Graduate Admissions

Applicants for all degree programs must first meet entrance requirements for the University of California. 

Applicants to the MA and MM degree programs or the combined MA/Ph.D. and MM/DMA programs must have completed a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music degree, or an equivalent as determined by the UCSB Graduate Division. Applicants to the Ph.D. and DMA programs must have a graduate degree comparable to the relevant MA or MM degree at UCSB. Please see the Programs of Study in this web-site for further information about the various MA, MM, Ph.D. and DMA degree programs

Graduate admission is based on six kinds of evidence:

1. Grades and Transcripts

2. Letters of Recommendation

3. GRE test and TOEFL scores (if applicable)

4. Performance Audition or Academic Writing Sample

5. Statement of Purpose, Personal Achievements/Contributions, Resume/CV

6. A completed application.

In addition to this, performance applicants must submit a pre-audition CD/DVD/VHS. Auditions are by invitation only and applicants will be invited for auditions based on the media that they send in, as long as they have an application on file.  Auditions are mandatory for DMA or MM/DMA applicants and are strongly encouraged for MM applicants as well. Composition applicants must send in a portfolio of compositions.

Students interested in applying to UCSB should visit the Graduate Division's page on admission to the University, which describes the requirements and procedures for admission; gives information for international applicants; provides an on-line application form; offers downloadable materials for completing an application should anything be missing from an application packet you received; and has a link to a page of frequently asked questions (FAQs). For details, please contact David Holmes, Music Graduate Advisor (see Contact & Informatioln tab above) or by an online form.

 

 

 

Admissions Deadline

The Admissions Deadline is January 15, 2010. All applications, supplemental materials and test scores must be received by this date if you wish to be considered for admission for Fall 2010.

Central Fellowships

Each year the Music department nominates its top doctoral applicants for centrally administered university fellowships. These ‘Central Fellowships’ are very prestigious and many provide multi-year financial packages. One example is the Chancellor’s Fellowship which provides 5 Years of support. (3 years of receiving a $21,000.00 stipend plus full fees and insurance, 2 years of 50% Teaching Assistantship in the department or equivalent which also includes full fees and insurance).

All doctoral applicants (DMA, PhD, MM/DMA, MA/PhD) who apply will be considered when nominations are made as long as they have a completed application by the January 15^th deadline.

It is important to note that it can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks for us to receive your GRE scores from the date you take the exam. These scores must be received by the January 15^th deadline so you should plan on taking the GRE as early as possible to ensure that you meet the deadline.

Performance applicants (DMA, MM/DMA) who wish to be nominated for one of these fellowships, in addition to a completed application, must have completed a DMA audition by January 15, 2010 if they wish to be considered for these fellowships. We strongly urge DMA and MM/DMA applicants to set up their audition as early as possible so that they do not miss out on this amazing opportunity.

See the ‘Admission Materials’ section to determine which supplemental materials you are required to submit along with your application.

For details or more information, please fill out a ‘Graduate Programs Information Request’ or please contact David Holmes, Music Student Affairs Officer.

Graduate Admissions Materials

Each of our Graduate Programs is selective and due to the highly competitive nature of our admissions, only applicants who complete an application and submit all of the required supplemental materials will be considered for admission.

All Graduate Applicants must submit the following supplemental materials:

1. 3 Letters of Recommendation (submitted through our online system)

2. 2 Statements of Purpose Packets (statement, achievements, resume/CV) with completed coversheets.
   Each packet must have a completed and signed coversheet.

3. GRE Scores
   The GRE is absolutely required for all applicants to the Music Department. GRE scores must be received by the supplemental materials deadline to be considered for admission. Please plan to take the GRE early (at least by December if you plan to apply for merit-based financial awards) since it takes six to eight weeks for the testing service to process your scores and send them to us. While all three scores are considered during admission decisions, for admission to the program the department would like to see a Verbal score of 25% or above.

4. Transcripts
   2 official copies of transcripts from all institutions attended are required.
   Official transcripts must be sealed.

All International students must submit TOEFL scores in addition to these materials.

In addition to the materials mentioned above, each degree program requires the following materials:

Theory, Ethnomusicology, Musicology:  In your statement of purpose please address your agenda for study and research, that is, your specific area of interest, both over the past years and projected into the future.  In addition, a writing sample is required. Please submit copy of your Master's thesis (if applicable) or recent term papers.

Composition: A portfolio of scores (one of substantial length) and tapes or CD's of recent works.

Strings: An Audition CD is to be submitted of a recent recital. The CD should contain a solo Bach work and two contrasting major works. For applicants interested in applying for the Young Artist String Quartet Fellowship program, the CD must include a chamber music work in which your instrument is prominent. Prospective applicants will be invited to perform a recital if the submitted CD meets departmental standards and if a completed application containing all supplementary materials is on file.

Keyboard:  A CD recording must be sent containing a minimum of three contrasting works from different historical periods. It must include a complete sonata and a virtuosic work from any historical period. CD's must be sent in advance for consideration for a live audition.

Woodwinds and Brass: A CD recording should be submitted first, before a live audition can be granted.

Voice:  A CD recording should be submitted first, before a live audition can be granted. The CD must include at least 30 minutes of music, and it must include 2 arias (opera and/or oratorio) and 6 art songs (2 French, 2 Italian, 2 German)

Choral Conducting: Candidates should submit a DVD recording (or VHS video) of a live performance or rehearsal, 20 – 30 minutes in length, recorded during the past 12 months; the recording must include a minimum of three contrasting works from different historical periods, of which a significant portion must consist of a cappella repertoire; a complete list of the candidate’s choral repertoire, with specifications as to whether the works were performed or studied only.

All transcripts and supplemental materials should be sent to:

David Holmes
Music Department
UC Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6070

Graduate Contact & Information

David Holmes
Graduate Advisor
Department of Music
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6070

phone: 805/893-4603
fax: 805/893-7194
email: dholmes@music.ucsb.edu

You may fill out an online form to request further information about graduate study in the Department of Music at UCSB.

General information on graduate admission (including online pre-application).

Graduate Audition Information

Strings Audition Information

Choral Conducting Guidelines

Graduate Piano Entrance Auditions