Graduate Program

Graduate Applications

Applicants should hold a B.A in Music, a B.Mus., or equivalent and are expected to have good general knowledge of music history and music theory, competence in basic musicianship skills (including sight-singing, written and keyboard harmony, and dictation), and basic keyboard facility (including sight-reading). Entering students will be given diagnostic tests in these areas prior to the beginning of classes and will be required to remedy any evident deficiencies during the first year in residence by registering for the appropriate undergraduate classes. Credit earned in such classes cannot be counted toward fulfillment of any degree requirement.

Applications for admission to graduate study at UCI must be submitted on-line by January 15.  For an on-line application, click here. Please take note of the following:

1. All applicants must arrange for an on-campus audition and/or interview. These should be scheduled as soon as possible with the Director of Graduate Studies and must be completed by February 1. Only in exceptional cases, as arranged in advance with the Direction of Graduate Studies, may a student submit a recording in lieu of playing a live audition.

2. For a description of audition/interview requirements, click here.

3. GRE is not required for our program.

4. TOEFL is required for international students who did not earn their undergraduate degree at an institution in the United States. These students should arrange to have their scores sent to the Office of Graduate Studies.

All other supporting materials should be sent to:

Graduate Admissions
Department of Music
Claire Trevor School of the Arts
University of California, Irvine
303 Music & Media Bldg.
Irvine, CA 92697-2775

Required supporting materials for all applicants include one or two substantial writing sample; these may be revisions of an undergraduate paper. In addition, applicants in composition and technology should submit representative musical scores and recordings. All materials must be postmarked no later than February 1.