Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions
Doctoral Admissions - Music and Performing Arts

Welcome to Doctoral Admissions - Music and Performing Arts

All Applicants for the Doctoral Programs are required to audition in person or submit a videotape (VHS) or DVD (consisting of at least two contrasting styles) prior to acceptance to their degree program. Call the appropriate program director at 212 998 5424 for specific audition requirements and for in-person audition dates after you have applied. In person auditions are preferred and must be completed by January 15.

Admission to doctoral programs is based on:

  1. Audition (all programs) or Portfolio Review (composition) by January 15
  2. Performance on the GRE General Test which includes three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Applicants are responsible for making arrangements to take the GRE and to have results forwarded to New York University. Results must be reported to Graduate Admissions along with your application by December 1, the doctoral application deadline.
  3. Interview with Program Director.
  4. Evidence of Scholarly Writing. Applicants should submit at least three research papers that best represent their ability to research and write effectively about their area of specialization. Applicants may include published work as evidence.

How To Apply:

Office of Graduate Admissions
Tel: 212 998 5030
New York University
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
Pless Hall, 82 Washington Square East
New York, NY 10012

Send Audition Materials, Portfolios, and Evidence of Writing to:

Dr. Paul Horan
Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions
New York University
35 West Fourth Street, Suite 777
New York, N.Y. 10012

Application Deadline:

Doctoral: December 1 for Fall term only, All Doctoral Programs

Financial Aid

Steinhardt Fellows Program and Research Assistantships

The Steinhardt School offers all full-time Ph.D. students a complete funding and mentoring program. The Steinhardt Fellows program is designed to help Ph.D. students to undertake full-time study and research, to participate in superior academic and scholarly experiences, and to complete their studies in a timely manner. In addition, each of the School's academic departments has developed a set of benchmarks and milestones, such as conference presentations, exhibitions, authored manuscripts, grant submissions, and sample syllabi in order to prepare them academically and professionally for post-doctoral work.


Selected doctoral students may alternatively be appointed to a Research Assistantship. Research Assistants are funded by external grants and work with a principal investigator on a funded research project. Unlike Steinhardt Fellows, RAs agree to work 20 hours per week on an ongoing research project, typically with a team of faculty members and other students. Steinhardt Fellows may become Research Assistants when Steinhardt faculty members win funding for projects that require research assistance.

All admitted full-time Ph.D. students are awarded a full funding package and are assigned to a faculty mentor. There is no special application for this funding program.

For further information concerning financial aid, please visit the Financial Aid Office's website.

Notification of Admission:

Doctoral applicants should expect at least an 8-week turnaround for processing after application and all transcripts are received, and the audition has been evaluated. No consideration for admissions can take place until all supportive materials and GRE scores have been received.

Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions - 35 W. 4th Street, Suite 1077 - New York, NY 10012 - 212 998 5424