American Film Institute

American Film Institute is a need-blind institute. A limited number of scholarships are offered by this institute. Overall, the scholarships awarded to students are based on the merit and need. The scholarships applications are for the invite-only students who have reached the interview round. 

AFI has just one course named MFA, and the extended deadline for the same is January 5, 2026 for international students. 

Look at the table given below to know about the American Film Institute admission deadlines for PG courses: 

At the American Film Institute, there is only one course that is offered, and that is the MFA. It is offered in subjects like Directing, Producing, Screenwriting, and Production Design. They all have only one intake, the Fall one, which starts around late August or Early September. The deadline months are November to January.

The American Film Institute has not shared a minimum GPA requirement officially, but a UG degree with a nice academic background is definitely required. As per an unofficial source, an average GPA of 3.15 to 3.31 can be a competitive GPA. Other than this, international students also need a NAAC-accredited UG degree, strong narrative abilities and English language proficiency. 

Getting admission at AFI can be a difficult task as the acceptance rate is only 25%. International students need to apply by meeting all the AFI eligibility criteria.  And an online application submission. Look at the admission documents required - 

• A UG Degree
• A strong narrative
• Resume 
• 2 LORs
• Academic transcripts 
• Proof of English language proficiency 
• Portfolios
• Application fee of USD 110 or INR 9.9K

(USD 1 = INR 9.9K)

Yes, it is very difficult to get into AFI as the acceptance rate for this university stands at only 25%. So out of every 100 applications, only 25 were given an offer letter. Given below are the AFI admission requirements, take a look - 

• A UG Degree
• A strong narrative
• Resume 
• 2 LORs
• Academic transcripts 
• Proof of English language proficiency 
• Portfolios
• Application fee of USD 110 or INR 9.9K

(USD 1 = INR 90.12)

Around INR 61 lakh is the tuition fee for American Film Institute. The tuition fee is USD 72,954 and for 2026-27, it is USD 75,508. Overall cost to study at this institute is around USD 106,126. Living expenses of around USD 19,750 (Around INR 17.6 lakh) is also included in the total cost. 

International students can apply for AFI scholarships. The application for AFI Conservatory scholarship as per the institute's specified deadline. The notification of scholarship awards is sent out after an admission decision has been made. Late applications are not considered. The scholarships are renewable in the second year for those who remain in good academic standing with the Conservatory.

AFI is a famous school Los Angeles. The MFA program at AFI Conservatory is more than an academic experience in the art of movie-making. The course will help you connect with the influential artists in the field. AFI has been consistently ranked at #1 film school in the U.S. by the Hollywood Reporter. Also, the faculty at the institute comprises working professionals, and AFI maintains strong ties with Hollywood, providing students with networking opportunities and access to many industry leaders.

American Film Institute Fellows are not traditional film school students. On average, their ages range between late-20s to mid-30s when they start their training at the institute. In other words, these students have lived and worked – as composers, scientists, Army captains, investigative journalists, stand-up comedians, and more. Because of this reason, AFI faculty approach these students as passionate and dedicated peers.