Graduate Academic Application
The process for applying to SMTD for graduate study differs based on what degree program you are applying to:
- Applicants to Master of Music and Specialist in Music programs must submit an Artistic Profile.
- Applicants to Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, and Doctorate degrees must submit an Artistic Profile and the Rackham Graduate Application.
The application deadline for most graduate degree programs is December 1. Double-check the Graduate Admissions page to see when your application materials are due since a handful of graduate programs have slightly earlier or slightly later deadlines.
Please select your academic application below for the application links based on your intended degree program.
Master of Music (MM) | Specialist in Music (SM) Applications
The prerequisite for the Master of Music is a bachelor’s degree with a major in music from an accredited institution. If you do not fulfill this requirement, you should apply as a transfer student at the undergraduate level to obtain a second bachelor’s degree. We expect that you have achieved an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (where A=4.0), or a grade point average of at least 3.2 for the final two years of undergraduate study.
The Specialist in Music is a post-master’s degree, for which the prerequisite is a master’s degree with a major in music from an accredited institution. We expect that you have achieved a master’s grade point average of at least 3.0 (where A=4.0). Applicants who hold a doctoral degree are not eligible for admission to a specialist degree in the same concentration as their doctorate.
Academic Application
Please complete an Artistic Profile in order to apply.
Fees
- Artistic Profile (required for all programs) – $120
- Currently enrolled SMTD students will be assessed a reduced Artistic Profile fee.
- Fee waivers are available for students with financial need.
- Late fee – $25
All fees are non-refundable and payable by credit card.
Supplementary Application Materials
You can submit supporting materials either electronically or by mail.
- International applicants whose native language is not English should be prepared to demonstrate English language proficiency through English language test results. More information on testing is available on the international admissions page.
- Official electronic documents should be sent to to [email protected].
- Official paper documents should be sent to:
School of Music, Theatre & Dance Office of Admissions
2290 Moore Building
1100 Baits Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2085
Doctoral (DMA & PhD) | Master of Arts (MA) | Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Applications
Academic Application
Our DMA, PhD, MA, and MFA programs are jointly administered with the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. The Rackham Admissions website has further information about minimum academic eligibility requirements. Please complete both the Rackham Graduate Application and an Artistic Profile in order to apply.
Fees
- Graduate Application Fee – $75
- Late Fee – $25
- Artistic Profile (required for all programs) – $45
- Currently enrolled SMTD students will be assessed a reduced Artistic Profile fee.
- Fee waivers are available for students with financial need.
All fees are non-refundable and payable by credit card.
Supplementary Application Materials
- Any additional materials should be sent electronically to [email protected].
- Include all unofficial transcripts from previous degree programs in your Artistic Profile. As of October 2020, Rackham no longer requires applicants to submit official transcripts until after being admitted.
- International applicants whose native language is not English should be prepared to demonstrate English language proficiency through English language test results. More information on testing is available on the international admissions page.
Artistic Profile Materials For All Graduate Programs
All applicants to SMTD graduate programs must fill out an Artistic Profile.
Please include all of the following materials:
Transcripts & Test Scores
Unofficial Transcripts
Upload a copy of an unofficial transcript from each previous college or university attended.
- Transcripts must be up-to-date, meaning:
- If you have completed your prior degree and graduated, the transcript you submit should include your full record and indicate your degree was conferred.
- If your degree is still in-progress it should reflect all courses you have completed and (if possible) all that are in-progress or for which you are registered in your upcoming final semester.
- Transcripts must show course selections and grades received–diplomas are not sufficient to fulfill the transcript requirement.
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts are not required during the application process. Applicants who accept an offer of admission are required to provide an official transcript of their most recent degree once the final transcript is available, typically in the summer months. Instructions for how to submit official transcripts will be emailed to incoming students.
English Proficiency Test Scores
TOEFL, IELTS, MET, or ECPE
- International applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate proficiency in English through official results of the TOEFL, IELTS, MET, or ECPE. Upload unofficial English language test scores to your Artistic Profile. U-M accepts the in-home versions of these tests. Read more about this requirement on the International Admissions page.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
SMTD no longer requires the GRE for any of our graduate programs.
Resumé & Répertoire List
Headshot and Resumé
- Upload a recent photograph or a headshot.
- Upload a professional resumé detailing your training and experience.
Repertoire List (required for performance degrees)
- Applicants for performance-based degrees must upload a comprehensive repertoire list of works studied on your principal instrument or voice. Solo and chamber music should be included.
- Upload a separate list of proposed audition repertoire.
- This requirement is optional for applicants in Composition and Music Education.
Pre-Screening, Portfolios and/or Writing Samples
Pre-Screening, Portfolios, and Academic Writing Requirements
Visit the degree page for your program of interest for details on the writing, pre-screening, or portfolio requirements.
List of graduate degree programs.
The following file formats are accepted:
- Audio: aac, aif, aiff, iff, fla, m4a, mpa, mp3, ra, wav, wma
- Video: avi, flv, m1v, m2v, m4v, mkv, mov*, mpeg, mpg, mp4, webm, wmv
- Document: doc, docx, odg, odp, odt, pdf, ppt, pptx, rtf, wpd
- Image: jpeg, png, gif, jpg
Individual files can be as large as 5GB, but keep in mind that larger files may take some time to upload.
*.mov files may not upload correctly if taken on the latest iPhone. We recommend converting these files to .mp4 if you are encountering post-processing issues.
Upload separate tracks; they will upload faster and are preferred by the faculty.
What does “unedited” mean?
Unedited means that the recordings have not received any sort of ‘enhancement’.
Allowable Edits
- Global adjustment of balance or levels (to ensure that the volume is acceptable and that the stereo is balanced).
- Trimming the start or end of a recording to remove pauses.
- For videos, adjustment to the image quality–color correction, white balance correction, and image stabilization–are all acceptable.
Not Allowed (not applicable to Composition portfolio submissions; Composition applicants may disregard)
- Reverb, chorus, auto-tune, rhythm correction, or any other effects.
- Any sort of splicing.
Technical Support
For technical support with your Artistic Profile, please email [email protected].
Letters of Recommendation
- Three recommendations must be submitted by persons who are familiar with your work and who can provide information concerning your qualifications for graduate study. These recommendation letters must be from persons who are not related to the applicant.
- At least one recommendation must be from your major professor, advisor, or department chair.
- Music Education applicants should submit a recommendation from a supervisor or principal who has observed your teaching.
- The Artistic Profile will prompt an applicant’s recommenders to submit their recommendations electronically. Alternatively, a recommender may submit a hard copy recommendation form and mail it to our office or email their letter to [email protected]. Be sure your recommender includes your full name and program to which you’re applying.
- Recommendations are not required for Non-Candidate for Degree (NCFD) admission.
Audition/Interview Date Preferences
An audition or interview is required for most programs. Review the available dates for the program to which you are applying. If invited to audition/interview, you will be able to choose your audition/interview date based on the available dates for your program and the day’s capacity.
Social Security Number
Providing your Social Security number is optional, but it is important for helping us match the application and financial aid materials you may submit. If you do not have a Social Security number, leave this space blank. Do not enter a National ID issued by another country.
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