Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Graduate School have an open house or information sessions?
Graduate programs host at least one information session per cycle, usually in the fall. For more information, visit our Admissions Events page.
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?
Graduate students at FIT are eligible for federal financial aid programs administered by the Office of Financial Aid. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for scholarships through their programs, if available.
Scholarship and fellowships opportunities are also administered by the Graduate School and academic programs, and are only available to admitted and current students at the present time. Students will be notified as opportunities develop.
International students may also be eligible for private educational loans.
For more information about financial aid and private educational loans visit our Financial Aid page or call (212) 217-7439.
When should I take the GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS?
To ensure that your test scores arrive on time, we strongly recommend that you take the test no later than 6-8 weeks before the application deadline date. We require that your official test scores be sent to us directly from the testing agency.
What are your institutional codes for standardized tests?
GRE scores can be submitted in paper or electronically from Educational Testing Service to institution code 2257.
TOEFL scores can be submitted in paper or electronically from Educational Testing Service to institution code 2257, department 99.
IELTS scores can be submitted in paper or electronically from the testing agency to the Fashion Institute of Technology - School of Graduate Studies.
May I mail my test scores to the School of Graduate Studies?
Official test scores must be sent to us directly from GRE, TOEFL or IELTS. It is recommended that when completing the examinations, you indicate that scores be mailed and submitted electronically to the institution (when applicable). This provides the School of Graduate Studies with an additional way to access scores.
What is your mailing address? Is there an email where you can be reached?
Fashion Institute of Technology
School of Graduate Studies
Office of Graduate Admissions, Room E316
227 West 27th Street
New York, NY 10001
[email protected]
I already took a standardized exam but did not send my scores to FIT. What can I do?
If you did not request that your test scores be sent to FIT when you took the test, you can request that scores be sent through the testing agency. Please review the guidelines for requesting additional score reports from the respective agency's website.
For GRE, visit www.gre.org.
For TOEFL exams, visit www.toefl.org.
For IELTS exams, visit www.IELTS.org.
How long are my test scores valid?
GRE results are valid for five years prior to the semester of your application.
TOEFL and IELTS results are valid for two years prior to the semester of your application.
What are your minimum test score requirements?
Because our review process is holistic, the School of Graduate Studies does not set minimum test score standards for the GRE. The decision to admit a candidate is influenced by a number of factors, not just test scores. However, there are minimum scores for English language examinations.
- TOEFL: A minimum TOEFL IBT (internet-based test) score of 85
- IELTS: A minimum band score of 6.5
For the GRE, competitive candidates are expected to submit standardized test scores at or above the 50th percentile in all areas.
Do you offer any graduate programs online?
Is student housing available?
Are there any teaching assistant (TA) positions?
TA positions are not available at the present time.
How many students are accepted each year?
Application Details
Online Application
The School of Graduate Studies only accepts online applications. The Office of Graduate
Admissions uses CollegeNET for the receipt and processing of graduate applications. Through
the CollegeNET account, applicants can submit and review their complete application,
and access post-submission updated through the applicant portal.
Application Fee
There is an application fee of $100, payable by credit card or electronic check. Application
fees are non-refundable. If an applicant applies to a wrong program in error, it is
the responsibility of the applicant to select and pay for a new application.
Academic Transcripts
Applicants must submit official transcripts from each college or university attended,
listing all courses taken, grades and degrees earned, and dates of graduation to the
Office of Graduate Admissions. If you submit your application prior to the conferral of your bachelor's degree or
equivalent, you will be required to submit your official, final transcripts prior
to your arrival at FIT.
Transcripts must be mailed directly from the college/university registrar OR sent
electronically from services such as eSCRIP-SAFE, Parchment, and National Student
Clearinghouse. (Current/Former FIT students need not request academic transcripts
from FIT; these will be supplied by internal procedures.)
Our mailing/email address is:
Fashion Institute of Technology
School of Graduate Studies
Office of Graduate Admissions, Room E316
227 West 27th Street
New York, NY 10001
[email protected]
Candidates with degrees earned outside the United States are required to obtain a course-by-course international credential evaluation. Additional information about foreign credential evaluation services can be found on our Graduate International Applicants page.
Resume/CV
A resume or CV that includes the applicant’s employment and professional history in
reverse chronological order, with titles, dates, noting part-time or full-time experience.
Applicants are encouraged to include information about relevant skills, experience,
and achievements.
Letters of Recommendation
Three references are required. Recommenders should be able to speak to your scholastic
ability, or professional performance.
Online recommendations start by entering the following information for each of your recommenders in your online application: name, address, email address, phone number, institution or employer, title, field/discipline.
It is extremely important to enter your recommenders' email addresses correctly so that they each receive an automated email instructing them how to proceed with their recommendation through an online process. Recommenders will be required to complete and submit an online evaluation form through the online application system. There is no function to upload documents in the recommendation form. Mailed and emailed recommendation letters will not be accepted. After your recommender submits the online recommendation, it will become part of your application.
Essays/Written Statements
Our essay questions are designed for applicants to show their personality while communicating
clearly about their educational pursuits. We encourage applicants to discuss future
professional objectives, including pertinent work and travel experience. Essays topics
are revealed as you complete your online application.
Standardized Test Scores
GRE results are valid for five years prior to the semester of your application. Competitive
applicants should score above the 50th percentile in all areas. These are not cut-off scores, as a holistic approach is taken when making admissions decisions. GRE scores must be submitted in paper or electronically from Educational Testing Service
to institution code 2257.
Additional information about the GRE may be obtained from the agency's website - www.gre.org.
English Language Proficiency Scores
Applicants who speak English as a second language must submit evidence of English
Language Proficiency to do graduate work, as measured by the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or the IELTS academic (International English Language Testing Service) exams. This includes individuals who did not graduate from an undergraduate institution
where the primary language of instruction was English, or comes from a country where English is not the official language.
Portfolio
A portfolio is a compilation of materials that demonstrate your skills, qualifications,
education, training, and experiences. Submission of an online portfolio is required
for all studio programs. Requirements vary by department.
All documents submitted to the college, in support of applications for admission, academic evaluations or required administrative processing must be true, accurate and complete. Supporting documents must not make misrepresentations, omit relevant information or be altered from the original. The School of Graduate Studies reserves the right to cancel an application, deny acceptance, or rescind an offer of admission to applicants who deliberately lie or misrepresent their background in their application materials.