Graduate Admissions

• Students are admitted to begin in Fall quarter only.

• The deadline for submission of ALL application materials for Fall 2023 admission is December 3, 2022. Failure to meet this deadline jeopardizes admission and financial support.

  • If materials are added to a submitted application past the December 3 deadline, they may not be considered along with the rest of the application.

• The admissions procedure is handled through Grad Apply beginning on September 8, 2022. The Graduate Application for Music is currently CLOSED.

• The following PDF documents must be submitted to Grad Apply:

  • statement of purpose;

  • three letters of recommendation;

  • a minimum of two papers illustrating writing ability in any area of music scholarship related to your degree goals (Your most recent writing and writing on twentieth- and twenty-first-century musical practices is preferred.);

    • This can be added to the portfolio section of the application.

  • additional documentation of previous work (See below for more information from each area of emphasis.);

  • and unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended (Scanned copies are acceptable. Official copies will be required upon admission).
    

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required for this application and should not be submitted. Upon provisional admission to graduate study at UC San Diego, official hardcopy transcripts are required to finalize your admission).

• For international students: The TOEFL exam (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is required of ALL international students whose country of citizenship does not have English as its primary language, unless you have been enrolled in a full-time program of study for a minimum of one year in a country whose primary language is English. The minimum TOEFL score is 550 (or 213 for the computer-based exam). The minimum IELTS score is 7. The minimum speaking TOEFL score is 25 and 28–30 for IELTS.

  Materials to Submit for Area of Emphasis

  • Composition applicants: Three scores of instrumental works, ideally accompanied by recorded examples of the works being performed. Such evidence may include, but should not be exclusively, electroacoustic works or installation documentation. At least one of the submitted works must be a score involving traditional instrumental writing. A repertory list of works (solo and chamber) performed or composed during the past few years and digital or scanned samples of printed concert programs in which you have participated, either as performer, composer, or collaborator.
  • Computer music applicants: Appropriate documentation of prior work (e.g., papers, performances, intermedia works, computer programs, etc.).
  • Integrative studies applicants: At least one of your writing samples should represent substantial and sustained engagement with a topic of relevance to contemporary music scholarship. If appropriate, documentation of performances, compositions, computer music projects, installations, or intermedia work.
  •  Performance applicants: Audio files demonstrating the level of vocal and/or instrumental performance. In-person auditions are desirable when possible, but not required. A repertory list of works (solo and chamber) performed or composed during the past few years and digital/scanned samples of printed concert programs in which you have participated, either as performer, composer, or collaborator.

If at any time you have questions about the application process or the materials you should submit, please contact our Graduate Advisor at grad_admissions@music.ucsd.edu