Join a thriving community of students pursuing advanced degrees in the musical arts. This page contains everything you need to know about admission requirements, the application process and timeline, and funding opportunities in the School of Music. If you have any questions, please contact James Doing.
The information and documents on this page will be updated in August 2026 for the Summer/Fall 2027 application cycle. Applications will be due no later than December 1, 2026.
• See the “School of Music Graduate Application Guide“ for reference. Additional information can be found in the tabs below.
• If you would like to visit the School of Music to tour our facilities and discuss the application process, please contact James Doing to schedule a meeting. You are also welcome to contact any of our faculty to request a meeting or a sample lesson.
Please review these items before starting the application. These items will be updated in August 2026 for the Summer/Fall 2027 application cycle.
Requirements by Area of Study
Auditions
Before being invited to audition, MM and DMA applicants will be prescreened based on their submitted portfolio. See the “Requirements by Area of Study” tab for portfolio guidelines.
| Piano Percussion Strings Voice Woodwinds |
Saturday, January 17 -or- February 14, 2026
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| Jazz | Saturday, January 17 -or- February 14, 2026
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| Conducting | Live, in-person audition on UW-Madison campus:
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| Brass | Scheduled ad hoc by the Brass faculty.
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| Composition Musicology Music Ed |
No audition required.
Composers may be invited for a Zoom interview with Prof. Laura Schwendinger. |
International Students / English Proficiency
International students are a large and important part of our graduate student community. Please review the following policies before submitting your application:
1) Non-native speakers must submit an English proficiency score.
Unless eligible for an exemption according to the criteria stated below, students must provide a valid test score (TOEFL, IELTS, DuoLingo) meeting the minimum scores set by the Graduate School. This test score is due on Monday, December 1, along with the rest of the application materials. The School of Music will strictly enforce this requirement before granting an audition.
Students may be eligible for an exemption if they can meet one of the following criteria:
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution.
• Hold a Master’s degree from a U.S. institution within the last 5 years.
• Bachelor’s degree was in a different country but instruction was exclusively in English.
• Completed at least 2 semesters of instruction at an exclusively English-language institution within the last 5 years, not including ESL.
2) All international students must complete the Financial Statement
If you are admitted to the Graduate School, you will be required to complete a Financial Statement showing possession of sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses for one year (approximately $46,000). Click here for the current amount required.
Note: A 50% Teaching Assistantship or Fellowship in the School of Music will cover the entire amount required. A 33.4% Teaching Assistantship in the School of Music will cover about $43,000, leaving about $3,000, of which you must prove personal possession in order to finalize your admission.
Funding
All candidates for the graduate program will be considered for funding awards. Graduate funding comes in the form of a Teaching Assistantship or Fellowship.
Please note that you do not need to apply for funding as part of your general application. Upon admission, you will be invited to apply for available Teaching Assistantships in the School of Music.
Details can be found in this document: Graduate Funding in the School of Music
Admission Statistics
Click here for application, admission, and funding statistics from the Fall 2025 enrollment cycle!
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about the admissions process. If your question is not answered below or in the documents above, please contact James Doing. These items will be updated in August 2026 for the Summer/Fall 2027 application cycle.
When is my application due?
Short answer: Monday, December 1.
Long answer: You must submit both applications (School of Music application and Graduate School application) no later than 11:59 PM CST (Wisconsin time) on Monday, December 1, 2025. We will not accept applications after this deadline.
International students: Please note that it can take several weeks for TOEFL/IELTS/DuoLingo scores to be delivered, so you need to plan ahead in order for those to be received in a timely fashion.
Do I have to submit GRE scores?
Short answer: No, the GRE is not required for any of our graduate programs.
Where do I start the application?
Short answer: Open up the “Graduate Application Guide” (see above) and look at page 3: “How Do I Apply?”
Do I need to send official transcripts?
Short answer: No, not yet.
Long answer: You will upload an unofficial scan of your transcript or grade report to the initial application. This is all that we need for departmental purposes. Once you have been recommended for admission by the School of Music, the Graduate School will request an official transcript in order to finalize your admission. Please do not send anything to the Graduate School until you have been requested to do so!
Have you received my letters of recommendation?
Short answer: Log back into your Graduate School application to check the status of your letters.
Long answer: The list you can see on your application status check is the same list that we see, so please do not inquire about the status of your letters! Inside the application, you will be able to send official reminders to any or all of your recommenders. They will receive a reminder email within 24 hours. You may also enter additional recommenders if you wish.
What if my letters are late?
Although your letters are technically due on December 1 along with the rest of your application, you will not be penalized for any delay on the part of your recommenders. However, be aware that faculty will begin reviewing application files shortly after December 1, so it is in your best interest to make sure your letters are submitted on time!
I’ve finished my application. What do I do now?
Short answer: Sit tight!
Long answer: Your application will be reviewed by the faculty in your area of study. If you are required to complete an audition, you will receive a prescreening decision no later than Friday, December 19. If you are not required to complete an audition, your file will be reviewed over winter break. Admission/funding decisions will be made in early spring. Please note that all decisions will be issued via email to the address you provided in your application.
What costs are associated with being a School of Music student?
As you’re thinking of housing, tuition, and other costs associated with attending UW-Madison, please keep in mind that the School of Music charges facilities-related fees. A full list of School of Music fees is available here.
Graduate Program Manager
James Doing
gpm@music.wisc.edu
608.263.3220
5553 Humanities
Director of Graduate Studies
Prof. Johannes Wallmann
dgs@music.wisc.edu
608.890.0882
5560 Humanities
