How to apply

To apply to the School of Music graduate program, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent with a major emphasis in musicology/ethnomusicology, composition or theory, music performance, music education or music therapy.

Apply online via the UI Graduate and Professional Admissions website.

After you submit your application, you will receive email instructions on how to establish your HawkID and password in order to access your Admissions Profile on MyUI, our online portal for students. All supporting materials can and should be uploaded through your Admissions Profile. If your academic program requires letters of recommendation, you will be asked to provide the contact information of your recommenders on your profile. The recommender will then receive an email from the Office of Admissions instructing them on how to upload a recommendation letter and/or recommendation form.

Applicants for admission to the graduate program must meet the Admission Requirements of the Graduate College and the department offering the degree program (review the General Catalog for departmental requirements). See the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College on the Graduate College website for additional information.

Application requirements

Carefully review the additional application materials required by the program to which you are applying, as well as official audition and interview dates.

The application fee is $60, or $100 for international applicants.

An application includes:

• Personal Statement: This required statement should address your musical, scholarly and personal experience and proposed course of study in one to two pages.
• Three Letters of Recommendation: List your references and their contact information in your application to the university. The application will contact your references with instructions on how to submit their letters. 
• Resume or CV
• Unofficial Transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions
• GRE Test Scores: The GRE is not required for our School of Music. University of Iowa code is 6681.
• English Proficiency scores: International applicants must submit official English Proficiency scores. The University of Iowa code is 6681. The English Proficiency Requirement has specifics on scores and waivers for applicants who have completed a bachelor's degree (or higher) at an accredited university in the United States.
• Auditions: Many programs require a formal entrance audition or interview. Learn more about the auditions process for your instrument or area of study.

Admissions decisions

Applicants who complete all components of the application by the deadline will receive notification of admission to the music program no later than April 1, with most decisions shared in February and March. Final admissions decisions are relayed to applicants via email from the Office of Admissions.

Contact music admissions

The Voxman Music Building is open for visits. While visiting, you can tour Voxman with one of our student ambassadors or admissions counselor, visit an ensemble rehearsal, or meet with a faculty member.

If you would like to meet with a faculty member while you are visiting, please indicate that in your email to us. We will do our best to accommodate your request.

To schedule a visit, ask questions or get more information, contact our admissions counselor.