Information for Current Musicology Students

Deadlines

Fall 2025

August 25: Classes begin

TBD early September: Department Fall Welcome Party

September TBA: Deadline to register for the Historical Musicology General Preliminary Exam (sign up with Melynee Weber-Lynch). Students outside the Musicology Department wishing to test out of coursework alternative are required to sit for the Musicology Preliminary Exam.

September TBA: Deadline to register for Language Proficiency Exams (sign up with Melynee Weber-Lynch as soon as possible). Exam dates, times, and locations will be established on the basis of student demand and faculty availability.

October TBA: Deadline to register for Music Theory Preliminary Exam (sign up with Melynee Weber-Lynch)

October TBA: Instructor of record course proposal due (send detailed syllabus, concise course description, and bibliography via email to Prof. Mackenzie Pierce)

TBD, mid-October: Music Theory Preliminary Exam (12:30pm-5:00pm, location TBD)

October 23-26: Society for Ethnomusicology conference

November TBA: Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship Application due. Please consult with your advisor in advance of this date and plan on obtaining letters of recommendation. Note that the SMTD application deadline is far earlier than Rackham’s deadline.

November 6-9: American Musicological Society conference

November 17: GSI preferences (for 2026-27) from students due via online form

December 8: Classes end

Winter 2026

January 7: Classes begin

February TBA: Applications for Cuyler Prizes (dissertation chapter, conference paper/presentation, or journal article) due (contact Prof. Mackenzie Pierce about submission)

February TBA: Deadline for registration for Music Theory Preliminary Exam (sign up with Melynee Weber-Lynch)

March 12-15: Society for American Music conference

March TBA: Music Theory Preliminary Exam

April TBA: Department Summer Funding Applications (send via email to Prof. Mackenzie Pierce)

April TBA: Musicology Students’ Self-assessments due (send via email to Prof. Mackenzie Pierce)

April 21: Classes end

May TBA: First and second-year students revised seminar paper/papers due (send via email to Prof. Mackenzie Pierce)

Students should schedule an election for the next departmental representative.

Funding

All students admitted to the PhD program in Musicology are provided with five-year funding packages. Students are supported each term either through an appointment as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) or through a fellowship, as detailed below. It is typical for students to serve as GSIs for approximately three years during the five-year funding period. All funding is conditional upon satisfactory progress toward the degree and satisfactory fulfillment of teaching obligations. Funding beyond the fifth year is not guaranteed; however, graduate students may qualify for additional support, including teaching opportunities, fellowships, and tuition-only fellowships.

  • Graduate Student Instructor assignments provide a full tuition waiver, GradCare medical insurance, and a stipend of $38,970/year ($12,990/term) in exchange for teaching and related duties.
  • Regents Fellowships provide a full tuition waiver and a stipend of $38,970/year ($12,990/term).
  • Rackham offers a number of selective fellowships for graduate students at different stages of their career.
  • Students are also encouraged to apply for funding from external sources. In addition to providing financial assistance, outside awards serve as formal recognition of significant accomplishments and promise as researchers and teachers.