Admissions
Graduate Study
Frequently Asked Questions
On this page:
What graduate degrees does the Department award?
When is the application deadline?
How do I apply to the graduate program?
Where do I send my materials?
Can I mail my letters of recommendation and transcripts separately?
Can I apply to more than one department?
What is the application fee?
Can the application fee be waived?
What is the best kind of writing sample?
I am applying for a composition degree. Do I still need to send a written work besides my compositions?
What transcripts do I need to include?
When are decision letters mailed?
Where can I find more information about the on-line application?
As an international student, are there additional steps I need to take for admission?
What fellowships and financial aid are available to incoming graduate students?
What if I am admitted without funding?
When can I visit the department?
Whom should I contact regarding my visit?
Can I meet with faculty in my area of interest?
Will I be able to sit in on graduate classes and meet with other graduate students?
Do I need to take the GRE?
What is the average GRE score of accepted students, and the minimum GRE score that I need to be accepted?
What is the GRE code for the University of Chicago?
What is the GRE department code?
What if I can't take the GRE until November or December?
Who is required to take the TOEFL?
What is the minimum TOEFL score?
If I don't meet the TOEFL requirements, can I still apply?
What is the TOEFL code for the University of Chicago?
What is the department code for the TOEFL?
For additional Frequently Asked Questions and answers, please see the Prospective Students section.
The Application
What graduate degrees does the Department award?
The Department offers Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Music History and Theory, Ethnomusicology, and Composition. Master of Arts degrees are awarded as part of the doctoral program.
When is the application deadline?
Applications must be received in their entirety by December 17, 2007.
How do I apply to the graduate program?
Complete the general online application from the Division of Humanities, and then submit a supplementary packet of materials including:
- Three letters of recommendation (if not submitted electronically)
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions previously attended
- at least 2 writing samples (typically 15-20 pages each)
- Composers must submit a sample or samples of their compositions in addition to the writing sample
- Personal statement (if not submitted online in the general application)
- Official copies of GRE and/or TOEFL/IELTS scores ordered by the applicant and sent directly to the University of Chicago by the testing service
- Photocopies of GRE and/or TOEFL/IELTS scores (or provide scores in the online application) are also recommended
- $55 application fee (if not submitted online by credit card)
Where do I send my materials?
After you have completed the online application, supporting materials should be sent directly to the Humanities Division Admissions Office:
Office of the Dean of Students
Division of the Humanities
The University of Chicago
1115 E. 58th Street
Walker Museum, Suite 111
Chicago, IL 60637
Nota Bene: sending materials directly to the Department will seriously delay the processing of your application – please send materials only to the address above.
Can I mail my letters of recommendation and transcripts separately?
This is not recommended. Your application will be processed in a more timely manner if your materials arrive at the same time. If circumstances prevent you from sending a complete supplementary packet, please make certain that your name and the Department to which you are applying is clearly marked on each item arriving separately.
Can I apply to more than one department?
Yes, but you must submit 2 separate applications with separate application fees, letters, transcripts, and extra supporting materials.
What is the application fee?
$55
Can the application fee be waived?
U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and refugees demonstrating substantial financial hardship may request a fee waiver if their undergraduate financial aid office verifies their financial difficulties. The request deadline is December 1st. You would need a letter confirming that, given your current financial situation, you do not have adequate funds to readily pay the $55 application fee. Foreign applicants are not eligible for fee waivers. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Who should write my recommendations?
Academic contacts, professors, or people who know your academic work.
What is the best kind of writing sample?
An academic paper written for a course, ideally in the discipline to which you are applying and representative of something on which you want to work.
I am applying for a composition degree. Do I still need to send a written work besides my compositions?
Yes. You will enroll in many courses which will require intense writing.
What transcripts do I need to include?
Only those from institutions where you completed a degree.
When are decision letters mailed?
All admission and aid decisions are sent by U.S. mail during the first week in March. Depending on where you live, your notification letter should arrive by April 1. Please be patient, as absolutely no decisions are released by e-mail or telephone.
Where can I find more information about the on-line application?
The Division of Humanities hosts an additional list of Frequently Asked Questions that you may find useful if your questions are not answered here.
As an international student, are there additional steps I need to take for admission?
Aside from the TOEFL exam requirement (see below), there is nothing additional for the application. However, once you have been admitted to the program, you will need to contact the Office of International Affairs and go through the visa application process, detailed here.
What fellowships and financial aid are available to incoming graduate students?
The Division of Humanities has several types of fellowships awarded to incoming graduate students, as detailed on their admissions pages. To be considered for University fellowship support, simply check the appropriate box in the Financial Data section of the online application for admission and you will automatically be considered for all University fellowship funds for which you are eligible. There is no separate application form for University fellowship support. Applicants are considered for all fellowship aid available at the time of the admission decisions. An applicant's aid package will not be reconsidered after admission, even if other admitted applicants to the University of Chicago decline their fellowship award offers. You may also consider filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), though it is not required to qualify for University fellowships because these fellowships are merit based, not need based, please note that the FAFSA is required for federal student loans, the federal work-study program, and for many outside scholarships and grants.
What if I am admitted without funding?
Domestic students generally qualify for enough student loan aid to finance their tuition, fees, and living expenses, by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, the cost of a year or two of study at the University of Chicago is high and we strongly encourage newly admitted students to weigh all factors carefully, including previous loan debt and expectations of future income. Most programs hold campus visits in the spring for their newly admitted students. We strongly encourage newly admitted students to attend these programs to help determine if Chicago is the best fit for their academic needs and goals.
Visiting the Department
When can I visit the department?
The best times to visit are before you have submitted an application or after you have been accepted to the program. Students are discouraged from visiting during the application review period between the application deadline and the sending of official notification letters, typically between December 15th and March 15th.
Whom should I contact regarding my visit?
The Secretary for Student Affairs in the Department of Music can arrange a visit for you. Please email musicadmissions@uchicago.edu with your preferred dates and a summary of your interests in the program.
Can I meet with faculty in my area of interest?
Yes. The Academic Secretary will put together an itinerary for you including appointments with faculty. If there are specific faculty members you would like to meet, please include this information in your email to musicadmissions@uchicago.edu requesting your visit.
Will I be able to sit in on graduate classes and meet with other graduate students?
Yes. While planning your visit with the Academic Secretary, take a look at the current Time Schedules to determine if there is a specific class you would like to attend. The Academic Secretary will work with you to make sure that your itinerary reflects your interests. There will also be arrangements made for you to have lunch with current graduate students.
Exam Requirements
Do I need to take the GRE?
Yes. ETS will destroy all records that are over 5 years old, so make certain that your scores are current.
What is the average GRE score of accepted students, and the minimum GRE score that I need to be accepted?
The Graduate Division of the Humanities does not collect data or give out information on the average GRE scores or GPA's of incoming students. We also do not have a minimum GRE score, or minimum GPA that an applicant must have in order to be considered for admission. Applicants are evaluated based on their whole application of which the GRE and GPA are only a part.
What is the GRE code for the University of Chicago?
1832
What is the GRE department code?
2999 (Humanities)
What if I can't take the GRE until November or December?
Be sure to do a self report. When the scores come up on the computer, write them down. Send these along with your application, and request that the official scores be sent to us as soon as possible.
Who is required to take the TOEFL?
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the test administered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required of all foreign students. Domestic applicants whose native language is not English and who have not attended schools where instruction is in English may also be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. The English language requirement may be waived if the applicant is a native of or studied in full-time status for at least one academic year within the last five years in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or English medium universities in Canada or South Africa. Students who studied in English in other countries, for example, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc., are not exempt from the English language requirement.
What is the minimum TOEFL score?
There have been a number of different scoring systems in place for the TOEFL. The minimum scores for each are:
- TOEFL (Paper): 600 Total, with no subsection lower than 60
- TOEFL (Computer, prior to Sept 2005): 250 Total, with no subsection lower than 25
- TOEFL (Computer, Sept 2005 or after): 104 Total, with no subsection lower than 26
- IELTS: 7 Total, with no subsection lower than 7
If I don't meet the TOEFL requirements, can I still apply?
Students who have not met the minimum requirements on the TOEFL are strongly encouraged to retake the exam in order to meet the requirements before applying to the program. Due to the academic rigor of the program, it is in the student’s best interest to demonstrate adequate competency in English.
What is the TOEFL code for the University of Chicago?
1832, same as GRE.
