Admissions: Composition & Theory (DMA)

Admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts is based on artistry and scholarship. At the University of Florida DMA graduate students pursue an interdisciplinary cognate, outside of the School of Music as part of the music doctoral degree. Current students have selected cognate studies in education, higher education administration, entrepreneurship, arts & medicine, event management, engineering, etc. (Please prepare your statement of purpose to include your interest in a cognate, which may come from a number of the offered Graduate Certificate programs.)

Placement in the program is determined through a holistic admission process.

Composition applicants must submit an academic portfolio via UF’s SlideRoom portal by December 15. Applicants will be notified of results in mid-January, and invite those with positive results to complete a remotely-conducted interview.

UF Graduate Student Applying to Continue in DMA

• Current UF graduate students will need to complete all parts of the UF Graduate Application.
• You do not need to resubmit official transcripts already on file. Please upload a pdf of your current UF coursework and grades from ONE.UF as your unofficial transcript.

STEP 1: School of Music Requirements

DEADLINE FOR PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION:

December 15

An academic portfolio for the program in Composition should be submitted via UF’s SlideRoom portal. There is a $10 submission fee that you pay online after you set up and review your portfolio. 
This academic portfolio must include a minimum of three compositions, with recordings.

Please see SlideRoom for additional instruction for submitting work. For technical assistance, contact support@slideroom.com.

STEP 2: Audition

Following the review of admission materials, top candidates will be invited to have a remote interview with faculty, after which final admission decisions will be made.

STEP 3: Apply to the University of Florida

DEADLINE FOR GENERAL UF APPLICATION:

December 15

International applicants: please see UF Admissions Information for International Students and review the information provided in the International Applicants section below.

The application includes the following six sections:

1. Statement of Purpose – Share your interest in this unique DMA curriculum, specifically your professional goals in incorporating your principal music discipline with the required non-music cognate.
2. Letters of recommendation – THREE (3) required letters of recommendation from faculty or professionals who can speak to your ability to be successful in a graduate program. 
   • You will enter your recommenders’ email addresses in the application.
   • Be sure to allow time for them to receive and submit their letters electronically.
   • You will not be able to add recommenders once you have submitted your application. Please have their information and email addresses ready before you finalize.
3. Resume or curriculum vitae – must include all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about any ongoing international affiliations and research funding. (Required by Florida Statute)
4. GPA – use the calculator provided to enter grades as they appear on your transcript from upper-division courses (junior/senior years. Follow all directions carefully and do not leave this section blank. Only international and non-letter grade degrees should use “non-traditional” for GPA.
5. Unofficial transcripts – for the purposes of initial review upload unofficial, scanned copies of transcripts (screenshots of grades are not accepted); official transcripts are required separately for applicants who receive an offer of admissions.
6. Academic writing sample – an academic paper (midterm, final, honor’s paper, or thesis), a published article, or a paper presented at a conference.
   *If you are unable to upload your academic writing sample to your online application, send as a PDF attachment to graduate@arts.ufl.edu.

Application Fee
A non-refundable $30 application fee is required.
The Office of Admissions does not offer fee waivers.

Once your application is complete, please email graduate@arts.ufl.edu to let us know—and reach out if you have any questions!

STEP 4: Request Official Transcripts

While not required for the initial admissions review, official transcripts are required for applicants who receive an offer of admissions from each postsecondary institution attended.

If you attended UF as your postsecondary institution, you do not have to order a transcript from the Office of the University Registrar.

Transcripts should be sent directly from your previous institution to the University of Florida Office of Admissions:

Office of Admissions
S201 Criser Hall
P.O. Box 114000
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000

UF also accepts electronic transcripts through FASTER, Parchment, National Student Clearing House, ScribbleSoft, e-Scrip Safe, Credential Solutions, SCOIR or Transcripts Plus.The email address for electronic transcripts is te@admissions.ufl.edu

All academic credentials become property of the university. They will not be returned to you or forwarded to a third party. For diplomas and academic credentials that are only issued once, please send an attested or certified copy of the original.

Additional Admissions Information: International Students

• A credential evaluation is optional for college coursework outside of the U.S.
• Upload unofficial transcripts and degree certificates/diplomas from every institution listed in your application’s educational history.
• Documents may be uploaded directly to the application or via your Check Status page.
• Submit scanned copies of the official paper versions issued by your previous or current institutions.
• Screenshots of grades will not be accepted.
• If your transcripts or degree documents are not issued in English, include a certified, literal, line-for-line English translation. Acceptable translations must be issued by your institution or a professional translation service.

English Language Proficiency

The University of Florida requires proficiency in spoken and written English to ensure international students can participate fully in academic and campus life. Students from non-English-speaking countries who have not completed at least one year of study at a U.S. college or university must submit scores from one of the following:

• IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System): minimum score of 6.5 
• TOEFL (iBT & Home Edition): minimum overall score of 4.5
• TOEFL Subscores: 4.0 in all subsections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing)

UF’s TOEFL school code is 5812.

Please make sure to submit your IELTS or TOEFL score by the application deadline as these are required by the Graduate School for admission.

English Proficiency Exemptions

You may be exempt from submitting English proficiency scores if:

• You have completed one academic year in a degree-seeking program at a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or in a country where English is the official language.
• You hold an earned associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a recognized institution in the U.S. or a country where English is the official language.

See the list of countries exempt from English proficiency requirements.

English Language Support

• You may be required to take additional courses if the UF Graduate School or your academic department determines your English proficiency needs support.
• UF’s English Language Institute (ELI) offers:
  • Academic Writing support
  • International Teaching Assistant Support (SPEAK and EAP 5836)
  • Intensive non-degree programs for improving speaking, reading and writing

Additional Links:

UF Admissions Information for International Students

UF International Student Services

Overview of the I-20 process

Graduate Assistantships are salaried positions that require a time commitment averaging 10/13 hours per week performing duties related to teaching, or technical/studio/lab assistance. Assistantships constitute the majority of the school’s financial aid funds and are awarded during admission review.

Graduate Assistantship amounts for DMA appointments are:

• most common award $10,300 for .25FTE (10 hours per week) $528.21 bi-weekly from mid-August to mid-May
• $13,596 for .33FTE (13 hours per week) $697.23 bi-weekly from mid-August to mid-May
  

Graduate assistants are evaluated each year and re-appointment is based on the faculty evaluation of performance and the student’s satisfactory progress in the degree program. Most assistantships are extended for the standard duration of the student’s program, as offered in the admission award. In addition to receiving a stipend, students holding at least quarter-time graduate assistantship (10 hours weekly) are eligible for the tuition waiver and health insurance.

Benefits

• Tuition waivers cover the minimum credits required for full-time enrollment (9 credits in both fall and spring).
• The value of the tuition waiver for a non-Florida resident is approximately $11,000 per semester. For Florida residents, it is approximately $4,000 per semester.
• GatorGradCare health insurance is available with subsidized premiums:
  • Employee only: $17.65/month
  • Employee + spouse: $162.85/month
  • Employee + children: $146.25/month
  • Employee + full family: $224.53/month
• Graduate assistants receive paid personal and family leave, and retain health insurance coverage during approved research leave. More information is available via UF HR Benefits.

Tuition waivers do not cover university fees associated with registration (approximately $850-950 per semester).
Waivers do not cover course fees, which may range from $45-$75 per graduate course.

All University fees and course fees are deferred until mid-semester, which allows graduate assistants time to budget for the expense. All fees must be paid by the fee payment deferment deadline to avoid a $100 late fee payment charge and cancellation of registration.