Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute is a private art, design and architecture school in Brooklyn, offering around 48 programmes with recognised strength in interior design, industrial design, architecture and graphic design. The portfolio is central, and unusually it also drives the money. Pratt states that international students 'are eligible for international merit-based scholarships and are also automatically considered for these upon acceptance. The amounts of awards are similar to the domestic merit-based scholarships, and the awards use the TOEFL or SAT scores as one criterion in addition to portfolio and grades.' That the portfolio feeds the scholarship as well as the admission decision is worth a Kazakh applicant's attention. Pratt is equally clear on the limit: 'International students are not eligible for need-based aid.' Its Brooklyn location gives access to internships with New York employers.