phd music canada

School of Graduate Studies

Program overview.

A taught graduate degree program at the Faculty of Music was inaugurated in 1954. The Faculty of Music offers Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the following fields:

• Ethnomusicology
• Music and Health Sciences
• Music Education
• Music Theory​

​​​Graduates from all areas of the program occupy leading positions in music departments across Canada and around the world.​

Quick Facts

Master of arts (field: ethnomusicology), minimum admission requirements.

Applicants to the MA in Music, Ethnomusicology field are accepted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Faculty of Music's additional admission requirements stated below.

An appropriate Bachelor of Arts specialist degree or Bachelor of Music degree from a recognized university, with an average standing equivalent to a University of Toronto mid-B or better over the final two years.

Applicants whose undergraduate degrees do not meet this standard may be required to take up to a full year of prerequisite courses.

Applicants must submit an essay representative of their work in music history or ethnomusicology.

Two letters of reference commenting on the applicant's academic ability and promise.

Program Requirements

Coursework. Students must complete 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

0.5 FCE: MUS1000H Introduction to Music Research I in Year 1

0.5 FCE: MUS1002H Fieldwork Methods and Practicum , offered in alternate years

3.5 of the 6.0 FCEs must be in the discipline; this includes MUS1000H

Up to 1.0 FCE may be taken outside of Musicology, Ethnomusicology, or Music Theory (either in the Graduate Department of Music or another graduate unit) with approval of the course and program advising committee.

The primary means of evaluating quality are research essays and seminar presentations. MUS1990H MA Major Paper or Project is optional.

A course and program advising (CPA) committee will review course selections. The CPA committee will ensure course selections meet the program requirements and are appropriate to the field.

Students must maintain a minimum average of A– in Year 1 of the program in order to progress to Year 2.

One language other than English is required: this should be relevant to a student's musical and scholarly interests. The chosen language must be approved by the department. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the language requirement in Year 1.

Program Length

6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F/W/S)

3 years full-time

Master of Arts (Field: Music and Health Sciences)

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Faculty of Music's additional admission requirements stated below.

A Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music Therapy degree with an average standing of mid-B or better over the final two years, or an equivalent program and standing from another recognized university. Applicants who have taken courses in music therapy, psychology, kinesiology, and/or rehabilitation science are preferred. Applicants whose undergraduate degree does not meet this standard may be required to take appropriate prerequisite courses.

Selected applicants will be scheduled for an interview. Depending on circumstances, an assigned essay may be substituted for the interview with faculty approval.

Two letters of reference commenting on the applicant's professional experience and academic ability.

Coursework. Students must complete 4.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs] as follows:

Required courses (3.0 FCEs)

One of the following quantitative methods research courses (0.5 FCE), approved by the advisor:

CHL5201H Biostatistics I

JOI1287H Introduction to Applied Statistics

NUR1075H Introductory Statistics for Health Sciences Research

REH1120H Research Methods for Rehabilitation

MUS7110H Neurosciences of Music: Scientific Foundations, Clinical Translations (0.5 FCE)

MUS7412H Elementary Improvisation Methods (0.5 FCE)

Three of the following courses (1.5 FCEs) or other course(s) as approved by the department:

MUS4248H Optimizing the Singing Mind

MUS4613H Performance Techniques for Hospice Palliative Care

MUS7400H Introduction to Music and Health Care

MUS7406H Music Psychology

MUS7407H 0 Clinical Research Practicum

MUS7415H Topics in Music and Health I

MUS7416H Topics in Music and Health II

Elective courses (1.0 FCE) from health-related music courses or from health-related departments as approved by the advisor. Students may choose to enrol in a recommended collaborative specialization during their study, such as the Collaborative Specialization in Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care Across the Life Course or the Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience . The course(s) taken as part of the collaborative specialization may count towards this elective requirement.

All students are assigned a faculty advisor.

Students must pass, by the end of Year 1, a comprehensive examination (oral) in music and health, based on four selected essays representing a cohesive research direction. Two attempts to complete the exam are permitted. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, the department will recommend termination of the student’s program.

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S)

0 Course that may continue over a program. The course is graded when completed.

Master of Arts (Field: Music Education)

Students may complete the degree program full-time or part-time.

Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Toronto with an average standing of mid-B or better over the final two years, or an equivalent program and standing from another recognized university. Applicants whose undergraduate degree does not meet this standard may be required to take appropriate prerequisite courses.

Applicants will normally have two years of teaching experience, although this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the department.

An interview with the Music Education faculty must be scheduled whenever possible. With faculty approval, an assigned essay may be substituted for the interview.

Two letters of reference commenting on the applicant's teaching experience, music performance ability, and academic ability.

Coursework. Students must complete 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

A minimum of 2.5 FCEs in Music Education, including MUS2111H Introduction to Research in Music Education and MUS2151H Philosophy and Music Education .

Elective courses may be chosen from the MA/PhD/MMus/DMA courses of instruction and/or other graduate courses available in the University, subject to the approval of the department.

A major essay (MUS2990Y 0 ) may be substituted for 1.0 FCE with the approval of the department.

Pass a comprehensive examination in music education (written and oral). Students must successfully complete the comprehensive exam by the end of Year 1. Students are permitted two attempts to complete the exam. If students are unsuccessful in their second attempt at the comprehensive exam, the department will make a recommendation for program termination.

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S); 6 sessions part-time

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Master of Arts (Field: Musicology)

Applicants to the MA in Music, Musicology field are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Faculty of Music's additional admission requirements stated below.

An appropriate Bachelor of Arts specialist degree or Bachelor of Music degree from a recognized university, with an average standing equivalent to a University of Toronto mid-B or better over the final two years. Applicants whose undergraduate degrees do not meet this standard may be required to take up to a full year of prerequisite courses.

Applicants must submit an essay representative of their work in music history.

0.5 FCE: MUS1000H Introduction to Music Research I in Year 1.

3.0 of the 6.0 FCEs must be in the discipline; this includes MUS1000H.

Up to 1.0 FCE may be taken outside of Musicology, Ethnomusicology, or Music Theory (either in the Graduate Department of Music or another graduate unit) with approval of the course and program advising (CPA) committee.

A CPA committee will review course selections. The CPA committee will ensure course selections meet the program requirements and are appropriate to the field.

One language other than English is required. The default language at the MA level is German. Students may petition to substitute another language if it is more relevant to their research. Petitions must be submitted to the Division Head (Musicology or Music Theory) by the end of the first session of Year 1. Information on petitioning is available at the Faculty of Music Graduate Studies Office.

Students can fulfil the language requirement in one of the following three ways:

Complete GER300H at U of T or its equivalent from another university with a minimum grade of B+; or

Complete GER6000H; or

Pass a proficiency exam set by the Division.

Students must maintain a minimum average of A– in Year 1 in order to progress to Year 2.

Master of Arts (Field: Music Theory)

Applicants to the MA in Music, Music Theory field are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Faculty of Music's additional admission requirements stated below.

Applicants must submit an essay that represents their work in music theory.

0.5 FCE: MUS1000H Introduction to Music Research in Year 1.

A minimum of 3.0 FCEs in graduate courses in music theory; at least two of these (2.0 FCEs) must be graduate-only seminars.

Up to 1.0 FCE may be taken outside of musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory (either in the Graduate Department of Music or another graduate unit) with approval of the department.

MUS1990H MA Major Paper or Project (0.5 FCE) is optional.

A course and program advising (CPA) committee will review course selections. The CPA committee will ensure course selections meet the requirements of the program and are appropriate to the field.

One language other than English is required. The default language at the MA level is German. Students may petition to substitute another language if it is more relevant to their research. Petitions must be submitted to the Division Head (Musicology or Music Theory) by the end of the first session of Year 1. Information on petitioning is available at the Faculty of Music Graduate Studies Office. Students can fulfil the language requirement in one of the following three ways:

Doctor of Philosophy (Field: Ethnomusicology)

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of two routes: 1) following completion of an appropriate master's degree or 2) direct entry following completion an appropriate bachelor’s degree.

PhD Program

The PhD in Music, Ethnomusicology field is a research degree. Applicants must hold a master's degree with specialization in ethnomusicology, musicology, or music theory, but may also be in a cognate field such as anthropology or cultural studies. Applicants must have an average standing of B+ or better.

An essay of approximately 3,000 words which demonstrates their ability to handle a research problem.

Applicants, whether from the University of Toronto or elsewhere, may be interviewed by the department.

Coursework. Students holding a master's degree specializing in musicology, ethnomusicology, or theory must fulfil the following requirements by the end of Year 2:

3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

0.5 FCE: MUS1250H PhD Seminar , taken in the first session

0.5 FCE: MUS1997H 0 Research in Ethnomusicology

1.0 FCE in graduate-only seminars in ethnomusicology

1.0 FCE in electives, of which 0.5 FCE may be taken outside of musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory (either in the Graduate Department of Music or another graduate unit). With approval from the course and program advising (CPA) committee, one 0.5 FCE course may be deferred to the first session of Year 2.

Coursework should be completed during Year 1 with an average grade of at least A– . The exception is MUS1997H 0 Research in Ethnomusicology , which lays the groundwork for the field examination and the dissertation: this course must be started at the beginning of the second session of Year 1 and completed by the end of the first session of Year 2.

The CPA committee will review course selections to ensure that they meet the requirements of the program and are appropriate to the field. The department may prescribe additional courses if it is felt they are necessary to develop the knowledge and skills required for a student's proposed subject of study.

Advanced oral and reading knowledge of a language other than English is required: this should be relevant to a student's musical and scholarly interests. The department may also require competence in additional languages deemed necessary for a proposed area of research. Language requirements must be completed successfully by the end of Year 2.

Supervisor. During Year 1, students are expected to discuss their interests, expectations, and research objectives with faculty members. An appropriate supervisor of MUS1997H 0 must then be agreed upon. The supervisor will be primarily responsible for determining the structure and content of MUS1997H 0 , which will include a research paper.

A set of three comprehensive exams in (1) contemporary issues, (2) history of the field, and (3) repertoire, to be taken at the beginning of Year 2.

Students are permitted two attempts to complete each exam. A second attempt must take place at the beginning of the second session. If students are unsuccessful in their second attempt at the comprehensive exam, the department will make a recommendation for program termination.

Students must prepare a thesis and will defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination.

The residency requirement is two years, whereby students must be on campus full-time and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

The PhD in Music, Ethnomusicology field is a research degree. Exceptional students may be admitted directly to the doctoral stream with an appropriate bachelor's degree (direct entry). Applicants must have an average standing of A– or better.

Year 1: complete 3.0 FCEs , exclusive of MUS1250H and MUS1997H 0 . Students must maintain an average grade of at least A– in order to continue with the doctorate; otherwise, the student will be required to transfer into the master's program. Successful direct-entry students go on to Year 2.

Years 2 and 3: 3.0 FCEs as follows:

0.5 FCE: MUS1250H PhD Seminar , taken in the first session of Year 2.

0.5 FCE: MUS1997H 0 Research in Ethnomusicology lays the groundwork for the field examination and the dissertation. This course must be started at the beginning of the second session of Year 2 and completed by the end of the first session of Year 3.

1.0 FCE in graduate-only seminars in ethnomusicology.

All course requirements must be completed by the end of Year 3.

Students must complete an intermediate-level language examination in Year 1. Advanced oral and reading knowledge of a language other than English is required: this should be relevant to the student's musical and scholarly interests. The department may also require competence in additional languages deemed necessary for a proposed area of research. Language requirements must be completed successfully by the end of Year 3.

A set of three comprehensive exams in (1) contemporary issues, (2) history of the field, and (3) repertoire, to be taken at the beginning of Year 3.

The residency requirement is three years, whereby students must be on campus full-time and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

Doctor of Philosophy (Field: Music and Health Sciences)

Applicants must hold a four-year bachelor’s degree, either in music (or with a musical credential [e.g., ARCT]) or music therapy, plus a field-related master’s degree (e.g., master of music, master of music therapy, master’s degree in a health field such as kinesiology, neuroscience, or speech-language pathology). Applicants must have a standing of B+ or better, from the University of Toronto, or an equivalent degree and standing from another recognized university.

An interview with Music and Health faculty members whenever possible. With faculty approval, an assigned essay may be substituted for the interview.

Required courses (4.0 FCEs):

MUS7995Y 0 Music and Health Doctoral Research Project (1.0 FCE)

Two of the following quantitative methods research courses (1.0 FCE), approved by the advisor:

Four of the following courses (2.0 FCEs) or other course(s) as approved by the department:

MUS7110H Neurosciences of Music: Scientific Foundations, Clinical Translations

MUS7412H Elementary Improvisation Methods

Elective courses (2.0 FCEs) from the Faculty of Music or related departments as approved by the advisor. Students in the Collaborative Specialization in Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care Across the Life Course or the Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience may use the core course(s) from the collaborative specialization for these electives.

Language requirements , if any, will be established by the student's advisory committee, based on specific research needs.

Supervision. As early as possible in Year 2, the student will submit a thesis proposal that must be approved by the end of that year. On approval of the proposal by the Music and Health Sciences division, a principal advisor and an advisory committee of at least three members (including the advisor as chair) will be appointed. The committee will meet with the student at least two times each academic year.

Students must complete a comprehensive examination successfully by the end of Year 2. Students are permitted two attempts to complete the exam. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, the department will recommend termination of the student's program.

Thesis. Upon successful completion of the field examination, the candidate proceeds to complete an oral defence of the thesis proposal, a thesis, and an oral defence of the thesis.

Following successful completion of the comprehensive exam, a thesis supervisory committee is formed. The committee membership must be approved by the Academic Dean of Graduate Studies and should include at least one member from the Faculty of Music. The supervisor may be from an appropriate department. The supervisory committee must approve the thesis proposal. Thesis research involving facilities or research participants in other departments (e.g., fMRI scanning or use of hospital patients) must be approved by the Director of the Music and Health Research Collaboratory (MaHRC).

4 years full-time

6 years full-time

Doctor of Philosophy (Field: Music Education)

The PhD program in Music, Music Education field may be completed as a full-time program or a flexible-time program.

Applicants must hold a master's degree specializing in music education from the University of Toronto with an average standing of B+ or better, or an equivalent degree and standing from another recognized university.

An interview with the Music Education faculty must be scheduled whenever possible.

An assigned essay may be substituted for the interview with faculty approval.

At the discretion of the faculty, applicants may be required to provide a videotape of their teaching expertise.

Coursework. Students must complete 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

At least 2.0 FCEs (including MUS2995Y 0 Music Education Doctoral Research Project ) must be taken from the departmental offerings in music education.

The balance of the student's required program must be approved by the department and may include courses from the MA/MMus/PhD/DMA list and/or from another graduate unit.

At the department's discretion, the student may receive credit for up to 3.0 FCEs from an acceptable master's degree program.

Supervision. As early as possible in Year 2, the student will submit a thesis proposal which must be approved by the end of that year. On approval of the proposal by the Music Education division of the department, a principal advisor and an advisory committee of at least three members (including the advisor as chair) will be appointed. The committee will meet with the student at least two times each academic year.

Students must successfully complete a comprehensive exam by the end of Year 2. Students are permitted two attempts to complete the exam. If students are unsuccessful in their second attempt at the comprehensive exam, the department will make a recommendation for program termination.

Thesis. Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the candidate proceeds to complete an oral defence of the thesis proposal, a thesis, and an oral defence of the thesis.

PhD Program (Flexible-Time)

The flexible-time option is offered to practising professionals whose employment or other professional work is related to their research or study interests.

Applicants to the flexible-time PhD program option must apply specifically to this program to be considered.

The admission, course, and degree requirements for the flexible-time option are identical to those listed for the full-time PhD program.

Applicants must hold a master's degree specializing in Music Education from the University of Toronto with an average standing of B+ or better, or an equivalent degree and standing from another recognized university.

• Students who are considering the flexible-time PhD should ensure that they have adequate time on campus to attend classes and to fulfil the academic requirements of a PhD program.

As governed by University of Toronto regulations, flexible-time students must be registered full-time and pay full-time fees for four years, and may apply to be registered part-time thereafter. The program requirements will be the same as those required for the full-time PhD. The difference is that students enrolled in the flexible-time PhD will have the flexibility of a part-time course load and will have an overall time limit to completion of eight years.

Doctor of Philosophy (Field: Musicology)

The PhD in Music, Musicology field is a research degree. Applicants must hold a master's degree with specialization in musicology, ethnomusicology, or theory, and must have an average standing of B+ or better.

Applicants must submit an essay of approximately 3,000 words which demonstrates their ability to handle a research problem.

Coursework. Students holding a master's degree specializing in musicology, ethnomusicology, or theory must fulfil the following requirements:

A minimum of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

0.5 FCE: MUS1250H PhD Seminar is taken in the first session

0.5 FCE: MUS1999H 0 Research in Musicology

1.0 FCE in graduate-only seminars in musicology

1.0 FCE in electives, of which 0.5 FCE may be taken outside of Musicology, Ethnomusicology, and Music Theory (either in the Graduate Department of Music or another graduate unit). With approval from the CPA committee, one 0.5 FCE course may be deferred to the first session of Year 2.

Coursework should be completed during Year 1 with an average grade of at least A–. The exception is MUS1999H 0 , which lays the groundwork for the field examination and the dissertation: this course must be started at the beginning of the second session of Year 1 and completed by the end of the first session of Year 2.

A course and program advising (CPA) committee will review course selections. The CPA committee will ensure course selections meet the requirements of the program and are appropriate to the field. Students may be required to take additional courses or acquire other skills to meet the needs of their proposed subjects of study.

A set of three (written) comprehensive exams in (1) contemporary issues, (2) history of the field, and (3) repertoire, to be taken at the beginning of Year 2.

Two research languages in addition to English are required: one secondary and one primary. The goal is to have all language requirements fulfilled by the end of Year 2.

The secondary language requirement is the same as the MA language requirement. The default language for the secondary language requirement is German. Students who wish to choose languages other than German must submit a petition to the Division Head (either Musicology or Music Theory) by the end of the first session of Year 1. Students can fulfil the secondary language requirement in one of the following three ways:

Complete GER300H at U of T or its equivalent from another university, with a minimum grade of B+; or

Students who have fulfilled the MA language requirement at U of T may count this as the secondary language or use it as a stepping stone towards the primary language. Students are expected to complete the secondary language requirement by the end of Year 1.

The primary language requirement involves advanced reading proficiency in the chosen language. Students who wish to choose languages other than German must submit a petition to the Division Head (either Musicology or Music Theory) by the end of the first session of Year 1. Information on petitioning is available at the Faculty of Music Graduate Studies Office. Students can fulfil the secondary language requirement in one of the following three ways:

Complete a 400-level language course at U of T or its equivalent from another university, with a minimum grade of B+; or

Pass a proficiency exam set by the Division; or

Pass an exam in another graduate unit by arrangement through the Graduate Department of Music.

Students are allowed two attempts at the in-house exam , after which they must take a language course at the appropriate MA or PhD level. All language requirements must be completed by the end of Year 3. Exceptions are granted only in extenuating circumstances and by petition.

Students must prepare a thesis under the direction of an advisor and a committee and will defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination. The thesis, including bibliography and appendices, should ideally be between 75,000 and 80,000 words in length. The department will not consider a thesis that exceeds 100,000 words.

The PhD in Music, Musicology field is a research degree. Exceptional students may be admitted directly to the doctoral stream with an appropriate bachelor's degree (direct entry). Applicants must have an average standing of A– or better.

3.0 FCEs at the graduate level in Year 1 with a minimum average of A–. The exception is MUS1999H 0 , which lays the groundwork for the field examination and the dissertation: this course must be started at the beginning of the second session of Year 1 and completed by the end of the first session of Year 2.

An intermediate-level language exam in Year 1. All language requirements must be completed by Year 3.

Following successful completion of Year 1, students must then complete all program requirements of the four-year PhD program.

0.5 FCE: MUS1999H 0 Research in Musicology.

1.0 FCE in graduate-only seminars in musicology.

1.0 FCE in electives, of which 0.5 FCE may be taken outside of Musicology, Ethnomusicology, and Music Theory (either in the Graduate Department of Music or another graduate unit). With approval from the course and program advising (CPA) committee, one 0.5 FCE course may be deferred to the first session of Year 2.

The CPA committee will review course selections, ensuring that course selections meet the requirements of the program and are appropriate to the field. Students may be required to take additional courses or acquire other skills to meet the needs of their proposed subjects of study.

A set of three (written) comprehensive exams in (1) contemporary issues, (2) history of the field, and (3) repertoire, to be taken at the beginning of Year 3.

The default language for the secondary language requirement is German. Students who wish to choose languages other than German must submit a petition to the Division Head (either Musicology or Music Theory) by the end of the first session of Year 1. Students can fulfil the secondary language requirement in one of the following three ways:

Students are expected to complete the secondary language requirement by the end of Year 1.

Doctor of Philosophy (Field: Music Theory)

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of two routes: 1) following completion of an appropriate master's degree or 2) direct entry following completion a bachelor’s degree.

The PhD in Music, Music Theory field is a research degree. Applicants must hold a master's degree with appropriate specialization (normally music theory or musicology), and must have an average standing of B+ or better.

Applicants must submit an essay of approximately 3,000 words pertaining to music theory and which demonstrates their ability to handle a research problem.

Coursework. Students must complete of a minimum of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

0.5 FCE: MUS1250H PhD Seminar (taken in the first session).

0.5 FCE: MUS3997H 0 Research in Music Theory.

1.0 FCE in graduate-only seminars in music theory.

1.0 FCE in electives, of which 0.5 FCE may be taken outside of musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory (either in the Graduate Department of Music or another graduate unit). With approval from the CPA committee, one 0.5 FCE course may be deferred to the first session of Year 2.

Coursework should be completed during Year 1 with an average grade of at least A–. The exception is MUS3997H 0 Research in Music Theory , which lays the groundwork for the field examination and dissertation: this course must be started at the beginning of the second session of Year 1 and completed by the end of the first session of Year 2.

Students may be required to take additional courses or acquire other skills to meet the needs of their proposed subjects of study.

A set of three (written) comprehensive exams in (1) history of the field; (2) current issues in the field; and (3) repertoire and analysis, to be taken at the beginning of Year 2.

Students are permitted two attempts to complete each exam. A second attempt must take place at the beginning of the second session. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, the department will recommend termination of the student's program.

The primary language requirement involves advanced reading proficiency in the chosen language. Students who wish to choose languages other than German must submit a petition to the Division Head (either Musicology or Music Theory) by the end of the first session of Year 1. Information on petitioning is available at the Faculty of Music Graduate Studies Office. Students can fulfil the primary language requirement in one of the following three ways:

The PhD in Music, Music Theory field is a research degree. Exceptional students may be admitted directly to the doctoral stream with an appropriate four-year University of Toronto bachelor's degree (normally in music theory or musicology), or its equivalent from a recognized university, with at least an A– average in courses.

3.0 FCEs at the graduate level in Year 1 with a minimum average of A–. The exception is MUS3997H 0 Research in Music Theory , which lays the groundwork for the field examination and dissertation: this course must be started at the beginning of the second session of Year 1 and completed by the end of the first session of Year 2.

A set of three (written) comprehensive exams in (1) history of the field; (2) current issues in the field; and (3) repertoire and analysis, to be taken at the beginning of Year 3.

Search for academic programs , residence , tours and events and more.

Music (PhD)

Built around themes of music, health, community and culture, this four-year degree will benefit students interested in mastering their research skills and looking to make their mark in the fields of music therapy or community music.

Unique not only in Canada, but also internationally, the program curriculum is based on a Doctoral Action Plan, Problem-Based Learning, Peer Learning, and various Doctoral Special Seminar Topics (DSST).

Research pursuits are limitless, but may include music and wellness, music performance and transforming communities, music therapy interventions, music and the brain, global music practices, activism in health and well-being, music and aging, and music-medicine.

First program of its kind.

Diverse Doctoral Special Seminar Topics replace mandatory courses, personalizing your learning.

Options to focus research in Community Music or Music Therapy.

Program Details

Program structure.

The PhD in Music consists of 12 credits, comprised of a combination of Doctoral Seminar Special Topics (DSSTs), independent directed studies proposals relevant to their research topics as electives, seminars or symposia, research supervision, comprehensive exams and final dissertation writing and defense.

Because of the diversity of research topics pursued, the PhD program in Community Music/Music Therapy does not involve a core component; in general, the student works mainly with an individual supervisor and with their peer group.

Once the project is defined, methods established, and ethics approved, the subsequent years in the program are devoted to refining the research and moving forward in data collection. Along with collaborative learning, faculty advisement, and doctoral special topics seminars, the student develops a level of expertise in the specific field of focus.

Year One (Two Credits)

During the initial year of the program, students will work closely with a faculty advisor, research supervisor, and Collaborative Learning Communities (CLC) comprised of peer groups to establish and refine a research topic, scheduled goal-searching with task completion-related milestones, methodology planning, literature review, and symposium participation. Deliverables may include, but are not limited to:

• 5000-word research outline and plan for enacting the plan, including a timeline for completion;
• Contractual Agreement with advisor(s) regarding frequency and expectations in prepared consultations;
• Thorough literature review on research topic with annotated bibliography;
• Completion of the 700-level topics and symposia as scheduled.

Year Two (Two Credits)

During the second year of the program, students will work closely with their research supervisor and Collaborative Learning Communities (CLC) comprised of peer groups to establish and refine the research proposal (LOI), literature review, and data collection launching. Deliverables may include, but are not limited to:

• Literature review (publishable scoping review/systematic review on a chosen topic).
• LOI presented for the PhD Committee.

Year Three (Four Credits)

During the third year of the program, students continue working closely with their research supervisor and Collaborative Learning Communities (CLC) formed of peer groups, to refine data collection, data analysis, and dissertation writing. Main tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Data collection.
• Data analysis.

Year Four (Four Credits)

During the final year of the program, students continue working closely with their research supervisor to finish their dissertation, and to prepare the oral defense. Main tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Dissertation writing.
• Oral defense.

As a research-intensive doctoral degree, curriculum provided through Doctoral Action Plan, Problem-Based Learning, Peer Learning, and various Doctoral Special Seminar Topics (DSST) are designed to enable students to achieve doctoral level learning outcomes, meeting the qualifications and criteria for PhD-level research specific activity.

Doctoral Action Plan

In the first year, students develop a Doctoral Action Plan. Under the supervision of a faculty advisor, personal and professional learning outcomes would be developed, and the action plan would include targets and milestones for the project. Research projects would be designed and approved in consultation with the advisor or advisors and include thorough literature reviews.

Problem-Based Learning

This doctoral program is informed by the principles of Problem-Based Learning offering constructivist strategies where the doctoral student assumes the role of a self-directed and self-regulated learner.

Peer Learning

Collaborative Learning Communities formed of peer groups will be established. By working within the peer group an enriched learning community is created where ideas and problems are shared, knowledge exchanged, and learning finds value at an academic, professional, and personal level. Learning communities will be in regular contact and meet intensively 2–3 times a year.

Teaching Assistantship

A paid teaching component, generated through Teaching Assistantships for undergraduate courses, will be an important part of the PhD student’s training. This will enhance the overall quality of the undergraduate and graduate student experience.

Faculty Advisor

Regular consultations with a faculty advisor will provide structure in meeting pre-determined milestones throughout the degree program. The frequency of these meetings will vary, depending upon the type of research undertaken and the progression stage of the student within the program. It is recommended that bi-weekly sessions be scheduled initially.

Doctoral Seminar Topics

Doctoral Seminar Special Topics are three-day intensives where students explore topics in-depth as a community of learners under the instruction of experts in the field. Three DSST’s will be scheduled annually. Students are required to attend at least two seminars each year with a minimum of eight required by the time of graduation.

DSST examples:

• Community Music Therapy
• Improvisation and Microanalysis
• Neurological Foundations
• Music and Aging Populations
• Indigenous Perspectives
• Music and Social Justice
• Utilizing music to recover mental health challenges
• Music, Songwriting, Listening and Leisure
• The Role of Music throughout the Life Span
• Music and Spirituality

Research Overview

During the second year of the program, a public, 45-minute presentation will be scheduled followed by Q/A and discussion. All faculty and grad students will be encouraged to participate. A major research study serves as the culminating evaluation. A dissertation (including arts-based research utilizing multi-media formats as pertinent to the student’s study) is required along with its successful defense. Each student will work with a faculty advisor or advisors over the duration of the program.

The student and advisor will establish deliverable dates where the student completes aspects of their study program, according to the outcomes designed and agreed upon ahead of time.

For example, Year 1 would include building a doctoral action plan where learning outcomes, project descriptions, literature reviews and research focuses are developed. Year 2 would include the ethics approval process and the start of data collection. It might also include an elective course and/or an applied placement. Pathways through the degree program are flexible and will be adapted to the student’s research focus.

Research Topics

A wide range of research topics are welcome, encouraging the student to explore areas of personal interest that have current relevance to the field. Personal and professional learning outcomes are developed, and the action plan will include targets and milestones for the project.

Upon approval of the proposed topic, the student will begin a research program under regular supervision. A supervisory committee comprised of two or more faculty will be established to support and provide feedback on the student’s progress, assessing the research plan.

Areas of Study

With a focus on either Community Music or Music Therapy , this degree would accommodate candidates interested in one or more of the following areas of study:

• Music Therapy, Community Music Therapy, or Music Psychotherapy
• Clinical music therapy - practice based/evidence-based research
• Music therapy interventions: improvisation, music listening, song writing
• Music therapy and creative arts practices
• Music and health
• Music and wellness
• Music in palliative care
• Studies in psychotherapy and counselling
• Low frequency/sound vibration studies
• Music and aging
• Music and medicine
• Music and brain
• Music and cognitive neurosciences
• Clinical improvisation in a Music Therapy context
• Music Psychotherapy interventions and approaches
• Music Therapy assessment
• Community Music leadership and facilitation,
• Freelance musicians with a passion for activism and/or health and wellbeing
• Innovative practices in music education
• Contemporary music: performance, facilitation, composition and improvisation in community contexts
• Global music practices
• Studies in peace and social justice through community music practices

"This program is uniquely designed and provides students with the expertise, resources, and experience to develop themselves as leading researchers in community music or music therapy."

Professor Lee Willingham, co-coordinator of Laurier’s PhD in Music: Community Music

Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.

• Start: Fall (September)
• Format: Full-time
• Application deadline:  March 30 (international applicants), May 1 (domestic applicants)

*Domestic applications will remain open until May 1 with priority given to applicants who have submitted all application requirements by March 1. Those who apply after March 1 will only be interviewed, should there be room in the program.

Admission Requirements

Successful applicants must have completed a master’s program in areas such as Music, Music Education, Fine Arts, Music Therapy, or Community Music with a minimum average of A-. Applicants holding an honours undergraduate degree in in Music/Music Therapy/Community Music and a master’s degree in allied fields such as Social Work, Psychology, Pastoral Counselling, Music Education, Early Childhood Music, Pedagogy, Leisure Studies, or other related fields may be considered.

The application process will consist of an interview, three (3) academic reference letters, a completed Statement of Intent ** and an example of graduate-level writing.

Your Statement of Intent describes what you will investigate, why your topic is important, and how do you plan to conduct your research. It should include a title, introduction, literature review, research design (paradigm, research methods, data collection/analysis plan) and references. (2000 words)

Applicants to this program will indicate either (a) Community Music or (b) Music Therapy as their primary field of proposed study. Documented field experience in the applicant’s area of study will be considered an asset.

Applicants whose language of instruction was not English must furnish evidence of proficiency in English prior to admission, in accordance with university requirements.

Students who may not come from traditional music degrees but demonstrate life experience in pertinent aspects of Community Music or Music Therapy along with a strong application may be eligible for admission under the university’s existing alternate admission plan provision.

Applications will remain open until May 1, 2023 with priority given applicants who have submitted all application requirements by March 1, 2023. Those who apply after March 1 will only be interviewed should there by room in the program.

** In addition to submitting the digital copy of the Statement of Intent, applicants must submit a link to [email protected]  with a 5-10 minute video, summarizing your Statement of Intent. The purpose of the video is to introduce yourself, why do you want to do PhD at Laurier, and would be a good candidate for the programme. 

Application Checklist

After you have submitted your   OUAC application , paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from   [email protected]   advising you to upload the additional required documentation to   Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS) .

Please note, the application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. To avoid disappointment, please apply early.

An application for admission to our PhD program in Music must include:

• The Application Summary, which is generated after you complete your   OUAC   application (log back in to OUAC to retrieve it).
• Transcripts   of all undergraduate and graduate work. Documents must be dated within the past six months.
• A completed   statement of intent .
• A resume of your academic and work experience. Include a history of your publication and scholarly paper activity and any other information you feel will interest the admissions committee.
• A sample of your scholarly writing (10-20 pages in length). This may be a chapter of your master's thesis or a paper written for a graduate course.
• Completed   reference forms . Three academic references are required.   Note:   Reference forms are electronically submitted to Laurier by the referee and do not need to be uploaded.

Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.

English Proficiency

Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to  LORIS .

Your Next Steps

Questions? Contact [email protected] .

"There is no doubt our doctoral students will leave a lasting impression in the international research community, positively impacting the discipline of music therapy as well as the credibility of clinical work and practice."

Professor Heidi Ahonen, co-coordinator of the PhD in Music: Music Therapy

Waterloo Campus

This program is available on Laurier's Waterloo campus.

Laurier's Waterloo campus is home to more than 19,000 graduate and undergraduate students. Tucked into several city blocks, this campus is walking distance to your classrooms, food, and various campus amenities.

Laurier is a leading force in research among Canadian universities, and many of our research centres and institutes are housed in Waterloo.

Learn more about Laurier's campuses .

Tuition and Funding

Full-time domestic students will benefit from bursary and teaching assistantship opportunities at the university. Those unable to suspend their careers also have the option to complete the program as part-time students.

All full-time domestic students receive the PhD minimum guaranteed funding (MGF) package of two teaching assistantships and a scholarship.

The Faculty of Music welcomes international students to the PhD Program. International students who have confirmed funding from a third-party, such as their employer or a scholarship program in their home country, will be considered for admission beginning in the 2024/25 admission year.

Learn more about  admission requirements  for international applicants.

"With contributions from several university-based partners, ASPIRE provides graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with informative, hands-on professional skills training essential for degree and post-degree success."

Brent Wolfe , Associate Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Graduates may go on to work in the following settings:

• Public Health
• Senior Communities
• Faith-based Communities
• Entreprenurial Settings

Your Path to Post-Degree Success

ASPIRE is Laurier's professional skills development training program for graduate students. The program helps you craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to your professional journey and entry to the workplace .

Learn about the interests of our faculty members. If you are looking for more information about this program, have questions, or want to set up a meeting, contact a member of our team . 

Heidi Ahonen Professor, Music Therapy Coordinator, Master of Music Therapy Director, Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy Research

Lee Willingham Professor, Music Education Director, Laurier Centre for Music in the Community Coordinator, Music Education Coordinator, Master of Arts in Community Music

We use cookies on this site to enhance your experience.

By selecting “Accept” and continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies.

• Music Theory @ UofT
• Graduate Students
• Recent PhD Alumni

PhD in Music Theory

• MA in Music Theory
• Direct Entry PhD in Music Theory
• BMus in Music History, Culture, and Theory
• Graduate Courses
• Undergraduate Electives

The following is for informational purposes only . For the official version of the program requirements, please consult the SGS calendar .

This program is offered on a full-time basis only and begins in September. We have ONE admissions cycle per year.

Minimum Admission Requirements

The PhD in Music, Music Theory is a research degree. Candidates must hold a master’s degree with specialization in music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology or related area, and must have an average standing of B+ or better.

Exceptional applicants with an undergraduate degree may apply directly to the five-year fully-funded Direct Entry PhD program .

Applicants, whether from the University of Toronto or from elsewhere, may be interviewed by the Department.

For more details on how and when to apply, visit Applying & Auditions (PhD in Music Theory) .

Program requirements

There are six main requirements in the PhD in Music Theory:

• Fulfillment of the residence requirement
• Fulfillment of course requirements
• Fulfillment of language requirements
• Successful completion of the comprehensive examinations
• Successful completion of the major field examination associated with MUS3997H
• The writing and successful defense of a dissertation

Residence Requirement

PhD students are required to be in residence for two years, except for absences necessary for research and authorized by the Department. To fulfill this requirement a student must be in such geographical proximity as to be able to visit the campus regularly and participate fully in the university’s activities associated with the program.

Course Requirements

Students registered in the PhD in Music Theory must complete 3.0 full-course equivalents as follows:

• MUS1250H PhD Seminar (0.5 credits)
• MUS3997H Research in Music Theory * (0.5 credits, second term)
• 1 full-course equivalent in graduate-only seminars in music theory
• 1 full- course equivalent in electives **

*Research in Music Theory (MUS3997H), must be started at the beginning of the second term of the first year and must be completed by the end of the first term of year 2. During their first year, students are expected to discuss their interests, expectations and research objectives with faculty members. An appropriate supervisor for MUS3997H must then be agreed upon. The supervisor will be primarily responsible for determining the structure and content of MUS3997H, which will include a research paper.

**With the approval of the divisional course and program advising committee, one half-course may be taken outside of music theory, musicology and ethnomusicology (either in the Graduate Department of Music or in another graduate unit).

Coursework should be completed during the first year of study, with an average grade of at least A-, with the exception of MUS3997H, which lays the groundwork for the dissertation research and leads to the Major Field examination in year 2. Students may be required to take additional courses or acquire other skills to meet the needs of their proposed subjects of study.

Language Requirements

[ Updated Summer 2023 ]

Two research languages in addition to English are required: one “secondary” and one “primary.” Students may complete coursework in statistics or computer programming (coding) in place of one language. The goal is to have all language requirements fulfilled by the end of Year 2.

The “secondary” language requirement is the same as the MA language requirement. The default language for the secondary language requirement is German. Students who wish to choose languages other than German or to substitute coursework in statistics or computer programming (coding) must submit a petition to the Division Head (either Musicology or Music Theory) by the end of the first session of Year 1. 

Students can fulfil the secondary language requirement in one of the following three ways:

• complete GER 300H at U of T or its equivalent from another university with a minimum grade of B+; or
• complete GER 6000H; or
• pass a proficiency exam set by the Division

Students who have fulfilled the MA language requirement at U of T may count this as the secondary language or use it as a stepping stone towards the primary language. It is expected that students complete the secondary language requirement by the end of Year 1.

The “primary” language requirement involves advanced reading proficiency in the chosen language. ​Students who wish to choose languages other than German or to substitute intermediate-advanced coursework in statistics or computer programming (coding) must submit a petition to the Division Head (either Musicology or Music Theory) by the end of the first session of Year 1. Information on petitioning is available at the Faculty of Music Graduate Studies Office. 

Students can fulfil the primary language requirement in one of the following three ways:

• complete a 400-level language course at U of T or its equivalent from another university with a minimum grade of B+; or
• pass a proficiency exam set by the Division; or
• pass an exam in another graduate unit by arrangement through the Graduate Department of Music

Students are allowed two attempts at the in-house exam after which they must take a language course at the appropriate MA or PhD level. All language requirements must be completed by the end of year 3. Exceptions are granted only in extenuating circumstances and by petition.

Comprehensive Examinations

The comprehensive examinations (UTORid login required) , taken in the fall of Year 2, are in three parts: (1) contemporary issues, (2) history of the field, and (3) repertoire. Students are permitted two attempts to complete the comprehensive exams, the second attempt to occur in January of Year 2.

Major Field Examination

The purpose of the Major Field Examination is to assess the student’s general knowledge of his or her chosen research field, to examine the theoretical premises and methodological approaches set out in the research paper, and to determine eligibility to continue to the research and writing stages of the dissertation. The Major Field Examination is associated with MUS3997H and is scheduled to take place no later than the end of year 2.

By the midpoint of Year 2 the student must submit an initial dissertation proposal (UTORid login required) of up to 3000 words for divisional circulation. This proposal will derive from the research and writing being undertaken for MUS3997H, and its purpose is to elicit constructive advice from graduate faculty that may help both to direct the student’s study and prepare him or her for the Major Field Examination. Based on these responses, and on faculty members’ fields of expertise, the supervisor will appoint a Major Field Examination Committee comprising the supervisor plus at least two other members of the graduate faculty.

The supervisor will determine a grade for MUS3997H, and the Major Field Examination Committee will pass or fail the student’s performance in the oral examination. The student must attain at least an A- in MUS3997H and pass the oral examination in order to proceed with the PhD. In the event that these standards are not met, a second Major Field examination will be scheduled approximately two months later for the resubmission of the research paper and/or a second attempt at the oral examination. A failure to achieve the standards set for the written and/or oral examination at the second attempt results in the student being required to withdraw from the program.

It is the responsibility of the Associate Dean, Graduate Education to inform the student of the results of the Major Field examination as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of the Major Field Examination Committee to make a recommendation to the Associate Dean, Graduate Education concerning the timing of the second examination if necessary. The committee appointed to conduct the second examination should as far as possible include the same members who examined the student in the first place.

On successful completion of all course, language and Major Field exam requirements, a doctoral student becomes a doctoral candidate and embarks fully on dissertation research and writing.

The Doctoral Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation must be a piece of original scholarship based on primary materials and submitted in conformity with the guidelines stated below. In most cases, the doctoral candidate’s supervisor for MUS3997H will continue to act as supervisor for the rest of the doctorate. A Doctoral Advisory Committee will be struck on successful completion of MUS3997H and the Major Field examination: this committee must consist of at least three members of the University of Toronto’s graduate faculty, one of whom, if appropriate, may be from outside the Graduate Department of Music. In many cases, the Major Field Examination Committee will become the candidate’s Doctoral Advisory Committee.

Within a month of the successful completion of MUS3997H and the Major Field examination, a revised and more detailed dissertation proposal must be submitted that also outlines a tentative schedule for research and writing. The Doctoral Advisory Committee will meet with the candidate in order to approve the dissertation proposal and offer advice. Thereafter, the candidate will meet no less than twice a year with the Doctoral Advisory Committee. The candidate will prepare progress reports, including written work, to be circulated to committee members at least two weeks in advance of the meetings (or longer, in the event of a substantial body of written work). The Doctoral Advisory Committee will then prepare its own report of the meeting and will indicate whether or not satisfactory progress towards the doctorate has been made. In cases where progress is unsatisfactory, clear guidelines must be provided that set out expectations to be met at the next meeting. Two unsatisfactory assessments (consecutive or in total) will result in the candidate being required to withdraw from the program.

In some cases, fieldwork will be required as part of the doctoral study. Candidates planning to undertake fieldwork must apply to the Associate Dean, Graduate Education for off-campus status. All off-campus candidates must leave an official field address with the Graduate Office while they are away. Since it is each candidate’s responsibility to apply for off-campus status, failure to apply could result in forfeiture of registration, fellowships and awards, and loss of full-time graduate status.

University policy regarding “Safety in the Field” outlines a hierarchy of responsibility for safety starting with the candidate’s academic supervisor. Before departing for the field, the candidate must file a letter with the Department that acknowledges awareness of any risks in the proposed fieldwork. In some instances, doctoral candidates may need to satisfy an ethics review, in which case research must be structured according to the University of Toronto’s guidelines on the use of human subjects.

When the Doctoral Advisory Committee is satisfied that the dissertation is ready to proceed to its oral defense, the candidate will prepare the work according to the formatting guidelines established by the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies. The dissertation shall not exceed 80,000 words exclusive of notes and bibliography. Exceeding the prescribed length limit is a sufficient reason for a dissertation to be refused examination. Once the dissertation has been fully prepared for submission, a doctoral candidate becomes a doctoral author.

A date will be set for the PhD defense roughly eight weeks after submission of the dissertation. The Doctoral Defense Committee will ordinarily consist of five or six voting members (there must be a quorum of four voting members) and will include the supervisor, other members the Doctoral Advisory Committee (only two of whom may be voting members), at least one internal reader who has not been closely involved in the supervision of the thesis, and an external examiner from another university who is an expert in the author’s field of study. The external examiner will provide a written report to the author and the other members of the Doctoral Defense Committee no less than two weeks prior to the defense.

Extensions, Lapsing, and Reinstatement

It is the Graduate Department of Music’s aim that doctoral candidates complete their degrees within four years. A candidate who has failed to complete all degree requirements within six years may be granted a one-year extension, if the Department approves. The Department is likely to approve such a request if the candidate can provide evidence that he or she has made substantial progress and is likely to finish within the one-year extension. PhD candidates who fail to complete the program in that period may apply for a further extension of up to one year, but the Department scrutinizes such an application very carefully and consents only if it is persuaded that the thesis will be completed within the period of further extension. Third extensions are decided by the School of Graduate Studies and are rarely granted.

A failure to complete the program after an extension, or the refusal of an extension by the School of Graduate Studies, results in the lapsing of the candidacy. Lapsing does not mean termination. The School of Graduate Studies thinks of the lapsed candidate as being “inactive.” Lapsing has the effect of withdrawing the privileges that membership in the University brings – the right to a carrel in the library, to supervision, and so on. But those whose candidacy has lapsed are encouraged by the Department to finish their programs and are helped in every way possible while doing so. Dissertations must be complete before applying for reinstatement by the School of Graduate Studies. Candidates will be required to pay at least the equivalent of one term’s full-time fee in order to be reinstated.

A request for reinstatement may be refused when, in the view of the Department Chair, the thesis or research paper is not sufficiently complete or of sufficiently high quality for the Department to support it.

• A-Z Directory
• Campus Maps
• Faculties and Schools
• International
• People and Departments
• Become A Student
• Give to Memorial
• Faculty & Staff
• Online Learning
• Self Service
• Other MUN Login Services

School of Music

• M.A. and Ph.D. Ethnomusicology
• Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology program is designed to train individuals who envisage a career in scholarship, either as professors in the academy or as cultural animators of various types in the public sector. The program centers on in-depth exploration of key intellectual issues and theoretical directions in the study of music as a cultural practice. Coursework and comprehensive examination preparation ensures an adequate knowledge base for the undertaking of a major independent research initiative.

The Ph.D. program may be completed within twelve to fifteen consecutive semesters of full-time study, depending on fieldwork requirements. The degree is normally taken by completing course work, comprehensive examinations, a language proficiency requirement, and a Ph.D. thesis, defended in accordance with General Regulation Theses and Reports  of the School of Graduate Studies.

Students must complete a minimum of 21 credit hours of coursework . If required courses have been completed at the M.A. level, electives may be substituted (with approval of the Interdisciplinary Advisory Committee). The required courses are:

• Music 8001; Folklore 6030; and Folklore 7100.
• Twelve credit hours of electives selected from courses listed below or from relevant courses offered in another discipline (with the approval of the Interdisciplinary Advisory Committee). Ph.D. students may take up to two courses (6 credit hours) in a cognate discipline.
• Reading proficiency in one language other than English, relevant to the research area, demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Interdisciplinary Advisory Committee. The choice of language must be approved by the Interdisciplinary Advisory Committee. The language exam should normally be completed before the comprehensive exams.
• Further courses beyond the minimum number may be required, depending on the background and needs of the student.

Comprehensive examinations will be administered in a major area, minor area, and theoretical/interdisciplinary area; a component of the comprehensive examination will test audio-visual skills. Bibliographies and discographies for several focused topics will be developed by the student in consultation with his/her supervisory committee and will be the basis of examination questions. The written portion of the examination will be scheduled over a one-week period. An oral defense of the written essays will be scheduled normally within one month following the completion of the written examination. For further information see General Regulation Comprehensive Examinations, Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination .

Students must complete a thesis , examined and defended in accordance with  General Regulation Theses and Reports of the School of Graduate Studies. A thesis proposal, including a working title, statement of purpose and research scope, outline of theoretical and methodological approach, working plan, and preliminary bibliography, together with proposed membership of the supervisory committee, must be submitted to the Interdisciplinary Advisory Committee no later than the fifth semester of study. The thesis shall demonstrate the candidate’s ability to carry out original and independent research, develop the necessary theoretical and methodological framework, and present the findings in a scholarly manner.

• Undergraduate
• Master of Music
• M.A. Program
• Music Courses for Non-Music Students

Related Content

• Message from the Dean
• Vision and Mission Statements
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization
• Faculty & Staff Listings
• Departments
• Maps & Directions
• Popular Links
• Strategic Plan
• Undergraduate
• Opportunities for Non-Music Majors
• Welcome to Western
• Welcome to Music - Virtual Open House
• Certificates & Diplomas
• Non-Music Majors
• Western Student Central
• Research Faculty
• Collaborative Research
• Research News
• Faculty Publications and Compositions
• Faculty Recordings
• Faculty Performances & Presentations
• Student Research
• Research Events
• Funding Support
• Alumni Newsletter
• Wall of Fame
• Stay Connected
• Your Information
• Purple Perks
• Donor Impact Stories
• Your Support
• Learn and Travel
• Graduate Colloquium Series
• High School Competition
• Intermediate Honour Band
• Kodaly Certification Program
• New Horizons Band
• Oboe Intensive
• Charting: Popular Music Industry Summit
• Summer Vocal Intensive
• Young Winds Program
• Youth Wind Ensemble Program
• Events Calendar
• Concert Programs
• Audience Information
• Concert Brochure
• Fridays at 12:30 Series
• Opera at Western
• Faculty and Guest Artist Concerts
• Open Houses and Instrument Days
• Masterclasses and Residencies
• Chamber Music Series
• Special Events
• Future Students
• Current Students

PhD in Music Education

Graduate studies.

• Graduate Student Services
• How and When to Apply
• Audition Information
• Doctoral Student Directory
• Course Offerings
• Completed Theses
• Annual Graduate Symposium
• Music Library

Admission Requirements

• A Master's degree in Music Education (or equivalent)
• Minimum 70% average in the Master's degree

Application Materials

• Two essays (3,000-4,000 words) that demonstrate the ability to articulate and carry out research in music education
• A statement of interest video (10 minutes)
• A recent music teaching video (15-20 minutes) including a reflective running commentary (voice-over or subtitles)
• A current resume or CV
• Three confidential letters of reference
• Transcripts  from all institutions attended, uploaded in PDF
• Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)
• Selected candidates will be invited for an interview

Application Deadline: Extended to January 15

The PhD in Music Education program challenges students to think critically and creatively, applying theoretical ideas to their experiences as musicians and educators. Pedagogical issues are explored through diverse lenses that consider the past, present, and future of music education. Our students actively present their research at conferences and workshops around the world.    

“ I think faculty members and also all my colleagues are very supportive, especially as an international student. My first year here [I] was overwhelmed not only because of the language barriers but also about a lot of academic things I was not so familiar with. And all of the faculty members and colleagues, they helped me a lot. And I felt like I'm in the family and everyone supports each other." Xiao Dong, PhD Candidate

Video interview: Xiao Dong and our PhD in Music Education program.  

Program Requirements

Timeline for progression.

Problems viewing on mobile? Click to view table

*Students are encouraged to take at least one of their electives outside of the Faculty of Music.

• Students are encouraged to develop their topics for each of the 2 Qualifying Examination papers (Literature/Theoretical Framework and Methodology) throughout Terms 3, 4 and 5. Consultation with faculty is highly encouraged.
• By May 1 (start of Term 6), each student should have a confirmed dissertation supervisory committee (normally a dissertation supervisor and a second reader). The dissertation supervisory committee will determine a deadline for submission of the Qualifying Examination papers. The dissertation proposal should follow from the Qualifying Examination.
• The Dissertation Proposal Defense should be completed as early as possible in Term 7, following successful completion of the Qualifying Examination.
• This chart does not include the application for ethics approval (where applicable). The student and supervisor must plan accordingly. 

Directory of Current PhD Students

Recently completed dissertations  , contact info.

Associate Dean (Graduate Studies)  Kevin Mooney TC 215 [email protected] Graduate Program Assistant Audrey Yardley-Jones TC 216 519-661-2111 x85354 [email protected]

Don Wright Faculty of Music Talbot College, Room 210 London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7 Tel: 519-661-2111 x82043 [email protected] Privacy | Web Standards | Terms of Use | Accessibility

Office of the Registrar

Western Bookstore

Eateries on Campus

University Student Council

Student Development Centre

Accessibility at Western

CONCERTS & EVENTS

Friday, april 26, 2024, moments & outcomes, climate & culture.

Music is an integral part of your life - and you are music.

Music defines, enhances, and elevates., it provides context, reference, and meaning to what you do and who you are., it combines physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being., students, alumni, artists, researchers, and educators - you are our community., your voice..

I'M THINKING OF APPLYING

U of T Music Viewbook

...there are many paths

...find yours!

We will help.

From the dean.

Established in 1918, the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music offers a vibrant and welcoming learning environment to a diverse and talented group of students. The U of T provides exciting opportunities to study composition, performance, music education, music history & culture, and music theory with an internationally renowned and dedicated faculty. We offer a rich array of courses and programs rooted in inclusive excellence that prepare students for a variety of careers. Our beautiful concert halls, superb music library, and student-centred teaching offer an exceptionally strong educational experience in one of the world’s greatest cities.

Ellie M. Hisama Dean, Faculty of Music Professor of Music University of Toronto

  Boundless Possibilities @ U of T Music

You will find support everywhere on the University of Toronto campus, starting with the  Registrar’s Office . The Registrar's Office at the Faculty of Music is your "reliable first stop" for information and advice on academic, personal, and financial issues. The office is also responsible for the administrative operations of the undergraduate program, including registrarial and student records, course administration, convocation, examinations, marks, information on scholarships and bursaries as well as policies on academic regulations.

If you are a current student, you can access our Portal  for access to detailed information and often requested forms, information on Student Services and Resources as well as important information on Rules and Regulations .

Check here for often requested Contact information.

If you are a current graduate student, you will find more information here .

Check out  Ulife  - your one-stop website listing a large and diverse directory of student clubs, organizations, activities and opportunities on all three campuses.

You can also build your supporting cast just by getting out there. Explore the campus. Try something new. Meet new people. Be active. Contribute something to the community. The more you explore, the more friends you’ll make, the more you’ll know about the services, and the more you’ll know about how to get what you need when you need it.

Browse the important websites and discover the many services that will serve as your advocates and as your cheerleaders. They’re here to hold you up when you struggle and to help you grow when you’re ready.

FAMILY & FRIENDS

Someone you know and are close to is following up on a dream…and we are here to support and enhance his or her future.

Your words and presence are invaluable in their thoughts and in their lives.

  More than educators, we also live and breathe music – performance, research, education, and new areas of opportunity.

  We are privileged to have bright, passionate and talented students to colour our world and we invest ourselves in furthering their ambitions and helping them to realize their potential.

  While you are with us, we hope you will experience our music with us by attending one of our many concerts and events .

  Please also check out We Live Here   for more on things to see and do in Toronto. 

We hope to see you around… we’re the ones with music on our minds

JOB POSTINGS

Academic employment opportunities at the university of toronto, faculty of music, filling positions under the cupe 3902 unit 3 collective agreement.

The Faculty of Music hires Sessional Lecturers to deliver some of its undergraduate and graduate courses. Teaching positions for individual courses are posted below. Decisions concerning hiring are made in June for Fall or Winter courses. Some decisions may be made earlier or later depending on enrolment and unexpected vacancies. Persons who submit applications and CVs will receive emailed job posting information for specific positions for the subsequent 24 months.

To be considered  for a position, a complete application includes your responses to the application form and a copy of your most current Curriculum Vitae; click here to apply .

Ryan mcclelland, associate dean, academic & student affairs, university of toronto, faculty of music, 80 queen's park, toronto, on, m5s 2c5, positions for cupe 3902 unit 3 sessional lecturers (for part-time faculty not graduate students) :, a complete application includes your responses to the application form and a copy of your most current curriculum vitae;  click here to apply ., no positions available at this time., 2 unit 3 collective agreement. please note that in accordance with that agreement, preference in hiring is given to qualified persons holding the rank of sessional lecturer ii or iii., positions for cupe 3902 unit 1 - no application form required. letters + cvs only.   (these are sole responsibility instructor positions for graduate students) ., mus306h1 popular music in north america.

Please note! These are not TA positions. When TA positions become available, you will be notified by the Graduate Office.

We are music.

We are musicians all: researchers, educators, creators, performers - students of all that is around us., we give form to thought, emotion, and experience., we celebrate effort, accomplishment, moments and outcomes., and, working  together with you, the music lives on. ,                                                               .

Areas of Study

TOGETHER we...

Create ...produce.

We create new music through programs in Composition , Jazz , Film/Media and Large Ensembles. We create new music through our composer-in-residence programs, our Electronic Music Studio and our Contemporary Music Ensemble. And we celebrate new music annually through our New Music Festival with its Distinguished Visitor and our Karen Kieser Composition Prize.

We produce new music through our Opera program. New stagings of classic and contemporary operas that train professional singers, instrumentalists, stage directors, repetiteurs, and coaches. And we celebrate annually with a new fully staged, orchestrated opera on an original libretto through U of T Opera and our Opera Student Composer Collective. 

PLAY...PERFORM

Many languages make reference to the ludic qualities of music making: play in English, jouer en français, spielen auf Deutsch.

Do you play an instrument? Are you interested in performing at the highest level?

Our goal is to give you the best foundational technical and finest advanced artistic training possible through private studio teaching with many of  Toronto’s top professional teachers and players . While with us, you will play in well-coached U of T chamber music ensembles (strings, winds, brass, percussion, piano, guitar, contemporary music, Klezmer) and perform in U of T’s renowned large ensembles (opera, orchestra, winds, and choirs).

And you can also get professional playing experience through our  Music Booking Office.

TEACH...LEARN

Schoenberg introduced his 1911  Theory of Harmony  text with the words “ I have learned this book from my students .”

At U of T Music we believe that the Teaching / Learning relationship is a powerful dialogue where enthusiasm meets experience and together we act in the service of musical creation, expression, and understanding.

We love   teaching and we’re still learning.

Our award-winning  professors, lecturers, and professionals  work with undergraduates from day one. Our graduate students are mentored by outstanding professionals in their fields.

And we teach the next generation of great teachers through our  Education  and  Pedagogy  programs.

One of the added-values of being at a great music school inside a great university is the level of thinking that goes on.

Our academic programs in music—from  Theory  and  Composition , to  History and Culture , along with your training in  Education  and  Performance —develop your critical thinking abilities to an exceptional level.

So that you not only  do  music, you  think  music.

Your undergraduate music degree program also includes opportunities to take a range of courses in Arts & Science or other subject areas from the greater U of T and its distinctive College system. And you have access to a  Music Library  that ranks as one of the best in the world.

As you build your fluency and expertise relation between Think and Do, between thought and action becomes seamless.

People      Programs 

Established in 1918, UofT Music is Canada’s leading institution for higher education in music and is a growing global presence in musical training,  interdisciplinary research , and digital media content development.

UofT Music is committed to preparing our students for successful careers in and beyond music in a swiftly changing global environment. We embrace the global challenges of building culturally informed, healthy, sustainable societies, and preparing global citizens for leadership roles.

Space for UofT Music includes 3 sites:

(1) The   Edward Johnson Building  ( EJB ) (1964) with its  MacMillan Theatre  (MT 815 seats) and  Walter Hall  (WH 490 seats) performance spaces, large ensemble rehearsal rooms, classrooms, and studio offices, and its renowned  Music Library  (1990 additional wing).

(2) The  Faculty of Music South  ( 90W ), a satellite building at 90 Wellesley, a converted dormitory built in 1955, used by Music since 2007 and partially renovated in 2011 for Jazz, graduate student offices, and other Performance functions.

(3) The transformative new major New Building Project now in the planning stages for  90 Queen’s Park  ( 90QP )  in partnership with other university and external stakeholders, which will connect the EJB directly to the 90QP facility and will include a New Recital Hall for Music as well as other related spaces for performance, conferences, and special events.

Concert Halls

MacMillan Theatre 

With one of Toronto's largest stages, an orchestra pit for 50 musicians, and a full fly-tower,  UofT Music's MacMillan Theatre is the city's busiest stage.

The MacMillan Theatre seats 815 people and has complete lighting and recording facilities. 

Designed to present operas, orchestral works, and recitals, MacMillan Theatre is ideal for guest productions, conventions, filming, and private events.

For rental information please contact our Concert Office Manager,  Mary Ann Griffin  or  Fred Perruzza , Director of Theatre Operations.

MacMillan Theatre General and Technical Information Seating Plan

Walter Hall

Named for Arnold Walter, Dean of UofT Music (1952-1968), with 490 seats, Walter Hall is Toronto's finest small auditorium. Designed for chamber music and solo recitals, Walter Hall also has a Casavant Organ.

The intimacy of Walter Hall makes it an ideal venue for your event. To make rental arrangements please contact our Concert Office Manager,  Mary Ann Griffin  our Building Manager  Joe Lesniak . Walter Hall General and Technical Information Seating Plan

New Recital Hall

Exciting news - we are building a new recital hall located in a new facilty at 90 Queen's Park Crescent. If you are interested in a naming opportunity for our new hall at 90QP, please contact  Don McLean , Dean of the Faculty of Music.

Our season is well underway and there is so much to choose from.

Visit our online calendar often for concerts and events and subscribe to our YouTube channel for exciting premieres, livestreams and performances from our archives.

Resident & Visiting Ensembles

U of T Music is the privileged host of many Resident & Visiting Ensembles. Hosting ensembles is another way we provide rich experiences for our community. The ensembles bring scholarship, performance, and mentorship to our stages and classrooms...we bring the opportunity to work with students.

Our partnerships extend to all of the major performing ensembles and arts organizations in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Proximity to great sounds and organizations is one of the best features of our location in Toronto—a world city for music.

BOOK SOME MAGIC

Our students are among the very best. Their talent and passion is reflected in their music and in their expression. They are professionals that we are justly proud to have here at UofT.

We actively support our students through our Booking Office by promoting and coordinating opportunities for them to perform at public and private functions.

For information as to how you can elevate your special occasion with their exciting musical performances, please contact us . 

GIVE & TAKE

You understand philanthropy…

We understand philanthropy…

Together we create  Moments & Outcomes

Make a gift today!

THE CASE FOR SUPPORT

UofT's Faculty of Music is the engine that drives the performers, composers, scholars, and educators who will shape tomorrow's musical experience and sustain Canada's cultural economy.

Intensive classroom teaching and performance coaching by distinguished faculty and visitors pushes our students to explore new possibilities. Not a day goes by without lectures, master classes, and performances of special note. Our mentorship program connects alumni with current students helping them make the transition from the academy to the working world.

We rely on donors like you to ensure that our exciting programs continue. Donors like you ensure that our young musicians have the financial support necessary to be able to focus on their studies to achieve their artistic and academic goals.

The University of Toronto Boundless Campaign

Campaign Priorities & Philanthropic Opportunities for the Faculty of Music

90QP     Chairs/Professorships     Dean's Discretionary Fund     MacMillan Theatre     MaHRC      Music Library     Naming the Faculty Opera       Student Support    

Naming the Faculty

In his previous position, Dean McLean was in part responsible for the largest naming gift to a performing arts faculty in Canada’s history. The Faculty of Music was not named in UofT’s previous campaign. What a Boundless opportunity for a visionary philanthropist! It is now Toronto and UofT’s turn.

MacMillan Theatre Major Capital Renovation Project

State-of-the-art when it opened in 1964, this home venue for our renowned UofT Opera and large ensemble programs, with its still awesome stage and fly tower, is overdue for a transformative renewal that will return it to world-class status as a theatre for opera production and related performing arts presentations, training, and digital presence.

New Spaces for Music in the 90QP (90 Queen’s Park) Major Capital Project

In September 2014, UofT announced exciting plans for the transformation of the 90 Queen’s Park site in partnership with multiple stakeholders inside and outside of the University. For the Faculty of Music, the 90QP project will create a “New Recital Hall” (a world-class space and high-profile naming opportunity), and will provide direct connection from Philosopher’s Walk to Queen’s Park Crescent and Avenue Road through the Edward Johnson Building and into the Atrium of the new complex with its New Recital Hall and related spaces for performance and conference activities.

Music Library Naming Opportunity & Capital Renovation Project

UofT’s Music Library collection is a national treasure and one of the top four music research libraries in North America. Moved to a largely subterranean new wing in 1990, the Music Library offers a stellar naming opportunity for an enlightened donor. Renovation plans focus on creating a modern teaching and learning environment to complement our ongoing responsibility for the preservation and development of this amazing collection.

MaHRC (Music and Health Research Collaboratory) Naming & Support

Established in 2012, MaHRC is quickly moving to create a global leadership position in the emergent interdisciplinary field of music and health, to enhance our understanding of the role of music and sound in individual and societal health and wellbeing. With already over 50 researchers from Music, Medicine, and other faculties, the UHN (University Health Network), other clinical research teams, and partners for other universities, MaHRC is seeking support for its innovative mission, projects, and collaborative programs. A transformative naming opportunity for someone, a target for directed support from several individuals already.

Opera Program Naming Opportunity & Program Leadership Support

Celebrating its 50th anniversary season this past year, since its inception soon after WW II UofT Opera has been Canada’s pre-eminent university-based opera training program. Over the years UofT Opera has been the training ground for many of Canada’s greatest singing, coaching, conducting, directing, and theatre design talent. Today our graduates continue to win major competitions and to move on to professional companies and young artist programs. UofT Opera: a legacy naming opportunity for some great philanthropist and a popular direction for support from our loyal annual donors.

Chairs / Professorships in Support of Faculty Leaders

Many Areas in performance, teaching, and research at UofT Music have outstanding potential and they need to attract and retain high-profile faculty in an increasingly global talent pool. Support for Faculty Leaders helps secure and sustain excellence. 

Student Support—Graduate Fellowships, Undergraduate Scholarships, Program Support

As part of the University of Toronto the Faculty of Music is committed to providing access and opportunity to the best and brightest students regardless of means. Graduate Fellowships are absolutely essential to attract the best national and international prospects. Though our students do quite well in securing limited available external research funding, we need major philanthropic support to provide graduate fellowships across all program areas at the master and doctoral levels. UofT Music has benefited from significant scholarship support (both endowed and annual) from many donors over several decades. But to remain competitive in a global context we need to be able to offer more substantial Undergraduate Scholarships and Graduate Fellowships, and to provide deeper Program Support to enhance student experience, notably to assist individuals and ensembles with travel to competitions, conferences, master classes, international exchanges, and summer programs.

Innovation Fund—Dean’s Discretionary Fund

In addition to the Alumni Annual Fund, the Dean’s Discretionary Fund provides resources to take advantage of opportunities as they arise: to provide ‘seed money’ or start-up funding for a new course, program, or research project, to purchase instruments and technical equipment, to ‘match’ other partnership sources. We hope to grow this fund substantially through direct funding and endowment.

Help us make UofT Music’s presence Boundless!

Experience  uoft music.  , share our  moments & outcomes  through more than 600  concerts & events  annually., support students.

Music students are inspired by the sounds around them. The noises and rhythms of UofT and of Toronto are written into song.

The world premier of a composition becomes a sold-out event. Performance takes flight.

For our students, it is another great musicial achievement, perhaps their first.

And people like you helped to make it happen...

Give & Take Stories

Truth be told, giving sometimes goes unrecognized...

At other times, it is acknowledged...beautifully.

At UofT Music we want to work with you to support our students and programs and we make every effort to acknowledge and thank our donors. 

At this year's season launch/welcome,  Dean Don McLean shared this story about the emotional and relational importance of philanthropy from higher-education fundraising legend Don Gray:

Never Forget the Rose to the Widow and the Drum Serenade...

A middle class family who enjoyed the music of their local University gave a modest donation to its Music Faculty in memory of a late father and husband. The Dean immediately thanked them for their kind generosity and suggested that they might like to meet the beneficiary, the young student that their scholarship would support. They had the opportunity to meet her and to hear her graduating recital.

At the end of four years the family was also invited to attend convocation. As the young student stepped up to receive her diploma, she also received, as was custom at that school, a single rose. She turned, crossed the stage, and handed her rose to the widow who had made her graduation possible through that funded scholarship... a beautiful and graceful moment. 

Years later,  that same family made another donation to the marching band drum corps at another school. On a particular game day, the drum corps met the donor in front of the football stadium gate, surrounded her and, without any words exchanged, performed a drum serenade salute for her and then peeled off into the stadium.

When you are thinking about the power of philanthropy, particularly philanthropy in Music and performing arts:

Never Forget the Rose to the Widow and the Drum Serenade.

At UofT Music we share our  Moments & Outcomes  through our annual  Concerts & Events. 

Support programs.

Imagine visiting a parent in a seniors' home. Today he may be withdrawn, confused, and agitated, he may have lost the ability to communicate, perhaps even recognize you. It is hard.

But, suddenly, when he listens to music...his toes start to tap, he calms down, and he begins to sing along...

MaHRC (The Music and Health Research Collaboratory) brings together experts in music, medicine, and clinical practice. MaHRC's researchers study diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke, chronic pain...and how music can and does make a difference.

Through UofT Music, UofT, UHN (The University Health Network), and other external partners, we are quickly moving to a global leadership position in this emergent field. You can support MaHRC and Music Research .

At UofT Music we are a national leader in Music Research in composition, performance, theory, musicology, ethnomusicology and education, and we offer a wide range of respected and renowned performance programs in many domains: classical, jazz, early music, contemporary, opera. Our humanities-based research on music & society, as well as our groundbreaking work in music & health, and our national leadership through the Institute for Canadian Music (ICM) need your support to sustain our award-winning efforts.

Support UofT Music's Areas of Study ...share in our Moments & Outcomes

Please support our programs., how to give.

Annual Gifts       Bequests & Planned Gifts       Corporate & Foundation Support     Naming Opportunities       Scholarships & Endowments

Naming Opportunities

UofT's Boundless Campaign provides many high profile and transformative naming opportunities for Music.

• The Faculty
• 90QP Spaces
• Music Library
• Opera Program
• Chairs/ Professorships
• Student scholarships & fellowships. 

For more information on Naming Opportunities or other ways to give,  please contact our Interim Director of Advancement, Tyler Greenleaf .

Scholarships & Endowments

UofT Music offers numerous undergraduate scholarships and graduate level fellowships annually. The need remains far greater than our remarkable current capacity. At the present time, and notwithstanding our students' extraordinary levels of success in receiving outside scholarly grants, we still need to fund too many of our graduate students through scarce operating resources. Supporting graduate students annually can have an extraordinary positive impact on them personally and on the Faculty's overall ability to carry out our mission.

Annual Gifts

Every annual gift has an impact on UofT Music students...the Faculty of Music trains performers, scholars, composers, and music educators for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The Annual Fund and the Dean's Discretionary Fund together help support many student and program activities, and are often used to leverage additional outside resources that help us realize projects that would otherwise be impossible. You can support our  Annual Fund and Dean's Discretionary Fund  online, or please contact our Director of Advancement,  Jennifer Bremner

Corporate & Foundation Support

We are privileged to be teamed with several corporations and foundations who support our students and our programs, often by providing matching gifts. With help from your employer, your generous gift can double or triple  in size . To find out how we can work better together, contact our Director of Advancement,  Jennifer Bremner .  

Bequests & Planned Gifts

Leave a lasting legacy by including UofT Music in your estate planning. A gift by will or bequest provides you with the opportunity to support UofT Music once your needs and those of your loved ones have been met.

For more information, please contact our Director of Advancement, Jennifer Bremner .

...a tour … our city, our campus, our faculty...

…in a concert … over 600 annual performances plus lectures and masterclasses…many of them free…talent, passion, insight

…a moment … our ongoing story, highlights of our year and a taste of what is yet to come  

…some musicians … our Music Booking Office professionally represents our talented students from clinicians, solo performers to ensembles... we can create those memorable moments at your event.

Elevate the moment…

Canadian jazz legend professor emeritus phil nimmons has passed away at age 100.

Professor Ryan McClelland Continues as Acting Dean of the Faculty of Music

Back Two Bach: UofT music students and faculty collaborate with TSO members

MacMillan Theatre Temporarily Closed

Professor Emeritus Robert Falck Obituary

Announcement: Faculty of Music Welcomes Dr. Shirantha Beddage

Come & Visit: 2023 Fall Campus Day

Support Resources for Music Students

A message from acting dean ryan mcclelland.

Extension of Professor Ryan McClelland as Acting Dean, Faculty of Music

Announcing the 2023-2024 Season of Events

Join us for an extraordinary season of concerts, visiting artists, master classes, lectures and special events.

The University of Toronto is a world-renowned university in a celebrated city where knowledge meets achievement, history meets future and ambitions meets inspiration. Leading academics and employers from around the world have rated the University of Toronto as #1 in Canada and among the best in the world. Our undergraduate students have an exceptional range, choice and depth of study; they can choose from 700 academic programs, learn from the best minds, get involved with research, and take advantage of smaller learning communities across our three campuses, which span the Greater Toronto Area. Each campus offers a wealth of opportunities across multiple disciplines. To the west, the University of Toronto Mississauga combines advanced research with an intimate academic experience. The University of Toronto’s St. George campus features diverse college communities within Toronto’s vibrant downtown core. And to the east, the University of Toronto Scarborough leads community-engaged research, hands-on learning and co-op programs both locally and internationally. Working with faculty and other students in close-knit communities, our students tailor their experiences to their interests and develop passions that help them make their mark on the world.

TORONTO MUSIC

Home to Canada's largest number of musicians and venues, Toronto is a creative and business hub for music in Canada.

While in Toronto, plan on attending a performance of the Canadian Opera Company or the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Check out Toronto Life and Toronto (the official website of Tourism Toronto) for current shows, concerts and events.

  There's music around every corner.

We are very proud to be part of U of T —a vibrant university community located in an amazing city with global reach.

U of T is a leader in research and teaching, an intellectual environment unmatched in depth and breadth.

We live here.

U of t music.

The Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto brings together creative and motivated students with outstanding educators. With extensive curricula in fields such as classical and jazz performance, music education, composition, music history, music theory, and ethnomusicology, the Faculty of Music also offers courses that explore music’s intersections with health sciences, technology, and humanities.

Our commitment to artistic and academic achievement, the vast possibilities of the University of Toronto campus, and the vibrant and diverse cultural life of Toronto provide an exciting and inspiring learning environment. 

Meet Our People

Come & Visit

Enjoy an Event

Other Instruments

When setting your preferences, you disabled the cookies allowing the chat bubble. If you wish to view it, enable the functionality cookies.

You can also find the answers you’re looking for by contacting us .

• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Understanding the types of programs
• Programs offered next semester
• Programs open to English-speaking students
• Administration and Management Sciences
• Arts and Music
• Communication
• Economics and Politics
• Environment and Sustainable Development
• Environmental Planning and Design
• Fundamental and Applied Sciences
• Health Sciences
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Individualized programs
• Life Sciences
• Literature and Languages
• Social Sciences
• Social Sciences and Social Action
• Teaching and Education Sciences
• Theology and Religious Sciences

Find your path

Discover programs based on your areas of interest

Test your compatibility with our study programs

• Make an informed choice
• Verify eligibility conditions
• Respect official deadlines
• Obtain recognition of prior learning
• Submit an application
• Change program
• Pay the application fees
• Submit supporting documents
• Access the Centre étudiant
• Track your application in the Centre étudiant
• Modify the application
• Receive a response
• Request admission reconsideration
• Plan your next steps
• Quebec student
• Canadian student (outside of Quebec)
• International student

Can't find what you're looking for?

• Live campus life
• Explore student services
• Join our team of ambassadors
• Innovate through research

Hints, tips and advice to keep you on track

• Download our admission brochure
• Financing your studies at UdeM
• Find your research supervisor
• Find your ideal program with Affiniti
• Find your path with Career Quiz
• Get help with French
• Upcoming events
• Summer Immersion Program
• You don't have an account?
• Create your account

Langue/language

Graduate programs in arts and music.

Inspired by the interdisciplinary exploration taking place in the contemporary art world, these programs take a unique approach focusing on theory, history and research-creation, while remaining open to multiple forms of artistic expression.

Advanced options

A Gen Xer who got $250,000 in student loans forgiven said he can now finally start saving for retirement — and consider his dream of studying in India

• Joel Lambdin, 49, received $250,000 in student-loan forgiveness in January.
• It's a result of the Education Department's one-time account adjustments.
• Lambdin said the relief would allow him to save for retirement and consider long-term dreams.

Joel Lambdin finished graduate school in 1998 — but as a professional musician, he was hardly making enough money to pay off his student loans and other bills.

So Lambdin, now 49, said his only option to make ends meet was to put his student loans in forbearance — in which he was not making payments but interest was still accumulating .

"It was just so that I could subsist, so that I could survive," Lambdin told Business Insider. "With the hope that at some point, I would be making enough money that I would be able to take them out of forbearance and start paying them down."

But he grew to realize that the only way he could make a significant dent in his student loans was by switching careers. He didn't want to do that because he loved working in music, so he decided to keep his larger student loan in forbearance and begin paying off his smaller loan with a lower monthly payment.

He continued making those payments until the pandemic pause on student-loan payments , at which point he and his wife started making a plan of action to tackle the larger debt once the pause ended. That led them to discover the Education Department's initiative allowing some borrowers a one-time account adjustment . It lets the department evaluate borrowers' accounts and update payment progress toward forgiveness on income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, including any payments made during a forbearance period.

That account adjustment led to a letter Lambdin received on January 31, reviewed by BI, from his student-loan servicer Aidvantage. It said: "Congratulations! The Biden-Harris Administration has forgiven your federal student loan(s) listed below with Aidvantage in full."

For Lambdin, that letter meant his $249,255 outstanding student-loan balance was effectively wiped out.

"It had started to feel like my fate was being decided for me by the cold hand of finance," Lambdin said, "and that was a weight that I didn't realize was there until it wasn't there."

He added: "The feeling was much more like putting down a backpack that was really full of books that you got used to. And then you put it down, and you're like, 'Oh, man, that feels so much better.' It's more like that, rather than sort of a jump-for-joy kind of situation."

While Lambdin is still working to determine what exactly the relief will mean for him and his wife, he said, discussing retirement is "a much more present conversation now" because contributing to savings is viable after the relief. He can also begin to look into buying a home.

Related stories

The Education Department continues to cancel student debt through its one-time account adjustments, a process it plans to complete this summer. Most recently, the department wiped out $7.4 billion in student debt for 277,000 borrowers , some of whom benefited from the adjustments.

Beyond financial goals, Lambdin said the relief was also allowing him the freedom to pursue some of his long-term dreams, including taking a sabbatical to study with his meditation teacher in India.

"It's something that I wouldn't have been able to even consider doing if we had to pay off student loans, but without them, it's something that I can really seriously consider doing," he said. "And so those are the kinds of things that I think get really lost in the monetary side of the conversation about debt relief."

'I've been really lucky'

While Lambdin said he felt as though he earned the relief given his decades of payments, he recognized that it's not that easy for many other borrowers.

For example, as BI has previously reported , some borrowers who might qualify for relief through different repayment programs may not have gotten it yet because of paperwork backlogs and administrative errors. On top of that, funding for federal student-loan servicers is strained — meaning many borrowers face hourslong hold times and cannot get clear answers from customer service regarding their payment progress.

"There are some real horror stories out there, and I've been really lucky in that I haven't experienced the kinds of shenanigans that other people have experienced," Lambdin said. "So I actually feel very lucky that things have transpired the way they have."

Some of those horror stories include inaccurate payment projections and delayed billing statements . When it comes to student-loan forgiveness, some borrowers told BI that their servicer made a mistake with the forgiveness , reinstating their payments months later.

The Education Department has said it's aware of the challenges borrowers face and has established an accountability framework to punish servicers when they fail to fulfill their contractual obligations.

The department is also in the process of crafting its new plan for student-loan forgiveness — it recently released the draft text of the rules , which included relief for borrowers with unpaid interest and those who have been in repayment for at least 20 years.

As for Lambdin, he's still figuring out how to approach life without student debt hanging over his head. But now he can consider various options, and he can thank the loan forgiveness for that freedom.

"There's a certain amount of waiting for the other shoe to drop because it's not that I don't trust that it's happening but just that the debt has been with me for so long, and then it's not there," Lambdin said. "And it's something that I think really takes some getting used to."

Watch: Biden announces who can have $10,000 erased in student loans

• Main content

• Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition (DMA)
• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

The D.M.A. program is designed for composers who have already reached a high level of proficiency and artistry in their fields and who may wish to teach at the university level. This program offers an opportunity to bring creative and performance achievement to a high level while enriching individual backgrounds with academic studies, including specialized training in music history and theory, and other areas. Graduate student composers work closely with faculty in composition and music theory, and are expected to compose major works for public performance in addition to fulfilling course requirements.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

Considered one of the finest programs of its kind in Canada, the UBC Composition Division provides an array of opportunities for the creation, exploration and performance of contemporary music.In addition to a variety of course offerings, the division sponsors numerous composition events, including regularly scheduled Student Composer Concerts, seminars, workshops and collaborations with local professional ensembles, performances by the Contemporary Players ensemble, and annual readings sessions by the UBC Symphony Orchestra and the UBC Symphonic Wind Ensemble. The Composition Division also frequently hosts world-renowned guest composers and performing ensembles from across Canada and abroad. The School houses a state-of-the-art electronic music studio for students interested in creating works which involve sound synthesis, digital audio editing, or interactive computer music.

Graduate student composers have occasions to hear their works in regularly scheduled concerts as well as in their degree recitals. The UBC Symphony performs or reads students' orchestra pieces annually and the choirs are all active in presenting student works. The computer music studio is of considerable scope and is open to students on a 24-hour basis. Visit the compositions division page for more information about the program. https://music.ubc.ca/composition

I knew I wanted to pursue graduate studies at a university with a strong choral program, and where I could study with a composition teacher who specializes in choral music. Since choral composition is a relatively small sub-field within composition, there were only a handful of universities that offered what I was looking for, and UBC ended up being the best fit for me.

Walker Williams

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, program instructions.

Supply a brief statement of intent that outlines your professional goals as a composer and your reasons for applying to this program at UBC. Submit a term paper (not less than ten pages in length). Submit hard-copy scores of at least five (5) works for varied media. Submit corresponding audio/video of these works.

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior degree requirements.

M.Mus degree in composition, or acceptable equivalent

Course Requirements

i. Outstanding ability in composition ii. M.Mus. degree in composition, or acceptable equivalent

Document Requirements

A portfolio of PDF scores and corresponding audio/video of least five (5) works for varied media. Submission instructions will be emailed to applicants after the application deadline. Upload deadline is January 3. 

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition (DMA)

Applicants may contact the division chair, Dr. Keith Hamel ( [email protected] ) or the composition professor of your choice with questions about the program.

Citizenship Verification

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Research Information

Research facilities.

The 1200-seat, world-class Chan Centre for Performing Arts, one of North America's premier musical venues, the historic Old Auditorium and the intimate Roy Barnett Recital Hall form the core of UBC Music’s performing venues. The UBC Computer Music Studio is a teaching studio for the use of students in the electroacoustic music, computer music, and film scoring courses. The ICICS Computer Music Studio is available for students interested in pursuing research in Digital Audio or Interactive Computer Music.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

Students admitted to the School of Music’s graduate programs are automatically considered for scholarships under the GSI (Graduate Support Initiative) program. These competitive awards typically range from $1,000 to 12,000 and are guaranteed for two to four years.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

9 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 1 is in a non-salaried situation; for 0 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 8 graduates:

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.

Many of our graduates hold prestigious appointments at universities, colleges, and public schools. Graduates also work in residence with major symphony orchestras and professional chamber ensembles, and contribute to commercial music internationally. For alumni stories, please explore  https://music.ubc.ca/blog/

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition (DMA). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion rates & times, upcoming doctoral exams, monday, 29 april 2024 - 12:30pm.

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

Doctoral Citations

Sample thesis submissions.

• Sprinkle coal dust on my grave
• Symphonies of Mother and Child
• 차가운 (Chagaun)-The book of ice : for flute solo and chamber orchestra
• CMB (Cosmic Microwave Background)

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Music in Composition (MMUS)

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Instrument (DMA)
• Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano (DMA)
• Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice (DMA)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Music, Emphasis Ethnomusicology (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Music, Emphasis Musicology (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Music, Emphasis Theory (PhD)
• Master of Arts in Music, Emphasis Ethnomusicology (MA)
• Master of Arts in Music, Emphasis Musicology (MA)
• Master of Arts in Music, Emphasis Theory (MA)
• Master of Music in Conducting (Emphasis Choral Conducting) (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Conducting (Emphasis Orchestral Conducting) (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Conducting (Emphasis Wind Conducting) (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Guitar (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Harpsichord (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Opera (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Orchestral Instrument (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Organ (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Piano (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Voice (MMUS)

Further Information

Specialization.

In addition to a variety of course offerings, the division sponsors numerous composition events, including regularly scheduled Student Composer Concerts, seminars, workshops and collaborations with local professional ensembles, performances by the Contemporary Players ensemble, and annual readings sessions by the UBC Symphony Orchestra and the UBC Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Curious about life in Vancouver?

Find out how Vancouver enhances your graduate student experience—from the beautiful mountains and city landscapes, to the arts and culture scene, we have it all. Study-life balance at its best!

• Why Grad School at UBC?
• Application & Admission
• Info Sessions
• Research Projects
• Indigenous Students
• International Students
• Tuition, Fees & Cost of Living
• Newly Admitted
• Student Status & Classification
• Student Responsibilities
• Supervision & Advising
• Managing your Program
• Health, Wellbeing and Safety
• Professional Development
• Dissertation & Thesis Preparation
• Final Doctoral Exam
• Final Dissertation & Thesis Submission
• Life in Vancouver
• Vancouver Campus
• Graduate Student Spaces
• Graduate Life Centre
• Life as a Grad Student
• Graduate Student Ambassadors
• Meet our Students
• Award Opportunities
• Award Guidelines
• Minimum Funding Policy for PhD Students
• Killam Awards & Fellowships
• Policies & Procedures
• Information for Supervisors
• Dean's Message
• Leadership Team
• Strategic Plan & Priorities
• Vision & Mission
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Initiatives, Plans & Reports
• Graduate Education Analysis & Research
• Media Enquiries
• Newsletters
• Giving to Graduate Studies

Strategic Priorities

• Strategic Plan 2019-2024
• Improving Student Funding
• Promoting Excellence in Graduate Programs
• Enhancing Graduate Supervision
• Advancing Indigenous Inclusion
• Supporting Student Development and Success
• Reimagining Graduate Education
• Enriching the Student Experience

Initiatives

• Public Scholars Initiative
• 3 Minute Thesis (3MT)
• PhD Career Outcomes
• Great Supervisor Week

• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Arts in Music
• Opportunities
• Master of Arts
• Master of Music
• PhD in Music
• Doctor of Musical Arts
• Areas of Study & Research
• Publications
• Student Ensembles
• Music Library
• Job Opportunities

PhD Student, Sherryl Sewepagaham awarded 2024 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship

April 25, 2024

We are thrilled to share that UBC School of Music PhD student Sherryl Sewepagaham (Cree-Dene) has been awarded the 2024 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) through the social sciences and humanities grant (SSHRC). Sherryl began her PhD in the Ethnomusicology graduate program in September 2023.

Sherryl is Woodland Cree-Dene from the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta. She has demonstrated academic excellence primarily as a nationally recognized composer, with an emerging record as a publishing scholar. She has composed six works for choirs including her sixth and newest composition Nipîy (Water Song) , with lyrics in Cree, for the Canadian Chamber Choir. A recording of this work is forthcoming. Her 2014 debut solo album, Splashing the Water Loudly , received a 2015 Indigenous Music Award nomination and is featured in APTN’s  Chaos and Courage  series and  All Our Relations .

Sherryl co-founded the Indigenous women’s trio Asani , whose albums garnered multiple award nominations, including a 2006 Juno nomination for what was then called, “Aboriginal Recording of the Year.” She is also a co-investigator in the Indigenous-led project Ikaskîhtamâsot (Ways of Knowing), and a collaborator on another project, “Drumming in Indigenous Voices.” As a music therapist, she has served as advisor to the Music Therapy Association for Alberta.

Sherryl’s research is focused on revitalizing the Cree language through Indigenous songs and examining gender within Cree traditions. She is currently studying with Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology Dr. Dylan Robinson , xwélmexw (Stó:lō/Skwah). Dr. Robinson is an internationally recognized leader in critical Indigenous music studies.

About the scholarship

The Vanier CGS program is designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities (SSHRC), natural sciences and engineering (NSERC), and health-related fields (CIHR).

Recent News

Introducing new ubc strings faculty member, ryan davis.

Dylan Robinson and Sherryl Sewepagaham win Friends of Canadian Music Award

Dr. Hedy Law appointed as Acting Director, UBC School of Music

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts

Latest science news, discoveries and analysis

Bird flu in US cows: is the milk supply safe?

Future of Humanity Institute shuts: what's next for ‘deep future’ research?

Judge dismisses superconductivity physicist’s lawsuit against university

NIH pay raise for postdocs and PhD students could have US ripple effect

Hello puffins, goodbye belugas: changing arctic fjord hints at our climate future, china's moon atlas is the most detailed ever made, ‘shut up and calculate’: how einstein lost the battle to explain quantum reality, rat neurons repair mouse brains — and restore sense of smell, ecologists: don’t lose touch with the joy of fieldwork chris mantegna.

Should the Maldives be creating new land?

Lethal AI weapons are here: how can we control them?

Algorithm ranks peer reviewers by reputation — but critics warn of bias

How gliding marsupials got their ‘wings’

Audio long read: why loneliness is bad for your health, nato is boosting ai and climate research as scientific diplomacy remains on ice, plastic pollution: three numbers that support a crackdown, the maldives is racing to create new land. why are so many people concerned.

Retractions are part of science, but misconduct isn’t — lessons from a superconductivity lab

Any plan to make smoking obsolete is the right step

Citizenship privilege harms science

European ruling linking climate change to human rights could be a game changer — here’s how charlotte e. blattner, will ai accelerate or delay the race to net-zero emissions, current issue.

Surprise hybrid origins of a butterfly species

Stripped-envelope supernova light curves argue for central engine activity, optical clocks at sea, research analysis.

Ancient DNA traces family lines and political shifts in the Avar empire

A chemical method for selective labelling of the key amino acid tryptophan

Robust optical clocks promise stable timing in a portable package

Targeting RNA opens therapeutic avenues for Timothy syndrome

Bioengineered ‘mini-colons’ shed light on cancer progression, galaxy found napping in the primordial universe, tumours form without genetic mutations, marsupial genomes reveal how a skin membrane for gliding evolved.

Scientists urged to collect royalties from the ‘magic money tree’

Breaking ice, and helicopter drops: winning photos of working scientists

Shrouded in secrecy: how science is harmed by the bullying and harassment rumour mill

How ground glass might save crops from drought on a caribbean island, londoners see what a scientist looks like up close in 50 photographs, books & culture.

How volcanoes shaped our planet — and why we need to be ready for the next big eruption

Dogwhistles, drilling and the roots of Western civilization: Books in brief

Cosmic rentals

Las borinqueñas remembers the forgotten puerto rican women who tested the first pill, dad always mows on summer saturday mornings, nature podcast.

Latest videos

Nature briefing.

An essential round-up of science news, opinion and analysis, delivered to your inbox every weekday.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

Main navigation

• Schulich's Strategic Plan
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Faculty Advisory Board
• In the Community
• Areas of Study
• Early Music
• Sound Recording
• Music Composition
• Music Education
• Music History/ Musicology
• Music Technology
• Music Theory
• About Our Facilities
• Building Resources & Bookings
• Concert Halls
• Research Centres, Labs & Studios
• Classrooms & Practice Rooms
• Employment Opportunities
• Hire Student Musicians
• Bachelor of Music
• Minor Programs
• Bachelor of Arts in Music
• Licentiate in Music
• Double majors and Double Degrees
• Composition; M.Mus.
• Conducting; M.Mus.
• Early Music; M.Mus.
• Jazz Performance; M.Mus.
• Music Education; M.A.
• Music Technology; M.A.
• Music Theory; M.A.
• Musicology; M.A.
• Opera and Voice; M.Mus.
• Orchestral Instruments & Guitar; M.Mus.
• Organ; M.Mus.
• Piano - Collaborative; M.Mus.
• Piano; M.Mus.
• Sound Recording; M.Mus.
• Composition; Ph.D.
• Composition; D.Mus.
• Interdisciplinary Studies; Ph.D.(including Applied Performance Science)

Music Education; Ph.D.

• Musicology; Ph.D.
• Music Technology; Ph.D.
• Music Theory; Ph.D.
• Performance Studies; D.Mus.
• Sound Recording; Ph.D.
• (Cert.) Performance Choral Conducting
• McGill-UdeM Piano-Vocal Arts Residency
• Graduate Artist Diploma
• Graduate Diploma in Performance
• Post-Graduate Artist Diploma in Performance
• Graduate Studies in Music Seminars 2022-23
• Discover Schulich!
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Visiting or Non-Degree Student Admissions
• Postdoctoral and Visiting Researchers
• Contact Admissions
• Executive Committee Members
• Faculty Council
• Meet our Faculty
• Professional Honours
• Administration
• Music University Advancement
• Celebrating Student Awards
• Alumni Profiles
• Honorary Doctorates
• Services for Alumni
• Research Chairs
• Research Alive Series
• Funded Projects
• Research Support for Faculty
• Undergraduate
• Grads and Postdocs
• Music Library
• Competitions & Prizes
• Student Wellness
• Peer Mentorship
• Career Planning
• Graduation and Beyond
• Applied Performance Sciences Hub
• Other Ensembles
• Ensemble Auditions
• Upcoming events
• Accessibility in our halls and facilities
• In the News
• Program overview
• Program Milestones
• Requirements and Courses
• Comprehensive Exams
• Doctoral Colloquium

Apply now for Fall 2024

Program structure

Meet the faculty

Student resources

Department and university information, schulich school of music.

• Double majors and double degrees
• Minor programs
• Visits and Events
• Faculty and Students
• Visiting Scholars and Artists
• Competitions and Prizes
• Health and well-being
• Career Planning Services
• Graduation and beyond!
• Student Resources Contacts
• Composition
• Jazz Performance
• Opera and Voice
• Orchestral Instruments and Guitar
• Piano - Collaborative
• Performance Studies
• Artist Diploma
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Accessibility in Our Halls and Facilities
• Admissions Mailing List
• Events Newsletter
• Virtual Tour