Best Film Schools for International Students

Wondering which film schools are the best for international students? Start with our condensed list of the top film school options around the world based on international rankings, including the most popular choices for Hong Kong students!

More film schools from each region can be found here (listed in alphabetical order by region). Please refer to the schools’ websites for information on application and portfolio requirements, program/degree details, tuition, and available scholarships.

Begin building your creative portfolio with our Filmmaker Development Program.

United States

California Institute of the Arts
Location: Valencia, California
Programs: BFA in Film and Video, Character Animation, Experimental Animation
International Student Population: 24% 

Chapman University
Location: Orange, California
Programs: BFA in Film and Television Production, Writing for Film & Television, Screen Acting, and more
International Student Population: 5%

Emerson College
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Programs: BA/BFA in Media Arts Production
International Student Population: 13%

University of Southern California
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: BA/BFA in Animation & Digital Arts, Film and Television Production, Writing for Screen and Television, and more
International Student Population: 23%

New York University
Location: New York, New York
Programs: BFA in Film and Television
International Student Population: 22.2%

United Kingdom

Edinburgh Napier University
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: BA, MA in Film
International Student Population: 13%

London Film School
Location: London
Program: MA in Filmmaking
International Student Population: 70%

Met Film School
Location: London
Program: BA in Practical Filmmaking
International Student Population: 60%

University of the West of England, Bristol
Program: BA in Filmmaking
Location: Bristol
International Student Population: 14.5%

University of York
Program: BSc in Film and Television Production
Location: York
International Student Population: 14.1%

Asia

Beijing Film Academy
Location: Beijing, China
Program: BA in Film Production 

De La Salle College of Saint Benilde
Location: Manila, Philippines
Program: BA in Film

Film and Television Institute of India
Location: Pune, India
Program: Diploma in Direction & Screenplay Writing

Japan Institute of the Moving Image
Location: Kawasaki, Japan
Program: BA in Directing, Acting, Documentary

Sungkyunkwan University
Location: Seoul, Korea
Program: Courses in Film, Television and Multimedia

Australia

Australian Film Television and Radio School 
Location: Sydney
Program: MA in Screen Production

Griffith Film School
Location: Brisbane
Program: BA in Film and Screen Media Production

Swinburne School of Film and Television
Location: Melbourne
Program: BA in Screen Production

University of Melbourne 
Location: Melbourne
Program: BFA in Film and Television

University of Technology, Sydney
Location: Sydney
Program: BA in Communication (Media Arts and Production)
International Student Population: 20%

Canada

Fanshawe College
Location: London, Ontario
Programs: Diploma in Broadcasting - Television and Film Production
International Student Population: Undisclosed

Humber College
Location: Toronto
Program: Advanced diploma in Film and Television Production
International Student Population: 18%

Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
Location: Toronto
Programs: BFA in Film Studies
International Student Population: 7.2%

University of British Columbia
Location: Vancouver
Programs: BFA in Film Production
International Student Population: 28.6%

York University
Location: Toronto
Programs: BFA Honours in Cinema and Media Arts – Production
International Student Population: 18%

Europe

Centro Sperimentale De Cinematografia
Location: Rome, Italy
Programs: Training in Directing, Screenwriting, Acting, and more
International Student Population: 13%

Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie
Location: Berlin, Germany
Programs: Training in Directing, Cinematography, Producing, Editing & Sound, Screenwriting
*Must be at least 21 to apply

Filmakademie Wien
Location: Vienna, Austria
Programs: BA in Directing

La Fémis
Location: Paris, France
Program: Training in directing, cinematography, editing, and more
International Student Population: 15%

Lodz Film School
Location: Łódź, Poland
Programs: MA in Film And Television Direction

Prague Film School
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Programs: Training in screenwriting, directing cinematography, and post-production

Hong Kong

Academy of Performing Arts
Location: Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Program: BFA in Film and Television

Baptist University
Location: Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Program: BCOMM (Hons) – Film Major
International Student Population: 5%

City University
Location: Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Program: BA in Creative Media
International Student Population: 30%