Design, Production, Management

The School of Theatre offers Master of Fine Arts degrees in:

  • Design (Scenery, Costumes, Lighting, or Sound)
  • Production (Technical Direction or Costume Production)
  • Management (Production Management) 


Application Submission


A graduate application must be submitted electronically. Each application should include a current resume, a letter of intent, an official undergraduate transcript, and two letters of recommendation from theatre professionals. The letter of intent should describe the applicant's career ambitions and why the applicant has chosen to study at Boston University.

Portfolio Submission


All applicants must submit a sample portfolio of materials which will be used in the preliminary selection process. From this group, a small number of applicants will be invited for a personal interview.  The sample portfolio will be accepted at anytime and will be reviewed when the applicant's application is on file with the University.

The sample portfolio, which must contain a current resume and a photograph of the applicant, should present evidence of skill, sophistication, superior preparation, and talent.  Portfolio requirements by major can be found on our Portfolio Requirements page.

The sample portfolio must be submitted electronically:  

Submission Online:
Applicants may upload 30 images, including a resume and photograph of the applicant, to our Portfolio Submission website.  JPEG format is preferred for all graphic images; PDF format is preferred for all text.

Submission by Email:
Applicants may submit a portfolio web link and current resume, as an attachment, by email.


Note: Applicants may deisre to meet with a member of the Design and Production faculty to discuss their candidacy.  The School offers interviews in Boston, New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco, and at the USITT Convention.  To schedule an appointment, contact the Production Office by email or by phone at (617) 273-1668.

Financial Aid


The School of Theatre expects to substantially fund most accepted graduate students. Most students receive up to a full tuition scholarship, assistantship, and stipend. For more information, please explore our Tuition and Financial Aid web page.

Applications received by February 15 for Design and Management, and by March 25 for Production, will be considered for the first round of financial aid.