The Department of Music accepts applications to the MM and DMA programs in Choral Conducting, Orchestral Conducting, and Wind Conducting for the Fall quarter only. Admission to the department is based on acceptance by the UCLA Graduate Division and a faculty review of the applicant's work. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited US institution or comparable international institution, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The application includes the following components:

Unofficial Transcript(s): Upload unofficial copies of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. The institution logo and your name must be present on the copies.
Statement of Purpose: Your statement can be up to 500 words in length (approximately 1-page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font). Respond to the following prompt: Please discuss your academic and musical goals and your reasons for applying to UCLA's graduate music program.
Letters of recommendation: 3 letters of recommendation are required. Applicants must enter the names and contact information of the 3 recommenders within the application. An electronic recommendation request will be sent to recommenders, and recommendation letters must be submitted via this request. It is strongly advised that letters of recommendation are completed before the December 2020 deadline. Recommendations submitted after this date are not guaranteed to be reviewed.
Writing Sample (DMA applicants only): Provide a scholarly/research paper on a subject in the field of music of a level of intellectual and critical engagement appropriate to graduate level work.
Prescreening Audition: Applicants are required to submit a prescreening video audition containing at least 15 minutes of rehearsal and 15 minutes of performance footage. For more information, see Choral Conducting Information, Orchestral Conducting Information, or Wind Conducting Information.
Personal History Statement: Your statement can be up to 500 words in length (approximately 1-page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font). To be considered for a Cota-Robles or Graduate Opportunity fellowship, be sure to describe your contributions to diversity. The University of California Diversity Statement can be found online.
Audition/Interview
Applicants who advance beyond prescreening review will be invited to interview and audition with department faculty. Additionally, DMA applicants will complete a 45-minute writing assessment following the audition to test their ability to respond to a topic in the moment. A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA will be required for admission to graduate programs at UCLA. Your IELTS Academic overall band score should be at least 7.0. 7.0 is the minimum required.
Your TOEFL score on the paper and pencil test must be at least 560 or at least 87 on the internet-based test.