International Admission Requirements
Please note that applying to AMDA is a multi-step process. Be sure to follow ALL 6 steps below to ensure the submission of a successful application.
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Apply Online and Submit Your Personal Essay +
To apply, you must be at least 16 years old and/or in the final two years of high school/secondary education*. If you meet the minimum age requirement, you will be eligible to apply.
Towards the bottom of the application, space is provided for you to write a personal essay (500 words minimum) on the following topic: "Describe a challenging experience in your life and what you learned from it". Remember, this is an important part of your application, so answer thoughtfully!
* If you are not yet 16, we would encourage you to consider attending the AMDA High School Summer Conservatory.
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Pay the International Application Processing Fee +
Upon submitting the application, you will be prompted to pay the $50 International Processing Fee (payable in U.S. funds only), which is nonrefundable.
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Complete The Audition Requirement +
Admission to AMDA requires an audition. AMDA offers numerous audition opportunities in select international cities. We also offer monthly auditions at both AMDA campuses and in cities across the United States. A complete list of audition sites can be found on the Audition page. We strongly encourage all students to audition in person, as it is the best way for adjudicators and admission advisors to get to know you and fully evaluate your skills set. However, if you are unable to find a suitable audition location, video submissions are also accepted.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To better prepare for your AMDA audition, we strongly encourage ALL applicants to review the Audition Requirements and Tips page prior to scheduling an audition or submitting a video submission.
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Submit Your Official Academic Records (Transcripts) +
Download the "Transcript Request" form, fill out the required information then give it to your school counselor, as a reminder, to ensure your transcript is promptly submitted to AMDA.
Unofficial transcripts may be emailed to docs@amda.edu for an expedited decision.
Official records or certified copies of your academic records must be mailed to AMDA in an unopened, sealed envelope to:
AMDA – Records Department
211 West 61st Street
New York, NY 10023- International applicants who have already graduated from high school and/or who have taken any post-secondary college-level course work must send their Academic Records (transcripts and diplomas from all educational institutions attended) via email to docs@amda.edu to obtain an expedited admission decision from AMDA. Official certified copies of all academic records can also be submitted in lieu of original records. This should be done once you've successfully submitted your online application.
- International applicants who have not yet graduated from high school must submit an in-progress academic record (transcript) up to and including the most recent term or year that they have completed, along with an official letter from their high school stating the applicant's intended graduation date, and including a notarized translation if the records are not in English.
- If your transcripts and academic records are not in English, you must submit a notarized word-for-word, literal translation for all academic records (transcripts and diplomas) that are not in English.
- Final, official academic records must be received by AMDA in a sealed envelope before the start of classes-along with any translations-as noted above. Documents can be received by registered mail or by courier, to ensure there is a tracking number, sent electronically via Parchment by the school, or hand-delivered at AMDA's class registration.
- Upon receipt of your academic records, the AMDA Admissions Office may require additional information or further evaluation of your transcripts by a NACES approved credential evaluator. AMDA recommends any one of the following evaluators spantran.com, gceus.com, ierf.com, wes.org, ece.org. That said we highly encourage all applicants with foreign academic credentials to secure these evaluations prior to applying to AMDA as this would significantly help with expediting your application processing time.
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Submit One Letter of Recommendation +
Request a Letter of Recommendation or a Reference Letter from your teacher, guidance counselor, director, coach or anyone familiar with your work and potential as an actor, singer, or dancer. Your recommendation letter must be written in English and signed and dated by the person making the recommendation. AMDA has a recommendation form that you can send to your reference to facilitate the process. Recommendation letters/forms may be submitted via email to docs@amda.edu or by mailing to the address on the form.
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Submit Proof of English Proficiency +
English is the language of instruction for all AMDA programs. The better your command of English, the more likely you are to succeed. Therefore, all international students from non-English speaking countries are required to provide proof of an acceptable level of English proficiency. This can be done in one of several ways:
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You may provide proof of English language proficiency by passing any one of the following 11 AMDA -approved English language proficiency examinations +
Testing must have been completed no more than two years prior to the date of your application to AMDA. Test results must be received by AMDA directly from the testing service. Below is a list of the approved examinations and minimum scores for "Direct Admission" into AMDA's 2-year conservatory programs and 4-year degree granting programs.
Test Name Minimum Score for AMDA's 2-Year Conservatory Programs Minimum Score for AMDA's 4-Year Degree Granting Programs Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
AMDA New York School Code for TOEFL is C064
AMDA Los Angeles School Code for TOEFL is 857170 iBT 79 iBT International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6 6.5 Cambridge English Language Assessment B2 C1 EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency Pre-1 Pre-1 Elash 2 Test 137 150 International Test in English Proficiency (iTEP) 3.7 3.9 Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) 73 76 Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) 50 53 SAT: (previous Sat) 500 on the SAT Critical Reading 500 on the SAT Critical Reading SAT: (redesigned SAT) 550 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing exam 550 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing exam ACT 20 on the ACT English exam 20 on the ACT English exam Cambridge Certificate of Education in one of the following exams: GCSE, IGCSE, CSEC, O-Levels, AS-Level, or A-Levels "C" or Better in English "C" or better in English International Baccalaureate (IB) "5" or better on the "English A" Higher Level (HL) Examination. "5" or better on the "English A" Higher Level (HL) Examination. -
By successfully completing an ESL pathway program at one of our four partnering institutions or at another accredited ESL pathway program* +
*Please note: All independent ESL pathway programs must be accredited by the Commission on English Language Accreditation (CEA) or by the American Council of Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). This does not apply to ESL programs affiliated with regionally or nationally accredited institutions of higher education.- If you choose to enroll into an ESL pathway programs, you should apply to both the ESL school for "Direct Admission" and to AMDA for "Conditional Admission". Conditional Admission is also known as "Conditional Acceptance". Your initial I-20 for the F-1 visa will be issued by the ESL school.
- To obtain Conditional Acceptance at AMDA, you must complete all other components of the admissions process, except for the proof of English language proficiency. Your personal essay and audition may be submitted whenever you believe you are adequately fluent in English to prepare them competently. This will most likely be in the final months of your English language training at the ESL school.
- To obtain Direct Acceptance at AMDA, you must submit a certificate of completion or official transcript from the ESL pathway center confirming that you have successfully completed your English language training for academic purposes. This will also allow you to obtain a new AMDA I-20 and successfully transfer your SEVIS record to AMDA for F-1 visa and U.S. immigration purposes. Once you complete this part of the process, you will be able to begin taking classes at AMDA as a full-time international student.
- AMDA's 2-year conservatory programs require the successful completion of an "Intermediate Advanced" level of ESL training for academic purposes. AMDA's 4-year degree granting programs require the successful completion of a "High Advanced" level of ESL training for academic purposes.
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You may also offer proof of English language proficiency by providing any one of the following +
- A high school diploma from a four-year U.S. high school with a letter from the institution verifying that you graduated without ESL support. Please note, GED Diplomas are not accepted.
- Completion of a transferable non-ESL English composition course- with a grade of "C" or better-from a regionally or nationally accredited U.S institution of higher education (a 2-year college or a 4-year college or university).
- An official transcript from an international/non-U.S. high school, college or university which you attended for a minimum of three years. The institution must be accredited by its home country's Ministry of Education (MoE) or Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE). The transcript must also be accompanied by a letter from the institution verifying that the language of instruction was English.
- An associate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from the U.S. or overseas campus of an accredited U.S. institution of higher education.
- A high school diploma or post secondary degree from one of the following 36 countries:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada (Except Quebec)
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Liberia
- Marshall Islands
- Montserrat
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Northern Ireland
- Papua New Guinea
- Puerto Rico
- Scotland
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Maarten
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United Kingdom
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Zimbabwe
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