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5 Steps to Enroll

1. Pick a PRD

When you apply to FIEA, you must choose one of the Portfolio Review Dates (PRD) listed below.

Portfolio Review Dates are online submission deadlines when everything is due. Following the PRD, we review student portfolios and make admission decisions. Students are encouraged to submit for the earliest PRD they can.

Programming applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications to FIEA as soon as possible, regardless of PRD dates. The admission committee will make a timely decision to any completed programming portfolio. Applicants are encouraged to turn in their programming portfolios, transcripts and test scores as soon as possible. Submitting your portfolio as early as possible improves your chances of acceptance into the FIEA programming track. However, international and domestic application deadlines (set by UCF Graduate Studies) still apply.

Online Admission Chats (get your questions answered)
PRD Dates for Fall 2025 Admission
  • November 15, 2024
  • February 7, 2025
  • April 4, 2025
  • June 6, 2025

2. Fill Out Application

Students must apply online through the UCF Graduate Studies website. You can follow the link below to begin your application.

  • Select the “Interactive Entertainment MS” option under the UCF Degree Program Information tab.
  • Choose Fall 2024 as your start term.

Portfolios will be submitted separately. Applicants will receive information regarding the portfolio after submitting their UCF graduate application (see Step 4 for details).

UCF Application

3. Submit Your Transcripts

Be sure to submit your transcripts prior to your selected PRD date.

FIEA will review transcripts as part of your application even if you are still working toward completing your undergraduate degree and are still enrolled in coursework. Once the degree has been conferred, you will be required to submit the official final copy of your transcript.

There are two ways to submit your transcripts to UCF—electronically or by mail.

  1. To submit your transcripts electronically, you will need to have your university email the transcripts to UCF’s College of Graduate Studies at gradscanning@ucf.edu.
  2. If your school does not allow for electronic submissions, please have your school send the official transcript to the UCF Division of Graduate Studies address located in the “Where To Send Stuff” box.

4. Submit Your Portfolio

Portfolio requirements differ based on the track you are applying for at FIEA.

After completing your UCF graduate application, you will be emailed portfolio requirements for the track you selected within the application.

The components of the portfolio form submission are as follows:

  1. Track-specific portfolio (see additional details below)
  2. Written interview
  3. Name, email, phone number and relationship for two professional references.

The form will include space for you to include links to files for DropBox, Google Drive or other file sharing services.

References

FIEA will contact references at our discretion. References do not have to write letters on your behalf and you only have to submit their contact information to FIEA. FIEA prefers references from professors, academic advisors, supervisors and others who can attest to your academic skills and work habits.

Based on your intended area of study, you will submit the following within the portfolio form:

  • Programmers: Submit your best source code (C++ preferred) that you personally created for school projects or side projects via a repository (i.e. GitHub), and/or personal website, or file sharing server.
  • Artists: Will submit a personal portfolio of 5-10 pieces of their best work. Technical artists will also include their source code. Watch these how-to videos for more.
  • Producers: Will choose from a timed game analysis, level design, video production or game prototype to complete based on relevant skills. Watch these how-to videos for more.

See the “Where To Send Stuff” box for where you should send your portfolio.

5. Submit Your GRE

All applicants to FIEA must take the General GRE Test, and applicants are highly encouraged to take the test as early as possible. Programming and production applicants must submit their GRE score to UCF before their portfolio can be reviewed. If you are applying for the art track, you do not need to submit GRE results to have your application/portfolio reviewed. Only if you are admitted will you be required to provide GRE results.

Your scores must be sent directly from ETS, Educational Testing Service, to UCF, and scores must be no more than five years old. Use school code 5233 – University of Central Florida. There is no need to select a department; your scores will go to UCF’s College of Graduate Studies and be linked to your online application.

The locations where you can take the exam are on the ETS website. Please note that you should enroll to take the GRE General Test.

If you have already taken the GRE, information for sending score reports can be found at www.gre.org, then click on the link “Order Additional Score Reports.”