Apply

At the University of Minnesota School of Music, the following undergraduate programs require an application and audition to pursue. Additionally, music education and music therapy programs require an entrance interview. 

  • BMus (performance, music education, music therapy)
  • BA in music with applied emphasis
  • Music minor (applied)
  • Music PSEO

Any student at the University of Minnesota may pursue the BA in music with academic emphasis, Ensemble Minor, or the World Music Minor; no application or audition required.

Step 1: Apply to the University of Minnesota

  • Incoming Freshman and Transfer applicants must apply for admission to the University of Minnesota. You do not need to wait for the result of your University application to apply to the School of Music. For further clarification of the dual application decision process for the School of Music and the University, see the "Admissions Decisions" section below.
    • Transfer students: See "Transfer Students" section below for further instructions.
  • Currently enrolled students at the U of M - Twin Cities do not need to apply to the University.
  • Students applying to the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) or the Music Therapy Equivalency (Non-Degree) must follow a separate School of Music application process.

Step 2: Apply to the School of Music

For admissions consideration, complete your application to the School of Music by the application deadlines below. Fall 2025 applicants to the following programs will also be automatically considered for music scholarships: Bachelor of Music (Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy) and Bachelor of Arts with Applied Emphasis. 

Application requirements include:

  • Your personal and musical information 
    Includes proposed degree plan, audition/interview date, studio instructor preferences, musical and educational history, personal statements, and space to list musical accomplishments and goals.
  • Two letters of recommendation (suggested) 
    Letters of recommendation are suggested, but not required. The application will gather the email addresses of references you wish to include and collect the letters on your behalf.
  • $50 Non-refundable application fee 
    If the music application fee proves to be a barrier to submitting your application, please contact [email protected] to request an application fee waiver.

2026 Application Deadlines

  • November 1, 2025 for November 8 auditions.
  • December 1, 2025 for all other auditions. 

Step 3: Interview (Music Education/Therapy Only)

If you are applying to the music education and music therapy programs, you must complete a 15-minute interview with the faculty one of the following interview dates: 

2026 Entrance Interviews

  • January 24, 2026
  • February 7, 2026
  • You will select your preferred interview date on your application. Applicants will be asked to submit a completed music education/music therapy interview profile at the time of the interview. Applicants can choose between in-person or Zoom interviews
  • Music Education and Music Therapy applicants must complete an audition in addition to an interview. Some instrument areas have specific audition requirements for Music Education and Music Therapy auditions, and will be noted in the requirements. 

Step 4: Schedule a Visit

We would love to welcome you to the School of Music! This step can take place at any point in your college exploration.

  • Schedule a campus visit with the Office of Admissions and request that your tour include a stop at the School of Music. We will coordinate with the Office of Admissions to ensure your trip to campus involves a tour of Ferguson Hall and a meeting with a music advisor.
  • Take a virtual tour of Ferguson Hall
  • Meet our faculty. Introduce yourself, share your interests, and request to observe a sample lesson or rehearsal. They want to meet you!
  • Attend a School of Music concert or lecture. You can even join the School of Music events newsletter. 

Step 5: Prepare for Your In-Person Audition

The School of Music has an in-person audition process, with most studios accepting pre-recorded video submissions if an applicant is unable to make it. 

See the audition page for requirements and more information about in-person auditions.

2026 Undergraduate In-Person Audition Dates 

  • November 8, 2025 (Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 admission)
  • January 24, 2026
  • February 7, 2026
All transfer students seeking to pursue the following programs must complete a School of Music application, successfully pass a School of Music-administered audition, and receive formal admission to the School of Music:
  • Bachelor of Music degree (Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Music with Applied Emphasis degree
  • Music minor (applied emphasis)
Important note: 
Music credits earned at other institutions do not automatically transfer to the University of Minnesota School of Music. Instead, incoming transfer students have the opportunity to take placement examinations in music theory, sight singing and ear training, and piano. The results of these exams will determine the appropriate course placements in each area.


For music coursework outside of theory, sight singing and ear training, and piano, students are encouraged to consult Transferology to determine if a course has already been evaluated for transfer. If not, courses may be submitted for review through the University's Transfer Credit Evaluation process.
 
Students admitted to the School of Music as transfer students will initially register for level 19XX applied lessons. At the end of their first semester, they will perform a transfer jury, the results of which will determine their applied lesson placement for subsequent semesters.

Questions about transferring liberal education or general education credits should be directed to transfer specialists in the University of Minnesota’s Office of Admissions, who can assist in evaluating those courses.

Dual Application Process

For School of Music consideration, students must submit applications for both University admission as well as School of Music admission. Each applicant will be reviewed based on the information presented in the application. The School of Music will also utilize the audition and interview to make a final determination. The Office of Admissions may indicate that a decision will be held until after the music application and audition process has been completed. Note that admission to the University of Minnesota does not guarantee admission to the School of Music, and admission to the School of Music does not guarantee admission to the University of Minnesota. 

Decision Communication

School of Music admissions and scholarship decisions are issued formally from the School of Music by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. While individual faculty members may express interest in working with you and nominate you for scholarships, their interest is not a formal offer of admission or scholarship. 

The School of Music aims to provide applicants who submit complete applications by the application deadline and conduct any required audition or interview on the established interview/audition dates by mid-December (for Spring admission) and mid-March (for Fall admission). 

Scholarship Decisions

Scholarship decisions are made in late February. Those receiving scholarships will normally receive notification by the middle of March. This allows us to evaluate the entire applicant pool and consider all applicants equally, regardless of when they auditioned or interviewed in the process.

Instructor Preference

School of Music applicants have the opportunity to indicate their primary and secondary choices of private lesson instructor. Every effort will be made to honor these requests based on studio availability and balance. However, we cannot guarantee placement in your preferred instructor's studio.