University of Calgary

Prospective Students

Graduate Programs
Application and Admission
Funding

Graduate Degree Programs

Composition (MMus, PhD)

 

The program in composition emphasizes the development of an individual compositional craft and a comprehensive knowledge of 20th and 21st century and contemporary techniques and repertoire. Students are encouraged to compose for various genres, ranging from chamber, orchestral and choral works to interactive and electroacoustic music.  In addition, candidates for the degree are expected to engage scholarly material in writing and public presentations.

Musicology (MA, PhD)

Our programs are research-based, leading to advanced work in both historical and systematic musicology. Our library offers a vast collection of resources for such research, and our faculty practice a variety of critical research methodologies in their own work. From critical theory to analysis, the study of genres, composers and styles, our program allows for narrowly focussed research as well as the critical investigation of broad themes.

Performance (MMus)

MMus (Performance--Vocal and Instrumental)

This program offers advanced study on an instrument or voice culminating in two public recitals of professional quality. Students have many opportunities to perform solo and in ensemble, as well as taking part in the rich performing activity around the city of Calgary.

MMus (Performance--Conducting)

Under the guidance of a faculty conductor, this program offers practicum experience with a departmental choral or instrumental ensemble. Rehearsal techniques and knowledge of repertoire are viewed as important components of this degree program. Because of the one-on one mentorship, enrollment is limited to one or two students per year.

Application and Admission

Students must meet the Graduate Studies guideline for admission, including:

  • A four year degree from a recognized university (for Art the degree should be a BFA or an equivalent qualification)
  • A recognized Master's degree if you are applying for a PhD program
  • A degree from an English school or the English Language Proficiency requirement


Please see the Faculty of Grad Studies website for more details.


How to apply:

#1 Application form:

Applications are accepted for Fall admissions only. The application deadline for both the Masters and Doctoral program is: January 15. An online application form is available.

#2 Supporting Document package:

In addition to the application form you must submit:

  • Two copies of official transcripts from all previous schools with official translations if the transcripts are not in English
  • Two professional reference letters. The official Graduate Music Reference forms must accompany all reference letters. Click here to download the reference letter. Please have your referees send the letters to the department office.
  • Program specific requirements (see below)
  • The online application form
  • $100.00 application fee (if credit card information not inputted online)
  • Open Scholarship research proposal. Click here for Information regarding the Open Scholarship Competition as well as the online application.


Please gather all information into one package and submit it in its entirety to the department office. Materials sent in separately or sent to an office other than department may be permanently lost or miss the deadline.

Program Specific Requirements - to be included in Supporting document package:

MA (Musicology)

A research essay of paper approximately 2500 words on a topic in music history or theory prepared during or subsequent to the applicant's undergraduate course work.

MMus (Performance)

A live audition or a video or CD recording. Repertoire for the audition must contain representative works from a variety of historical periods and must demonstrate an advanced level of technical accomplishment. CDs should be approximately 20-30 minutes in length. If performing a live audition please enquire about specific dates and times by contacting the Graduate Administrator at (403) 220-5383.

MMus (Conducting)

Have a completed Bachelor of Music degree, including study in conducting. A demonstrated competence on a major instrument or voice.

Student must also demonstrate ability in an audition. This can be met in two ways:

1. A video of approximately fifteen minutes
2. A rehearsal of a University ensemble (during Fall or Winter).

MMus (Composition)

A portfolio of at least three recent compositions, together with recordings where available.

MMus (Music Education)

Two years successful teaching experience or equivalent professional involvement in music education. An essay on a topic in Music Education prepared during or subsequent to the applicant's undergraduate work.

PhD (Composition)

A portfolio of works, together with recordings, if available. A statement of 2-3 pages that outlines your research interests, accomplishments and reasons for applying to the University of Calgary. This statement should be typed and double-spaced.

PhD (Musicology/Music Education)

One or two extended research essays. A statement of 2-3 pages that outlines your research interests, accomplishments and reasons for applying to the University of Calgary. This statement should be typed and double-spaced.

Please gather all information into one package and submit it in its entirety to the department office. Materials sent in separately or sent to an office other than the department may be permanently lost or miss the deadline.

 

Funding

Scholarships


Open Scholarship competition:

As the Open Scholarship competition is a chance for students to receive significant scholarships, we encourage all our students (both current and prospective) to apply.

Information regarding the Open Scholarship Competition as well as the online application can be found here.

The deadline to apply for the open scholarship competition is February 1st.

Named Scholarships:

The Department of Music has a number of named scholarships. The department nominates students automatically for these, no application is necessary.

Graduate Research Scholarships:

Graduate Research Scholarships are for research directly related to the student's research. No teaching or service duties are required of graduate students who hold GRS. Only students in thesis-based programs are eligible. GRS awards are tenable only for those in full-time attendance at the University of Calgary although provision may be made for off-campus tenure where this is essential to the student's research. The department automatically divides their allocation based on need and academic merit. There is no application procedure.

Graduate Assistantships (Teaching)

Each year teaching departments have available varying numbers of graduate assistantships awarded on the basis of merit. The stipends as indicated are subject to change without notice. The Music department has one category of appointment: Graduate Assistantships (Teaching). The department automatically divides their allocation based on student need, where the department needs support, and student academic merit. There is no application procedure.

(i) Graduate Assistantships (Teaching) to assist with the instructional responsibilities of departments.
(ii) Graduate Assistantships (Non-Teaching) to assist departments and/or professors with non-teaching responsibilities (e.g., research for a faculty member).

The stipend from 1 May 2006 is $6,915 per term (four months), funded by departments. From 1 May 2007, it will be $7,020. No more than the equivalent of twelve hours per week of service may be required of Graduate Assistants. Regulations governing terms of employment for Graduate Assistantships (Teaching, Non-Teaching) are covered by the Agreement Between the Governors of the University of Calgary and the Graduate Students' Association 2006-2008.

All departmentally-nominated scholarships and Graduate Assistantships will be decided after April 15.


Departmentally-administered Funding Policy

Department of Music Graduate Funding Policy
(passed and approved by the Department of Music April 27 2005)
In accord with the University of Calgary Guidelines for Graduate Funding, the Department of Music seeks to provide financial support for students admitted to its graduate program. At the same time, the Department faces very real financial constraints, and thus has developed a funding policy to govern the allocation of scarce resources.

General Guidelines

  1. All applicants to the graduate program, and students already enrolled, should apply for scholarship support external to the Department. Evidence of such applications will be taken into account by the Department in allocating departmental funds. Departmental support will not be provided to students who were eligible for scholarship support, but chose not to apply.
  2. Students are urged to seek out external scholarships and other outside funding whenever it is possible to do so. In such cases the Department may reduce or withdraw its funding, but it will ensure that the student will be better off financially by accepting the external award than he or she would be by relying on departmental support alone.
  3. The allocation of financial support is determined primarily by the academic record of new applicants, and by documented satisfactory progress on the part of continuing students.
  4. Financial need is not a primary factor in the allocation of financial support, although it may play a role in some circumstances.
  5. The Department will determine the mix of financial support (GAT, GRS, GTF or FGS) after consideration of the aptitudes of the student, the needs of the teaching program, and the stage of the student's program. Under normal circumstances, GAT funding will predominate in the early stages of a student's program, with GRS funding coming into play during the thesis stage of the program.
  6. The over-arching objective of financial assistance is to assist students in completing their graduate programs in an efficient and timely manner.
  7. The responsibility for generating an adequate level of financial support is shared by the Department and by the student. Faculty members applying for research funds are encouraged to build in a graduate component when feasible.

M.Mus/MA Program

  1. Students pursuing a M.Mus or a M.A. are eligible to receive Departmental funding in the first two years of their program. Normally, this is in the form of GAT/GRS or FGS units. The extent of that support will depend upon academic performance, the availability of funds, and access to outside funding . (See General Guidelines #2)
  2. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.5 for continuation of financial support as well as a satisfactory Annual Progress report from the student's supervisor.

PhD Program

  1. The Department recognizes that students are not in a position to embark upon an extended period of doctoral study without some assurance of reasonable financial support. Past practice has seen doctoral students offered between $10,000-14,000 per year for their first two years. The majority of our doctoral students supplement these amounts through private teaching, church music work, or, most importantly, through outside scholarship applications. Students receiving funding from the Department of Music are expected to apply for all external funding for which they are qualified.
  2. Evidence of satisfactory performance in the doctoral program is a necessary condition for continued financial support -and this is defined as the maintenance of a GPA of 3.5 over the course work of a student's program, and a satisfactory Annual Progress report from the student's supervisor.

Questions about the program should be directed to the Department office.