Apply

Apply for 2024 graduate admission to the University of Minnesota School of Music.

For the most common questions from prospective graduate students, please refer to this FAQ sheet. 

A complete application includes the following:

• Online application to the University of Minnesota
• Program-Specific Materials
  • Carefully review the additional application materials required.
  • Audition & Interview Requirements
    • The following programs require a recorded entrance audition: Conducting, Collaborative Piano & Coaching, Instrumental Performance, and Vocal Performance. 
    • The following programs require a remote entrance interview: Music Education (MM and Post-Bacc); Music Therapy (MA). Finalists for the PhD in Music Education and Music Education with an Emphasis in Music Therapy will be contacted individually for an arranged remote interview
• Personal Statement - This required statement should address your musical, scholarly, and personal experience and proposed course of study in 1-3 pages.
• Diversity Statement - To be considered for University-level awards focused on fostering a diverse student body, you may elect to submit a 1-3 page statement that identifies the distinctive qualities, characteristics, and life experiences you would contribute to your graduate program and the education of fellow students at the University of Minnesota.
• Three Letters of Recommendation
  • List your references and their contact information in your application to the University. The application will contact your references with instructions on how to submit their letters. 
• Instructor/Advisor Preference
  Within the application, you will have the opportunity to express an instructor/advisor preference for individual faculty members. Every effort is made to honor this request based on studio availability and faculty loads; however, the School of Music cannot guarantee placement with your preferred instructor/advisor.
• Unofficial Transcripts
  Unofficial transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions are required. If admitted to the University, Graduate Admissions will solicit official transcripts from you upon confirmation of enrollment.
• Official Test Scores
  • International Applicants are most likely required to take an English proficiency test, and we prefer that they submit a TOEFL score. Please note the minimum scores for admission that are listed here. 
    • An English language proficiency exam is typically not required from international applicants who are completing their final year of, or have already completed, an undergraduate- or graduate-level degree from an institution in the United States, Canada (except Quebec), United Kingdom/Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. For more information, please see the Graduate School website.
  • GRE General Test Scores
    • Theory MA/PhD: test-optional
    • CSM MA/PhD: test-optional
    • Music Ed MM/PhD: test-optional
    • Music Therapy MA/PhD: test-optional
    • Musicology MA/PhD: test-optional
    • Other graduate programs: test-optional
    • Scores older than five years will not be accepted. The University of Minnesota Graduate School ETS code is 6874.
• Application Fees
  • You will be asked to pay two non-refundable fees in your online application to the University of Minnesota: one $50 fee to the School of Music, and one separate application fee to the Graduate School.
    If the music application fee proves to be a barrier to submitting your application, please contact the grad-music@umn.edu to request an application fee waiver. The application fee to the Graduate School cannot be waived.

Admissions Decisions

Admissions Decisions are issued formally by the Graduate Admissions Office. Any funding or additional support is communicated to you directly from the Director of Graduate Studies of the School of Music. While faculty members may express interest in working with you and share they have nominated you for funding; this is not an official offer of admission or funding support from the University of Minnesota or the School of Music. Please contact grad-music@umn.edu with any questions.

Music Theory and Ear-Training Proficiency Exams

All incoming graduate students (except the following programs: Music Education MM, Post-Bac, PhD; Music Therapy MA, PhD) are required to take proficiency exams in Music Theory and Ear-Training during Welcome Week orientation before classes begin to assess real-time proficiency and assign course requirements of the University of Minnesota graduate theory sequence. Please note: as a general rule theory courses are not eligible for transfer credit.

Transfer Credit 

If you have taken music coursework for credit at another institution, you may be able to apply those credits toward, and be exempt from, the equivalent coursework at the School of Music. This will require you to undergo a transfer course review process that includes syllabus review for academic and specialized music courses and a transfer jury at the end of your second semester at the University for applied lessons and ensembles.

Students transferring credits must take theory placement exams at the beginning of their first semester after admission, and have their syllabi reviewed in the second semester.