Program Overview
The Fashion Design and Society (MFA) at The New School is a Master programme in Arts & Design over 24 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of arts & design. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Fashion Design and Society (MFA) programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across China and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 24 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- English requirement: IELTS 7
- Tuition: USD 1,620 (Tuition (Credit)) — International students; USD 1,620 (Tuition (Credit)) — National students
- Location: New York City, United States, China
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Fashion Design and Society (MFA) programme are prepared for diverse careers in arts & design:
- Creative Director
- Graphic / UX Designer
- Art Director
- Curator
- Visual Artist
- Media Producer
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
- Orientation 1
- Design Studio 1: Personal Identity
- Design in Fashion Systems
- Elective
- Design Studio 2
- Advanced Visual Practicum
- Fashion Presentation
- Fashion Cultures: Lecture
- Fashion Cultures: Recitation
- Orientation 2
- Design Studio 3
- Communication
- Thesis Preparation
- Elective
- Design Thesis Studio
- Thesis Reviews
- Professional Practice
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Application Form: Complete the online application. All applicants are required to apply online.
- Application Fee: A nonrefundable $50 application fee paid as part of the online application. A $15 SlideRoom fee is also required.
- Transcripts:
- Résumé: Submit a brief résumé/curriculum vitae summarizing your academic qualifications, relevant work experience, volunteer/community work, travel, exhibitions, public speaking, or any other relevant experiences as they may relate to your field of study, including dates and positions held. Please also note any special language or computer skills that you have.
- Statement of Purpose: Please outline your reasons for applying to this program. In what ways will you contribute to the subject matter of the program? You should include a thoughtful description of your background, tentative plan of study or area of inquiry in the field as you now envision it, your professional goals, and an explanation of how this graduate program will help you realize those goals. If you have not been enrolled as a student in the past five years, please address anticipated opportunities and challenges in pursuing the degree, and future career expectations upon completion of the program. (500750-word limit)
- Recommendation Letters: You are required to submit two letters of recommendation from faculty or people with whom you have worked professionally. Recommenders can submit recommendations online; instructions are included with the online application. If preferred, the recommendation form can instead be sent by mail in a signed, sealed envelope. To send by mail, download the PDF recommendation form found in the online application, complete the personal information, save the form, and forward it to the recommender for completion and submission. Applicants can also send signed and sealed recommendations to the Office of Admission using an Application Materials Cover Sheet.
- Portfolio: The portfolio must be completed in SlideRoom only. Submit 25 to 40 images that provide a clear representation of your concepts and skills as a designer. Applicants can submit images of the following: pages from sketchbooks (showing in-depth research and design development work), final illustrations, technical drawings, artwork from various design projects, textile/knitwear work, fabric use, and/or photographs of clothing collections that you have developed. If you would like to submit moving images such as installation, performance, or live fashion show work, please submit them using SlideRoom.
- Test Scores:TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE: All applicants whose first language is not English must submit valid TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. The minimum score required for TOEFL (IBT) is 92, for IELTS is 7.0, and for PTE is 63.
A TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score is not required for applicants- Whose primary language is English
- Who have earned a four-year degree from a U.S. college/university or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction
Arrange for the testing service to send your test scores directly to The New School using the codes listed above. We accept scores from the past two years. If your scores are older, you must retake the test.
Applicants also have the option of enrolling in The New School\'s English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Students must pass Level 6 in order to waive the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE requirement. Visit the ESL website for more information. - Interview: All finalists for the Fashion Design and Society MFA program must be interviewed by the graduate faculty either in person or by Skype. All selected interviewees are expected to present full portfolios with evidence of process and design development work and examples of their 3D work (i.e., clothing).
English Proficiency: IELTS 7 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
USD 1,620 (Tuition (Credit)) — International students; USD 1,620 (Tuition (Credit)) — National students
Tuition fees: USD 1,620 (Tuition (Credit)) — International students; USD 1,620 (Tuition (Credit)) — National students
IELTS requirement: 7
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact The New School directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About The New School
The New School
Manhattan, United States
Visit the university profile page to learn more about this institution.
University Profile- Application Deadline Jan, 2027
- Start Date Aug, 2026
- Language English
- Duration 24 months
