Admission to the department is based on acceptance by the UCLA Graduate Division and departmental faculty review. 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. An undergraduate major in music is not required as long as the applicant has the necessary musical knowledge and background to pursue graduate study in music composition. While the portfolio and interview carry the most weight, the entire application is evaluated in making admission decisions.


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 (PhD 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.
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.
Composition Portfolio
After your portfolio is reviewed, you will be notified if you have been selected for an interview. Finalists will also be required to take a composition assessment exam. 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. Unofficial Transcript(s)