Undergraduate Degree Admissions Information

Admission Requirements

Steps to Apply

• 1

  Fill out the online application form (15 minutes).

  This will connect you to an advisor, who can guide you through the rest of the admissions process.

•   2  

  Request your transcripts and letters of recommendation from the appropriate parties.

  International Applicants require credential evaluation and an English language proficiency test score.

  
  

  Collect the rest of your application materials.

  This includes your Personal Statement, Demonstration of Musicianship, and supplemental material, as applicable.

•   3  

  Submit your completed application and the application fee.

Academic Advisor Kevin reviews the application process

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You're Done. What's Next?

• Transcripts and letters of recommendation will still be accepted after the application is submitted.

• After all required materials are received by Berklee Online, the admissions decision will be made within two weeks.

Required Application Materials

Berklee Online requires that you apply online. We operate on a rolling admission system; once your application is submitted and completed, you should receive a decision within two weeks. The non-refundable application fee of $75 is due at the time of application submission.

Applicants must have proficiency in the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking, and must have completed high school/secondary school by the time they enroll with Berklee Online’s undergraduate degree programs.

The board of admissions takes all elements of your application into consideration, including your academic record, personal and professional goals, as well as intention for music-related studies. Our comprehensive analysis of each applicant is designed to objectively assess your ability to succeed with Berklee Online.

Please see below for details on our required application materials.

The first step is to fill out out the online application form. Once you start your application, you will be connected with a dedicated Academic Advisor who will reach out and be available to you throughout the entire admissions process. Start your application now.

Academic Advisor Dylan explains the Personal Statement

This is your opportunity to tell us about yourself and why you would be a great fit for our Online Degree Programs. You can submit either a video presentation or a written essay. Both are weighed the same, and you can choose whichever format you are more comfortable with.

The written essay should be between 500-750 words and uploaded as a Microsoft Word file (.doc, .docx) or a PDF. Please include your name and your desired major in the header.

The video presentation should be a 3-5 minute video uploaded to YouTube as an unlisted video, with the link included on your application.

Topics for Personal Statement:

• Tell us about your background, particularly experiences with music and/or the entertainment industry.
• Tell us why you chose Berklee Online, and why our programs are the right fit for your goals.
• Discuss your career aspirations. What do you envision for your future in music? What do you want to achieve through our school and after you graduate?
• Demonstrate how a degree from Berklee Online will help you to achieve your personal, professional, and creative goals.

Academic Advisor Eric explains Letters of Recommendation

Please choose two recommenders: one professional/academic and one personal, who can describe to us your work ethic, character, creative potential, collaborative ability, and why you would succeed with Berklee Online.

• One Academic/Professional Letter written by someone who has observed your work in an educational, employment, or community service environment, and can attest to your academic and/or professional work, such as a current or former employer, military superior, teacher, or mentor.
• One Personal Letter written by someone outside of your immediate family who can attest to your personal character such as a friend, bandmate, colleague, coworker, religious leader, or counselor.

Academic Advisor Jeremy explains Official Transcripts

Berklee Online requires sufficient proof of secondary school (high school) completion and official academic records from all postsecondary (undergraduate) institutions attended or currently attending. You must have completed a credential comparable to a US High School diploma in order to be eligible for admission.

Academic Advisor Mark explains the Demonstration of Musicianship

Applicants to our Music Composition, Guitar, Piano, Voice, Songwriting and Producing Music, and Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games degrees are required to submit a Demonstration of Musicianship.

Guitar, Piano, and Voice Degree Audition Requirement:

A recorded video audition in which you perform a prepared piece (original or cover):
The performance must be in a single, unedited take, approximately 2-4 minutes in length, in any style, demonstrating your proficiency and overall musicianship. We are also looking for the foundations of musicianship: rhythm, technique, feel, intonation, in addition to your unique ability on the instrument. The video should be uploaded to a website like YouTube, with a link provided on your application's audition requirement field.

Music Composition, Songwriting and Producing Music, and Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games Requirement:

Please submit ONE of the following:

• A portfolio of at least two original compositions with notation.
  Please submit MP3s, or links to sound recordings of each composition posted to a website like YouTube or SoundCloud, in addition to musical notation for each composition as PDF files. It is acceptable to submit MIDI reproductions of your music. You will not be evaluated on the production quality of the recordings, rather on the compositional ideas expressed in the recordings.

OR:

• A recorded video audition of a performance of a prepared piece (original or cover) on your principal instrument.
  The performance should be an unedited take, approximately 2-4 minutes in length, in any style, which demonstrates your proficiency and overall musicianship on your principal instrument. The video should be uploaded to a website like YouTube, with a link provided on your application's audition requirement field.

Academic Advisor Lauren Stegner explains the International Application Process

Credential Evaluation Requirement

If you have studied outside of the US and/or Canada, you will need to get your academic records assessed in relation to US standards. You can do this either by submitting them to a NACES approved credential evaluation agency (such as ECE) OR by submitting them directly to Berklee Online.

For more information on credential evaluations, please visit our Undergraduate International Students information page.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Because our classes are taught and presented in English, applicants must have demonstrated proficiency in the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking, in order to be successful in our program. Applicants to the degree program whose first language is not English are required to submit a PTE Academic, TOEFL, IELTS, or a Duolingo score to complete their application for admission.

Recommended scores:

• TOEFL: iBT (Internet-based): 100; Computer-based: 250; Paper-based: 600
• PTE Academic: 68
• IELTS: 7.5 or higher
• Duolingo: 120 or higher

Documents can be sent to the following address:

Please feel free to upload any supplemental materials you might have. These can include awards, music, video, credentials, or anything else you feel demonstrates your ability to succeed as a Berklee Online degree student. Please note that while these materials will be weighed less than the primary application materials, we do encourage you to upload any materials you feel support your application.

If you have any questions please contact your advisor, or reach out to our admissions team at: advisors@online.berklee.edu, or by phone at (617) 747-2146 option 1.