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CalArts Commitment to International Students

International Academic Transcript

Credentials, diplomas and certificates of secondary-school and college-level work must be presented in English translation. International students applying to MFA programs must submit evidence of receipt of an undergraduate degree or its equivalent. The records must clearly state the date of completion (or the anticipated date of completion) and the level of education received with notations as to the number of hours attended per week and the total number of weeks completed.

Submission of Transcripts

Scan and upload copies of transcripts for all institutions attended. In the online application, you will be prompted to upload a PDF of your scanned documents. Please upload both the front and back sides of the transcript, even if the back side is blank.

Uploaded transcripts should be recent and include the following: your name, the institution name, dates of attendance, grades/marks received, credits, and grading legend. If no transcript is available, please upload a PDF document with a statement explaining the circumstances.

Do not mail hard copies unless from the following countries.

• Bulgaria
• Colombia
• Cuba
• India
• Iran
• Kazakhstan
• Palestine
• Russia

If you have transcripts from these countries, we require that you submit official documents directly from the issuing institutions. Please arrange to have them sent as soon as you decide to apply to give plenty of time for their arrival. Please contact admissions@calarts.edu if you have any further questions.

Graduate Applicants from India with a Three-Year Bachelor's Degree

Graduate Applicants from India with a Three Year Bachelor’s Degree

CalArts will accept a three year Bachelor's degree from India as equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in the US on the basis of specific criteria:

University Quality - University accredited by the NCAA with a grade of "A"
Student Performance - The degree was earned in the Division/Class I

Here are the minimum education admission documents required for a graduate program for students from India:

• Final or Provisional Degree Certificate (send legible copy of document to CalArts)
  Examples: Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, Postgraduate Diploma, Doctorate

• Annual Statement of Marks / Academic Transcript

This is an official document issued by the institution responsible for conducting the examinations (e.g. university, constituent or autonomous college). It lists all subjects/papers taken and marks earned for each year of study. This document should be sent directly from university or autonomous college responsible for conducting examination to CalArts.

Upon Admission to CalArts

Official transcripts can be submitted electronically using any credentialing service (Naviance, Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Scribbles, eTranscript) or by physical mail.

Applicants from Chinese institutions may request and submit official transcripts directly through CHESICC. Requests are processed by CHESICC and will be sent electronically to the CalArts Office of Admissions. Do not submit a paper copy of your transcript if you have requested transcripts through CHESICC. Get started.

Declaration of Finances

All students who are not U.S. Citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. must complete the online Declaration of Finances form after they have been accepted and submitted their Statement of Intention to Register (SIR) form. This form is to verify that you have sufficient financial resources to pay all educational and living expenses while attending the California Institute of the Arts. The U.S. consular office in your home country or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (if you are already in the U.S.) will require this document when you apply for a student (F-1) visa.

We encourage international students to be fully prepared to fund their education and living expenses for the entire length of their time at CalArts. International students coming to the U.S. on a student visa are expected to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds available to them to support their living costs as well as their educational expenses while in the U.S. 

Financial aid for international students is available in the form of merit scholarships. Since they are not eligible for federal or state financial assistance, international students are only eligible for a CalArts scholarship and/or CalArts work-study, if they qualify.

Visit the Student Visa and 1-20 page to learn more.