How to Apply to a Music Education Graduate Program

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Submit Your Application Form 

Create your account on the application portal, and select the summer (June) start term. You will be asked to upload a personal statement, résumé/CV, and two letters of recommendation. Then pay the nonrefundable fee to submit your completed application.

If you are Berklee alumni, you may be eligible for a fee waiver.

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Send Us Your Transcript

All graduate applicants are required to have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, conservatory, or university prior to matriculating. Graduate students must submit their most recent official college transcript.

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Complete an Online Audition and Interview

Once your application form has been submitted, you will be invited to register for an online audition and interview. To register, log into the applicant portal and click on “My Events.” On the right side, click “Invited” and select a date and time that works for you. 

During your live online audition, you will be asked to perform five minutes of music of your choice to demonstrate your musicianship. Please note that any style of music can be performed at the audition. 

Your online interview will take place with Cecil Adderley, chair of the Music Education Department; Rhoda Bernard, assistant chair of the Music Education Department and the managing director of the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education; and other Berklee Music Education faculty members. If you are an International applicant, you must provide a TOEFL score of 91 or higher by December 1 (for early action) or March 1 (for regular action) in order to interview.


Once you have successfully completed your application, here's what you should do next:

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Apply for Financial Aid 

You’ll be considered for a merit-based scholarship automatically through the admissions process. Learn about tuition and financial aid. If you are a U.S. citizen, file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for aid.

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Check Your Status 

Throughout the process, we recommend you sign in to the application portal regularly to ensure that the admissions team has received everything they need to issue your decision. Any outstanding items will appear in your application checklist.

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Get Your Decision

We’ll send you an email when your admission decision is posted to the application portal. Your decision will also include information regarding any Berklee scholarship awards.

Submit Required Supporting Materials

There are several other materials that all graduate applicants are required to submit with their application: a personal statement, résumé/CV, and their college transcript(s). Two professional, work-related recommendation letters are also required. Review the important information below on how to submit these materials correctly.

When possible, all documents should be uploaded or submitted in PDF format.

Personal Statement 

Your personal statement should be uploaded to your application. It should describe where you see yourself professionally in five years and support the statement that the arts are important for all people's lives.

Résumé/CV

Your résumé or CV should include your personal details, educational background, and work experience. The document must be written in or translated to English and submitted as a PDF.

Two Letters of Recommendation

Your letters of recommendation should come from two people you have worked or collaborated with in different contexts who can affirm and convey your musical strengths and skills. These letters are required and must be written in or translated to English and submitted as a PDF.

Transcripts

We require official transcripts from your undergraduate bachelor’s degree. Do not submit transcripts for additional degrees or for high school. Applicants need to successfully complete their bachelor’s degree in order to start the master's degree program and must submit official transcripts before the start of the program.

If you are admitted, you will be required to submit a copy of your diploma from your college or university before enrolling at Berklee.

If you are in the final year of your bachelor's degree program, you must submit your official transcripts for initial review. After graduation you will be required to submit your official, final transcripts or proof of graduation in order to matriculate.

How to Submit Your Transcript

Note: You are not required to submit GMAT or GRE scores with this application.

English Exam

Applicants for whom English is a second language must submit the results of one of the following standardized tests taken within two years of starting the graduate program:

When you send your exam scores, you may be asked for Berklee’s institution code: 3107. 

If you completed at least two years of full-time study at an English-speaking college or university, this requirement may be waived upon receipt of your transcripts.