Graduate Application Instructions

Graduate applicants must apply online through the UC Graduate Admissions website. The graduate application includes a non-refundable fee of $65 for domestic and $70 for international applicants. 

24-48 hours after applying to the university, applicants will receive an email with your Application ID# (not the application reference number). Applicants will use this number to gain access to the CCM Acceptd website where you must upload the required pre-screening materials for your specific degree program. 

Please note: a non-refundable fee of $60 will be charged to apply to CCM Acceptd will charge a $35 fee (total: $95) for majors that require media uploads while programs that require document uploads will be charge $20 (total: $80).

Within the UC graduate application, a 500-word personal statement is required. Your statement should include your degree objectives, frank observations of your professional and personal strengths and weaknesses, any significant professional experiences or honors you were awarded, as well as any other information you feel the faculty and admissions committee should know.

Please upload unofficial transcripts from each institution you’ve attended to your online application. Please note, official transcripts are NOT required during the application process.

One letter of recommendation is required for all MM performance, DMA and AD performance applicants. However, other degree programs may require 2-3 letters.

Applicants have the ability to notify recommenders and remind them to send their recommendations though their Application Status Portal.

All Pre-screening materials must be uploaded to CCM's Acceptd website. Please refer to your specific degree program’s pre-screening requirements.  

All current CCM graduate students applying for a new graduate degree MUST submit their programs required pre-screening materials to be considered for admissions. This requirement WILL NOT be waived or substituted.

While pre-screening submission is required for all applicants, not all applicants will be invited to audition or interview. In some cases, applicants will receive a final admission decision based solely off their pre-screen submission. In other cases, faculty will request an additional audition or interview.

Applicants who are invited to interview/audition will be notified via email after the faculty have reviewed all submitted materials.

Review the audition/interview requirements for your desired program.  

Assistantships (9-month stipend) are available in all majors. Applicants also may apply for Jazz Studies or Music Theory assistantships as well as open administrative and operations office assistantships. Consideration for a majority of these assistantships is based solely on the applicant’s audition/interview.

Other programs that require additional materials/pre-screenings for consideration are listed below:

• Musical Theatre Accompanying Assistantship
• Studio Accompanying Assistantship
• Jazz Studies – open to majors outside of program with pre-approval
• Music Education
• Musicology
• Secondary Piano
• Theory – open to all majors
• Graduate Voice
• Opera Pianist Accompanying Assistantship
• Most CCM administrative offices offer assistantships. Please contact the office you wish to work in directly for more information

All graduate applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher will be considered for talent and merit-based awards. Please note, assistantships and scholarships are based on your audition performance and excellence as well as your GPA, not financial need.

All assistantship decisions will be made by April 1. Please refer to the program-specific pre-screening, audition and interview requirements of your designed assistantship program.

Certain programs host competitions and fellowships open to applicants:

• Strader Organ Scholarship Competition 
• Opera Scholarship Competition
• Brass Quintet Fellowship
• CSO/CCM Diversity Fellowship