***The NYU Music Department has some important news to share with you.***
The NYU Music Department is changing the tempo of its graduate admissions cycle. Beginning with the 2020-21 academic year, the department will be adopting an innovative “two-years-on/one-year-off” admissions schedule.
**Please note: The 2024-25 academic year will be an “on” year and we will be admitting students for fall 2024.**
What exactly is changing and how will it affect our students?
The NYU Music Department is transitioning from admitting applicants every year to admitting applicants two out of every three years. In other words, the department will admit a slightly larger cohort of students for two consecutive years, followed by a year in which we will suspend admissions to the department entirely. This will allow us to better serve the needs of our graduate program, focusing on mentoring, guidance, and the development of experiential and professional opportunities.
Why are we making this change? It will make the NYU Music Department stronger. The new admissions schedule will also:
• Guarantee a robust and diverse graduate cohort in the years students are entering the program.
• Provide deeper mentoring and more individualized advising to our graduate students.
• Allow us to offer our students additional opportunities that take advantage of our ties to the downtown music community and our location in the heart of Greenwich Village.
• Increase the number of graduate seminars initiated by our current departmental research interests.
• Enable us to increase the number of concerts, colloquia, conferences, and other public-facing events we offer in our “off” years.
• Enable us, over time, to develop more generous sources of financial support for our students.
When will the new schedule take effect?
Immediately. The next time the department will be accepting applications is for the 2024-25 academic year. The application will become available in September 2023. We encourage interested students to begin talking to faculty and current graduate students about the program now.
What else about the program is changing?
Nothing! The rest of our graduate program will remain as immersive, engaging, and challenging as always. Our graduate students will continue to benefit from our intimate size, collegial atmosphere, respected faculty, and outstanding track record of placement. None of this will change, nor will our commitment to building an exciting intellectual community and providing an open and interdisciplinary environment where students feel free to pursue their passions.
Questions?
Please email fas.music.gradadmissions@nyu.edu.
Application Deadline for Fall 2024 Admission
Final: TBA
Applications are accepted for fall only.
Please refer to the bottom of page for additional information regarding Application Requirements that are specific to Music, including the submission of Composition/Theory application materials
How do I apply to the Department of Music's graduate program?
Applicants should apply directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS). The Department of Music does not accept application materials. The online application allows you to submit most of your application materials electronically. All applicants must use the online application.
What are the application requirements for the Department of Music?
For a detailed description of our guidelines, please visit our Graduate Program web page. For deadlines and other requirements, please refer to the "Requirements and Deadlines" portion of the GSAS Application Resource Center.
Does the Department of Music require that applicants take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)?
GRE general test not required. Please do not send us GRE test scores. If you do, the scores will not be reviewed or considered by the department's Admissions Committee. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants who are not native English speakers.
How do I know if my application materials have been received?
Once you have submitted your online application, you can check the status of your application online. Your materials are not forwarded to our department until mid-January, so we will not know the status of your application until that time.
What areas of study are available in the GSAS Department of Music?
Historical Musicology, Composition & Theory, and Ethnomusicology. If you are interested in pursuing a degree in the Performing Arts Professions, Music Business, Music Technology, Music Education, or Music Therapy, please contact NYU's Steinhardt School of Education at 212-998-5424.
Does the Department of Music accept applicants for both the Fall and Spring terms?
No. We only accept applications for the Fall term.
How many students are accepted into the Ph.D. program each year?
5-7 students are accepted each year.
Does the Department of Music have a masters program?
No. The department only admits students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. degree. A student may, however, earn the M.A. degree in the process of completing the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.
If I already have an M.A., will my credits transfer?
Ph.D. Students who transfer to the department with a master's degree from another university may transfer some of their previous course credits with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. These students are, however, required to take the General Examination.
Does the Department of Music require an interview as a part of the application process?
No, however we encourage applicants to visit the department prior to applying. To set up an appointment to meet with a specific professor, please contact him or her by e-mail. Contact information is available on our faculty web page.
Do graduate students receive financial aid?
All students admitted to our Ph.D. program are awarded the Graduate School's MacCracken Fellowship.
MUSIC SPECIFIC APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Writing Sample (Music Theory/Composition): Two or three music samples that demonstrate recent work are required. For notated music samples, a recording should be included. Submitted samples may include electroacoustic or multimedia works, in which case there is typically no score. A short writing sample of 5-15 pages double-spaced pages, on any musical topic, is also required.
Writing Sample (Ethnomusicology, Historical Musicology): One or two written papers that demonstrate analytical and writing abilities are required. These will play a major role in the admission decision.
May I submit recordings/scores electronically when applying for Composition/Theory?
We have recently made electronic submissions of scores and recordings possible.
Instructions for Submitting Recorded Material and Musical Scores:
It is preferred that you submit recordings and musical scores by using a URL to point to an online collection of your materials. Please refer to the instructions at http://gsas.nyu.edu/object/grad.app.page1-video. If you are unable to make electronic versions of the material available, please contact Music Department directly at the email address shown above.
* You will find your Embark ID in your online application. If you go to Step 2, page 1, you will see a "Preview" button toward the top of the page. When you preview your application, your Embark ID is printed on the line above your name.