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American Film Institute Conservatory · Screenwriting

MFA in Screenwriting

MFAMaster of Fine Arts in ScreenwritingPartial fundingEditorial selection: Top Screenwriting Schools

Overview

A two-year, full-time MFA in which Screenwriting Fellows write three feature scripts, an original TV pilot and two TV specs, and develop a thesis portfolio.

Official program name
MFA in Screenwriting
Awarded degree
Master of Fine Arts in ScreenwritingMaster's · Master of Fine Arts
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
School
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Delivery
On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Required attendance
Not verified
Study intensity
Full-time
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Duration
Two years
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Required credits
Not verified
Start
Fall
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Film and television
The program covers both film and television.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026

Fields of study

FieldClassificationEvidence
ScreenwritingDedicated degreeThe degree itself is in this field.Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Why this degree is listed

MFA awarded in the Screenwriting discipline.

Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026

We list verified film degrees only — no certificates, workshops or generic degrees with a few film electives. Eligibility rules

Curriculum, pathways and faculty

Thesis, film or capstone

Thesis screenplayThesis portfolio of two full-length written works.

Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026

Industry programs

Faculty listed by the program

  • Kevin Kennedy — Discipline Head
  • Michael Urban — Faculty Lead
  • Mark Amato — Senior Affiliated Faculty
  • Marjorie David — Senior Affiliated Faculty
  • Blake Masters — Senior Affiliated Faculty

As listed on the program's official page on October 12, 2026. Listing does not mean a faculty member is teaching or supervising new students in a given year.

Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026

Production costs and equipment

Production and equipment costs are separate from tuition. Tuition does not include cameras, crew, actors, locations, software or thesis-film budgets unless the school says so.

Equipment and facility access

Equipment access: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.

Published production and equipment costs

Thesis and project spending

Supplies allowance (cost-of-attendance estimate)
$3,000 per academic year The cost-of-attendance table lists a supplies allowance of $3,000 per year in addition to tuition.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026

We never estimate a total cost when key expenses are unpublished. Compare production costs

Admissions

Each submission item is shown exactly as the school states it. Anything not listed is not verified — never “not required”.

Portfolio and submission materials

MaterialStatusInstructions as published
Other materialRequiredSelf-recorded video introduction of 60 seconds or less.Length: up to 1 minutesSource: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Screenplay sampleRequiredScreenplay sample in professional format, 20 pages maximum, sole-written; co-authored works and adaptations not considered.Length: up to 20 pagesSource: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Creative prompt / exerciseRequiredScreenwriting assignment: a scene with three characters on a set topic ("ONE FALSE MOVE"), 5 pages maximum.Length: up to 5 pagesSource: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026

Other requirements

Prior degree
RequiredBachelor's degree or equivalent; applicants without one may be considered through the Professional Distinction Pathway (documented professional experience).
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Personal statement
RequiredNarrative statement, no longer than 3 pages.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required2 letters — Two professional (academic or artistic) recommendations.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Résumé / CV
RequiredResume detailing professional work, set experience and education.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Interview
RequiredApplicants selected after review are invited to interview via Zoom.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Application fee
Required$110 — $110 per application.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Transcripts
RequiredTranscripts for the bachelor's degree and other relevant degree programs; unofficial transcripts accepted during admissions.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
International applicants
RequiredEnglish proficiency score if English is not the applicant's native language.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

TOEFL iBT
RequiredNon-native English speakers only. iBT/MyBestScore 100 for exams before 1/21/26, 5 on or after; TOEFL Essentials 11.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
IELTS Academic
Required — minimum 7Non-native English speakers only; one of TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Duolingo English Test
Required — minimum 130Non-native English speakers only; one of TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness. Build an application checklist

Deadlines

Dates are shown with the year and intake the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its applicant category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-year and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other. Production costs are listed separately above.
CategoryAmountBasis and year
All students$75,508per academic year · 2026-2027Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
All students — Estimate, subject to modification$78,151per academic year · 2027-2028Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026

Funding

Some scholarships, assistantships or awards exist for some students; full funding is not stated. “Fully funded” never means every personal or production expense is covered. How we classify funding

Partial fundingPolicy year: 2027-2028

Renewal conditions
First-year scholarships are renewable in the second year with satisfactory academic progress.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
International students
Both domestic and international applicants may apply for AFI scholarships.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Separate application
Scholarship applications for 2027-2028 are by invitation for candidates advanced to the interview round.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026
Other
Scholarships are need- and merit-based and may partially cover tuition and fees.
Source: conservatory.afi.com · verified October 12, 2026

Named scholarships, assistantships and production grants

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.
  1. conservatory.afi.com/admissions-requirements/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  2. conservatory.afi.com/campus/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  3. conservatory.afi.com/frequently-asked-questions/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  4. conservatory.afi.com/overview/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  5. conservatory.afi.com/scholarships/ — Official funding / aid page, verified October 12, 2026
  6. conservatory.afi.com/screenwriting-curriculum/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  7. conservatory.afi.com/screenwriting-faculty/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  8. conservatory.afi.com/screenwriting/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  9. conservatory.afi.com/tuition-and-fees/ — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026

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Same degree level and field. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

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