STEP 1: UC Application
Undergraduate first year and junior transfer applicants begin the admissions process by completing the UC Application, which opens on August 1 and can be submitted from October 1 to November 30.
Only applicants who have indicated Ethnomusicology as their first choice major for UCLA on the UC Application will be considered for admission to the major. UCLA does not consider alternate majors, nor are you allowed to enter as a double major student.
In order to be eligible for admission, applicants must meet all minimum academic eligibility requirements for admission to the University of California. You can find resources on the left hand side of this page for students of first year, transfer, or international status.
STEP 2: School of Music Supplemental Application
In addition to the UC application, applicants the School of Music are also required to submit the school’s supplemental application, which is housed on the Acceptd platform.
The supplemental application includes the following components:
- Personal statement responses
- Video submission
- Unofficial transcript(s)
- Reference contact information for 2 teachers; please note that this is not a reference letter requirement, and we are just asking for contact information in case we do need to request additional information
- Performance resume (optional)
The submission deadline for the Supplemental Application is Friday, December 4, 2026 at 11:59 pm PST. Detailed supplemental application information can be found on the Acceptd website.
Change of Major Application for Current UCLA Students
The Department of Ethnomusicology only accepts applications from current UCLA students hoping to change into a School of Music major once per year, during Fall quarter. UCLA students cannot change majors to or add a double major in Ethnomusicology at any other time or by any other process other than the annual admissions cycle. Admission is contingent not only on completing the same application and audition/interview process outlined for all first year or transfer applicants to the School of Music, but also by demonstrating that the degree can be completed within normative time (4 years for first year students or 2 years for Junior transfer students). In order to ensure completion all of the major requirements within the School of Music’s maximum allowable units, it is preferred that students have completed fewer than 90 units at the time of application. Applicants with more than 115 units (excluding AP and Art courses) are not likely to be approved.
All change of major students are required to submit the supplemental application via Acceptd and pay the $87.00 submission fee. As part of the application, you will be asked to upload a proposed degree plan and the undergraduate program change petition. Current students need not reapply via the UC application, as they are already UCLA students. The deadline for the supplemental application is Friday, December 4, 2026 at 11:59pm PST.
