The deadline for submission of ALL application materials is January 10. Failure to meet this deadline will jeopardize the opportunity for admission and financial support. Students are admitted to begin in Fall Quarter only.

You must have a Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) degree in order to apply to the Masters program, and a Masters degree to apply to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) programs. We do not accept duplicate degrees. Holders of a Masters degree, regardless the field the degree is in, must apply for the Ph.D. or D.M.A. programs. Holders of the Ph.D., in any field, or D.M.A., are advised not to apply for admission. UCSD does not consider a Ph.D. and D.M.A. a duplication of degrees; therefore applicants holding one of these degrees may apply to the other program.

STEP 1 - UCSD Application for Graduate Admission

All sections of the official UCSD Application for Graduate Admission with the $70 non-refundable fee for U.S. residents and $90 non-refundable fee for International students must be submitted by January 10. Please apply ONLINE. Instructions are found at http://ogs.ucsd.edu/Admissions. Be sure to access all supplemental forms.

Music applicants must submit the following to:

UC San Diego, Department of Music
Graduate Admissions
9500 Gilman Dr. MC 0099
La Jolla, CA 92093-0099

 

• Statement of Purpose (or may be submitted online through the OGS Admissions website). Click here for the Guidelines.
• Three Letters of Recommendation: Either submitted through the OGS Admissions online application or emailed as PDFs directly from recommenders to the UCSD Department of Music, grad_admissions@music.ucsd.edu. The subject line of the email can read, "Letter of Recommendation for (applicant's name)."
  
• Official transcripts (from all institutions attended, sent directly to the UCSD Department of Music). You may upload an "unofficial" transcript as a PDF. Official transcript will be required if admitted to the program.
  
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores are required for all applicants. Contact: Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ. (609) 771-7670. Web site: http://www.gre.org (Institution Code = R4836; Department Code = 2404)
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores are REQUIRED for all applicants 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 at least one year in an English speaking country. The minimum score is 550 for the paper-based test (PBT), 213 for the computer-based test (CBT), or 80 for the internet-based test (iBT). Arrangements may be made at the nearest US Embassy, or by contacting Educational Testing Service (ETS), Princeton, NJ (609) 771-7100. Website: http://www.toefl.org. (Institution Code = 4836; Department Code = 19)
  
  - Or -
  
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores - minimum score is 7. Website: http://www.ielts.org.

 

STEP 2 - Portfolio

Music applicants must submit online a portfolio consisting of the following by January 10.

Files must be uploaded as a PDF or MP3. Name your files beginning with your last name and the type of document (i.e. JONES_paper1.pdf). DO NOT upload Microsoft Word or Excel files. Max file size is 10MB. For assistance, contact the Music Department Graduate Admissions. 

 

Please include your most recent works as well as 20th century pieces, when possible. 

• For All applicants: a repertory list of works (solo and chamber) performed or composed during the past few years and a sample of printed concert programs in which you have participated, either as performer, composer, or collaborator.
• For All applicants: a minimum of two papers illustrating writing ability in any of the following areas: musical analysis, criticism, aesthetics, music theory, or music technology.

- plus -

• For Composition applicants ONLY: three scores of instrumental works with recorded examples of the works being performed. (These may include, but should not be exclusively, electroacoustic works.) One page statement that specifically addresses why applicant wants to be at UC San Diego. (This is the Statement of Purpose which should be no longer than one page.)
  
• For Computer Music and IS applicants ONLY: appropriate documentation (e.g., papers, performances, intermedia works, computer programs, etc.) of prior work.
• For Performance applicants ONLY: audio files demonstrating the level of vocal and/or instrumental performance. In person auditions are desirable when possible, but not required.

 

Additional Help

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