Admissions: Musicology & Ethnomusicology (Graduate)

STEP 1: Review Admissions Requirements

Master’s: Applicants should have a baccalaureate degree in music or a closely related field from an accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution. An academic writing sample is required for all students.

Doctoral: Applicants have a master’s degree in music, music education, or a closely related field from an accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution.

The GRE is not required.

Current UF Master’s Students Applying to Continue in PhD

• Current UF graduate students will need to complete all parts of the UF Graduate Application.
• NOTE: we have access to UF transcripts, so you do not need to request this or your previous institution’s transcripts; or GRE test scores, if taken.

STEP 2: Apply to the University of Florida

DEADLINE FOR GENERAL UF APPLICATION:

January 10, 2026

Complete the University of Florida’s online graduate application.

The application contains several important sections that you must complete before it is referred for action:

1. Statement of purpose – to share your objectives in pursuing a graduate degree, your area of specialization, interest in studying with faculty at the University of Florida, and your long-term goals.
    
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. This is completed electronically within the application. You will need your recommenders’ email addresses and plan enough time for them to receive and respond to the University request. Additional information and directions are provided as you complete the online application.
    
3. Unofficial transcripts – for the purposes of initial review upload unofficial, scanned copies of transcripts (not screenshots of grades); official transcripts are required separately for applicants who receive an offer of admissions.
    
4. Résumé or curriculum vitae – Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.
    
5. 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.
    
6. GPA – use the calculator by entering earned grades as they appear on your transcript: all grades from your upper-division courses (junior/senior years); read the directions carefully to complete this section.

Apply online ($30 non-refundable application fee)   *The office of admissions is unable to provide an application few waiver.

Kindly email graduate@arts.ufl.edu to let us know you completed the application. And to ask any questions about the application process!

Academic Writing Requirement

Submit an academic writing sample as an attachment to your online application. If unable to upload to your online application, save the document as a PDF and email to graduate@arts.ufl.edu. This is an academic paper (midterm, final, honor’s paper, thesis), a published article, or a paper presented at a conference.

STEP 3: 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

• Provide unofficial transcripts and degree certificate/diplomas from every institution listed in the educational history provided on your application.  
• These documents may be unofficial and uploaded in the application or via your Check Status page. 
• Transcripts and degree certificate/diplomas should be scanned copies of the official paper versions issued to you by your previous or current institution. 
• Screen shots of your grades are not accepted. 
• Transcripts and degree certificates/diplomas not issued in English must be accompanied by a certified, literal, line-for-line English translation of the original document. Acceptable certified translations are issued by your institution or a professional translating service.  
• Submitting a credential evaluation for college coursework outside of the U.S. is optional. 

The GRE is not required.

The University of Florida requires proficiency in spoken and written English. This helps ensure that students who speak English as a second language are able to participate fully in university life, both in and out of class. Students from non-English speaking nations, who have not recently studied at least one year at a U.S. college or university, are required to submit satisfactory scores on one of the following assessment exams:

• IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System): 6.0
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language – Paper-Based): 550
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language – Internet-Based): 80
  Successful Teaching Assistants must demonstrate proficiency in English speaking. A 28 or higher score on the Speaking section demonstrates this level. Applicants with Speaking scores between 23-27, though adequate for admission, may be required to complete an extra course before receiving a teaching assignment. The minimum Writing score for a successful graduate student experience is 24.
• UF’s TOEFL school code is 5812.

If you have completed one academic year of college course work at a university or college in a country where English is the official language, excluding intensive English language programs, within the year before you begin studies at UF, you could be exempt from this requirement. We will evaluate the transcript to advise you.

English Assistance
UF international graduate students may be required to take courses if the UF Graduate School or the department you are majoring in does not feel your skills are strong enough for competitive performance in the classroom or research arena. Academic Writing and International Teaching Assistant Support (SPEAK & EAP 5836) courses are offered through the English Language Institute (ELI). Please consult their website for more information.

The UF English Language Institute (ELI) also offers non-degree-credit intensive programs for non-US students and professionals who want to improve their ability to speak, read and write English and become more familiar with American life and culture, so they can become more comfortable and successful in real-life settings in education and business. It provides housing assistance, academic advisement and other services.

Additional Links:

UF Admissions Information for International Students

UF International Student Services

Overview of the I-20 process

Assistantships are salaried positions that require a time commitment ranging from 10 to 20 hours per week performing duties related to teaching, assisting with teaching, grading/reading online student work, performing in ensembles, technical/studio/lab assistance, and research.

Assistantships constitute the majority of the school’s financial aid funds.

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:

• tuition waivers for the minimum credits required for full-time enrollment (9 credits in the fall and spring; 3 credits for summer A or B or 6 credits for summer C, if hired during the summer semester);
• GatorGrad Care student health insurance, with a $18 monthly premium.

Tuition waivers do not cover university fees associated with registration (approximately $750-$850 per semester, nor do they cover course fees, which may range from $45-$75 per graduate course). These university/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.

Applications for graduate assistantships and/or fellowships are not required, as you indicate your interest directly on the online application and speak to your qualifications directly in your statement of purpose. Resumes are requested for all applicants, which are also used to determine fit between available assistantship assignments and student’s experience, skills and talents.

Notice of Awards

Graduate assistantship and fellowship awards are made during the admission review process. It’s our goal to award these two simultaneously, but sometimes funding awards are delayed. You will be advised in your admission letter, if this is the case. Due to limited funding, not all qualified applicants receive an award; if you accept admission without receiving a graduate assistantship award you may reapply the following year. Funding is not guaranteed.

Graduate Assistantship amounts, paid over the fall + spring semesters for 9 month annual appointments are:

• Master’s/DMA: 10 hours weekly (.25 FTE) = $10,300, which is paid as $528.21 bi-weekly from mid-August to mid-May
• Master’s/DMA: 13 hours weekly (.33 FTE) = $13,596, which is paid as $697.23 bi-weekly from mid-August to mid-May
• PhD’s/Band Conducting: 20 hours weekly (.50 FTE) = $20,600, which is paid as $1,056.41 bi-weekly from mid-August to mid-May
• A limited number of Graduate School Opportunity awards are awarded to the most competitive PhD candidates, 20 hours weekly or .50FTE = $30,000, which is paid as $1,149.43 bi-weekly for a 12-month appointment, August-August.

Financial Aid (NOT referring to Assistantships & Fellowships)

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application is available to complete annually on October 1st. Although students must be accepted for enrollment before they are considered for financial aid, they should apply before being admitted. For possible scholarship opportunities, students should apply well before the December 15th, “On-Time’ deadline, to ensure that the federal processor has time to analyze and send results of their FAFSA to the financial aid office. However, later applications for loans are accepted throughout the year.

Additional information is available online.

*Financial Aid is available for U.S. students only. International students may view resources provided by the UF International Center.