Primarily work that tells a story of some kind.

The preferred format for submission of the portfolio is via what we call a Portfolio Cover sheet which is simply a document where you’d list the projects you’re presenting. You’d put the title of the project, the direct link to where it lives online (YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, a page on your website, google drive, etc.) And then below the link, you’d briefly describe the project and story behind it. And if it’s a collaboration, your specific role. When relevant, include information about the project history and future plans. Make sure the link continues to work and that your portfolio remains accessible throughout the application review period (through May).

FAQ – ADMISSIONS

Can I apply for spring admission?
No.  Students are accepted for fall semester enrollment only, though you could take a class or two as a non-degree/non-matric student in the spring semester. Contact the program coordinator to learn more: imamfaassistant@gmail.com

Can I visit the program?
Yes. First we like to meet with you individually via zoom to hear more about your interest in the program and we can answer any questions you might have about IMA and the application. Contact the program coordinator to learn more: imamfaassistant@gmail.com. During the zoom meeting we can talk about observing classes and visiting. Prospective students are also welcome at program events like thesis shows, the fall and spring gatherings, screenings, and guest artist presentations. Please email the Program Coordinator, Natalie Conn, to set up a meeting at: imamfaassistant@gmail.com

When do I have to decide whether to accept the offer?
We expect accepted students to inform us by the date provided in their acceptance email whether or not they intend to enroll in the program.  This deadline enables us to offer any available spaces to applicants on the waiting list in a timely manner.

Can I defer my admission?
Technically no, though due to COVID challenges we’ve allowed applicants from 2020 and 2021 to defer if needed and this option may continue into the future if there is good reason to defer.