Application Procedure
The Application Deadline: March 9, 2012
Application submissions must be postmarked by the deadline. Applications received thereafter will be considered based on a rolling decision. The Admissions Committee will only review application packages that are completed in their entirety. Prospective students must be at an advanced level in photography or have demonstrated a strong background in the visual arts and media to apply to a One-Year Certificate Program.
Application Instructions and Checklist
Please type or print your application and submit it with the following items:
- One-Year Certificate Program Application Form
- Résumé
- A one-page Statement of Purpose of no more than 500 words in length, describing your reasons for applying and elaborating on the influences on your work and its current direction, as well as your interests and research.
- A portfolio of 15-20 photographic prints (no larger than 11"x14") and/or 15-20 images as jpegs, 300 dpi and no larger than 5"x8" on disk. Videos can be submitted on VHS or DVD. Include a detailed list of works/images such as title, medium, date, and dimensions. (Please test all digital materials on several machines before submitting.)
- Two letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant's personal and artistic strengths. These individuals should be conversant with the applicant's work and may include professionals who are practicing or teaching in the field of photography, as well as arts professionals in general.
- TOEFL Scores (if English is not your first language)
- $100 Application Fee (payable to International Center of Photography in the form of cash, credit card, bank wire transfer, U.S. money order, or U.S. cashier’s check, issued from or authorized by a U.S. branch bank)
PLEASE NOTE: A credit card number must be provided on your application if you want your portfolio returned; shipping will be charged to your credit card. CDs will not be returned.
Undergraduate Credit Option
The ICP-Bard undergraduate Photography Program is an option track within the General Studies in Photography Program. Students who successfully complete the program can apply for 32 academic credits from Bard College toward their undergraduate degree. The cost of this credit option is a $2,000.00 fee paid to Bard College after graduation.
International Requirements
ICP welcomes applications from international students and is authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enroll non-immigrants as full-time students with F-1 status. International students must complete the ICP Application for a Form I-20 and fulfill the financial requirements stated by the united States government. In order to receive a student visa, foreign students must submit a variety of financial documents, including but not limited to: Personal or Sponsors Affidavit of Annual Cash Support; Proof of Income; Bank Statements; photocopy of lease deed, rent receipts, phone bill, and any additional financial credentials that establish income from sources that will be sufficient to meet tuition and expenses for a one-year full course of study. That amount for tuition and living costs must be over $60,000 USD. After these items are submitted and approved by ICP's Designated School Official, the School will issue a Form I-20. International students will use this form to apply for an F-1 student visa at the United States embassy in their home country prior to their arrival in New York. Please download the instructions and application (above, right) for the Form I-20 certificate of non-immigrant status. All international applicants must possess oral and written proficiency of the English language and are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), meet the score requirements listed below, and speak directly to an ICP representative, prior to notification of acceptance into a One-Year Certificate Program.
International Applicants should call 212.857.0068 with any questions.
Optional Practical Training
All F-1 students are eligible for Optical Practical Training (OPT) upon successful completion of their studies. OPT provides students a maximum of 12 months of full-time or part-time employment authorization in their major field of study upon graduation.
TOEFL Test Information
ICP Code for test: 8475
Score Requirements
Paper-based test: 550
Computer-based test: 213
Internet-based test: 79/80
PLEASE NOTE: All TOEFL scores must arrive by January 14, 2011. Program coordinators reserve the right to recommend or require additional English-language instruction, which students must pay for in addition to the program tuition and fees.
TOEFL Services by ETS
http://www.ets.org
Phone: 1.609.771.7100 or 1.877.863.3546
Current Tuition & Costs
Tuition for the 2012–2013 academic year is $31,860, with an annual lab fee of $1,500.
Application fee is $100.
Acceptance of admission to the One-Year Certificate Program must be received in writing by the date specified on the Letter of Acceptance sent to the applicant by the Admissions Committee and must be accompanied by a nonrefundable tuition deposit of $500. Make deposit payable to International Center of Photography, in the form of cash, credit card, bank wire transfer, U.S. money order, or U.S. cashier’s check, issued from or authorized by a U.S. branch bank. The deposit reserves the student's place in his or her program of acceptance and will be applied to the fall term Tuition Invoice. Tuition and fees are the same for domestic and international students. Students have the option of paying tuition and fees for the academic year either in full by August 1, 2012, or in three installments: August 1, 2012 (fall term), November 1, 2012 (winter term), and February 1, 2013 (spring term).
PLEASE NOTE: Tuition and fees are subject to change. Students may not attend classes if their tuition has not been paid in full unless authorized in writing by the Associate Director of Education.
Refund Policy
100% refund: withdrawal 14 days prior to the first day of Orientation.
80% refund: withdrawal 7 days after the first day of Orientation.
70% refund: withdrawal 21 days after the first day of the fall term.
No refunds are granted after the third week of the first day of the fall term. Tuition deposit and annual lab fees are nonrefundable. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to ICP's Education Department.
Tuition Assistance
Work-Study
Work-study opportunities are available for full-time students only. Upon completing a Work-Study application and with Program Chair approval, students can receive a tuition reduction in exchange for assisting in one of the following ICP Departments: Exhibitions, Digital Media Lab, Photo Lab, Community Programs, Library, Education Office. Students are able to work up to 40 hours per term for up to $400 reduction from their tuition invoice, for a maximum of $1200 per year in tuition reduction.
Scholarship
ICP scholarships are made possible with generous support from many private donors. A limited number of named scholarships are available to full-time students who have successfully completed the fall term at ICP. Scholarships are awarded based on academic performance and merit. The amount awarded varies from year to year. Students who wish to apply are subject to the scholarship application process created by the Scholarship Committee. This process includes verification of the student’s grades, instructor evaluations, and portfolio review. Applications are made available at the end of the fall term and scholarships are awarded in the spring term as tuition reduction. PLEASE NOTE: No scholarships are awarded for a student's first term at ICP.
Financial aid
Students in need of financial aid are encouraged to seek assistance from nonfederal sources. While ICP has a Charter from the Board of Regents of the university of the State of New York, it does not qualify as an eligible educational institution under federal law, making ICP One-Year Certificate students ineligible for U.S. Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) opportunities and other student loans. U.S. citizens should seek information from state and private-sector sources, including artist grants and fellowships. International students are encouraged to inquire within their country of citizenship for financial assistance. The following websites are for informational purposes only. ICP does not endorse any of these sites as potential sources of grants or other funds.
www.brokescholar.com
www.collegetoolkit.com
www.edupass.org
www.finaid.org
foundationcenter.org
www.grants.gov
www.iefa.org
www.nyfa.org
philanthropy.com
Living Expenses
New York is an expensive city, so budget wisely. Students need to account not only for tuition and lab fees, but also living expenses such as rent, utilities, gas, electricity, telephone, food, transportation, photographic materials, equipment, books, entertainment, and miscellaneous expenses. Average living costs are estimated below. This is a modest, "no extras" budget. It does not include items such as health insurance or unforeseen emergencies, for example. It is highly recommended that students budget at least 10 to 20 percent more than the listed costs.
Average living Costs (for 10-month academic year)
Housing and utilities $12,650
Food $4,950
Personal items and clothing $2,970
Local transportation $1,320
Books and photographic materials $5,500
Total living costs $27,390
