The Department of Musicology accepts applications for the Fall quarter only. Admission to the department is based on acceptance by the UCLA Graduate Division and a faculty review of the applicant’s work. 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.
All applicants admitted to the graduate program officially enter the PhD program. Applicants who have not previously earned a master’s degree in Musicology or a closely related field will earn the MA degree while completing the requirements for the PhD. The Department does not offer a master’s-only program.
Application
The graduate application opens for submission every September. Applicants must submit the UCLA Graduate Division Application for Graduate Admission by December 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST. All required components must be submitted by the deadline, including letters of recommendation. There is no guarantee that applications received after this deadline will be reviewed. We do not accept applications off-cycle. The application requires the following components:
- 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). The statement of purpose should describe your scholarly and research interests, experiences that contributed to preparation in the field, and your plans for study at UCLA and beyond.
- Personal History Statement: Your personal 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 qualifications for the awards as outlined here and indicate that you would like to be considered for the award. For more information on the differences between a statement of purpose and the personal history statement, we encourage applicants to visit this site.
- Writing Samples: You should submit 2-3 writing samples that demonstrate sound scholarship, intellectual vigor, and the ability to analyze musical and cultural complexities. You should submit their MA thesis, if applicable.
- Letters of Recommendation: 3 letters of recommendation are required. The letters should be written by individuals who know the applicant well, have observed their recent work and achievements, and are able address their intellectual and research ability, promise, and potential as a student. Applicants must enter the names and contact information of the 3 recommenders in the application. The system will then send an electronic request to recommenders, and recommendation letters must be submitted in response to this request. Letters of recommendation are due by the December deadline. Late Recommendations may not be reviewed.
- Unofficial Transcript(s): Upload unofficial copies of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. The institution logo and your name must be present on the copies.
- GRE Scores (optional): Submitting GRE scores is recommended but not required. You should report scores within the application, and request that an official score report be sent to UCLA. The UCLA GRE school code is 4837, and the Musicology department code is 2303.
Interview
Following review of the application materials, finalists will be invited to interview with department faculty. Interviews will take place in-person in late January.
International Applicants
- Academic Records: Please see the Graduate Division website for information about the academic records international applicants are required to submit with the application.
- English Language Requirements: All applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency in order to be eligible for admission. Proficiency can be demonstrated in two ways: 1) Holding a bachelor’s or higher degree from a university located in the United States or in another country in which English is the primary spoken language of daily life (e.g., Australia, Barbados, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, United Kingdom) and the medium of instruction; or 2) Submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL; minimum score of 87 on the TOEFL iBT required) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS; minimum overall band score of 7.0 required).
Scholarships & Teaching Assistantships
At the university level, UCLA offers the Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship. We strongly encourage doctoral applicants to apply for the award, and to consult with the department should they wish to apply. . Please see here for a guide to Graduate Division fellowships and how to apply.
