To Apply for Admission:
Electronic version of the Undergraduate Application Form
Link to the Institute Admissions Page
Freshmen Students Entrance Requirements
Admission to the two BS programs offered by the Department of Interactive Games & Media is open to high school graduates who have completed at least elementary algebra and geometry. Physics or chemistry and courses in computing or technology are desirable but not required. Emphasis is placed on basic computing literacy. Solid English and communications skills are also important. Students applying to the New Media Interactive Development degree are not required to have a portfolio, but most students accepted to the program do have one.
Transfer Students Entrance Requirements
Admission is open to students who have completed a year or more of study at a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Students should have a minimum grade point average of 2.8. Most students who have completed an AS in Computer Science or an AS in Information Technology from one of the SUNY College two-year campuses will be accepted as third-year students if they have chosen their electives to include math, science and liberal arts courses that will fill required course slots at RIT. Students who choose to transfer to NMID are strongly encouraged to have a portfolio of their prior work available as a part of their application (either on disk or online).
Transfer admission to the Game Design and Development program is available to students who have completed a year or more of study at a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Students should have a minimum grade point average of 2.8 to be considered. We recommend following an AS or BS degree program in Computer Science or Information Technology with courses in programming, computer applications, math, science and liberal arts to be considered for the Game Deign and Development program. However, it should be stressed that transer into the BSc in Game Design & Development is currently exceedingly competitive due to the very limited number of seats available, and as such we have only been able to accomodate literally a handful of transfer students to date
All of the programs in the IGM department are considered "full time" degree programs.
General Requirements
Applicants must have a four-year baccalaureate, or equivalent degree, from a regionally accredited institution. Students are generally expected to have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 out of 4.0 ('B' average) in their undergraduate work. The MS in Game Design and Development requires a 3.25/4.0 grade-point average. Graduate level work in other disciplines will also be given consideration. Applicants requesting consideration whose GPA scores are below 3.0 are required to submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. (RIT's reporting number for ETS's GRE and TOEFL examinations is 2760.)
International applicants should have prior academic performance equivalent a first class degree from an accredited four-year program. The GRE (standard examination) is required for all foreign applicants. International applicants must submit official transcripts of undergraduate or graduate study in original form, and if not originally in English, an official, certified copy of transcripts translated into English must be included. Because of I20 requirements, international applicants can only be considered for programs that support full-time study.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit a TOEFL1 score to demonstrate strong English language skills. A score of at least 570 (paper-based), 230 (computer-based), or 88 (internet-based) is required. For other methods to satisfy the English requirement, contact the RIT Office of Graduate Enrollment Services at (585) 475-2229 (v/tty) or gradinfo@rit.edu. If the applicant does not meet the minimum English requirement, it is strongly recommended that he/she study English to reach the minimum scores before applying to the program. Applicants with exceptionally strong academic records that fall into this category may be admitted with specific conditions and requirements. The Michigan test is required for course placement, and these applicants will be required to take a prescribed program of study in English along with a reduced course load in the program.
Other factors may be considered in the admission process such as strong employment history, especially in the field of information technology. Application materials should include:
An electronic or paper application with a well-written statement of purpose that discusses your background, the area(s) in which you would like to study, and your personal goals
Application fee
Valid transcripts from all universities listed on the application
Declaration of Financial Support (international students only)
Two recommendations from educational or professional sources
Current resume or statement of employment history
GRE (if applicable)
Portfolio (required by the MS in Game Design & Development)
An electronic graduate application is available at http://www.rit.edu/emcs/ptgrad/grad_app.html. (Note: there is an underscore (_) between the 'd' and the 'a' in 'grad_app'.) This web site can also be reached from the "Admissions" link on the RIT home page, http://www.rit.edu/. Requests for information can be made from this web site also.
Starting your Program of Study
The RIT calendar is based upon four (4) 10-week terms called quarters. However, applications for full-time study are accepted for the fall quarter only. Applicants for the MS in Game Design & Development should seek to have their applications in prior to January 15th. There is generally at least a 6-8 week review cycle prior to any notifications.
