Graduate 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 offer assistance 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 Statement of Purpose, résumé or CV, and a copy of your diploma.

  Music Production, Songwriting, Film Scoring, and Interdisciplinary Music Studies applicants also require a portfolio.

• 3

  Submit your completed application and the application fee.

Applicant Advisor Sue explains the Graduate 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. For all graduate-level programs, applicants are required to hold a bachelor's degree and are expected to have a high record of academic achievement.

The board of admissions takes all elements of your application into consideration, including your academic record, your past career, 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 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.

This is your opportunity to tell us about yourself and why you would be a great fit for our Online Degree Programs. It should include:

• An overview of your background, particularly experiences with music and/or the entertainment industry.
• Why you chose Berklee Online, and why our programs are the right fit for your goals.
• A description of the project you intend to pursue in the program and how it will foster your academic, musical, and professional growth.
• For the Master of Arts in Music Business and Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Music Studies: a brief analysis of the current state of the music and entertainment industry, identifying professional opportunities that interest you.

Please choose two recommenders who have 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. They can describe to us your work ethic, character, creative potential, collaborative ability, and why you would succeed with Berklee Online.

Applicants to the Graduate Degrees must have a Bachelor's degree.

Master of Music in Music Production: Bachelor's degree in music production, engineering, or technology, or bachelor's degree with significant work experience in music production, engineering, and/or technology.

Master of Arts in Music Business: Bachelor's degree, preferably with coursework in business, finance, and marketing.

Master of Music in Film Scoring: Bachelor's degree in composition with a focus on scoring to media, or bachelor's degree with a minimum of two years of professional work in film composition.

A scan or high-quality photo of your diploma is acceptable.

In addition to a copy of your Bachelor's degree diploma, Berklee Online requires official transcripts from all past or currently attending institutions of higher education. These transcripts are used both for admissions and transfer credit purposes.

A transcript is considered official if it is sent directly from your institution to Berklee Online, via mail, fax, or email. We can also accept transcripts electronically through services like Parchment and eScrip.

All documents must be in English. International applicants should review their specific transcript guidelines below.

Transcripts should be mailed to:
Berklee Online Admissions
855 Boylston St, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02116

Fax number for official transcripts:
(617) 747-2149 
(for use by official institutions only)

Official transcripts can be emailed to: 
materials@online.berklee.edu

Applicants to our Master of Music in Music Production degree are required to submit a portfolio. This should include at least three recorded examples of recent work, along with detailed explanations of your specific roles in the works (e.g., DAW used, plug-ins, microphone placements, etc.).

Applicants to our Master of Music in Film Scoring degree are required to submit a portfolio of two projects, demonstrating your compositional skills scored to picture. It should also include a detailed write-up of your work on the projects, including your concept for the scores and what technologies you used.

Applicants to our Master of Arts in Songwriting degree are required to submit a portfolio. This should include at least two recorded examples of recent work, along with detailed explanations of your specific roles in the works (e.g., co-writer, head writer, responsible for lyrics, verses, chorus, topline writing etc.).

Applicants to our Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Music Studies degree are required to submit a PDF portfolio of at least two recent projects that best showcase your experience and abilities, with a particular focus on the areas of music business, production and technology, and/or composition. The project should touch on your individual artistic practice, interdisciplinary creative vision, technical skills, and awareness of music’s relation to contemporary society.

For all graduate-level degree portfolios, please make sure to include a detailed write-up of the following:

• Your specific role in the project
• Your conceptual approach
• What technologies you used
• If relevant, you can include a paragraph on the collaborative aspects of the project and what challenges you encountered.

Students are encouraged to include links to a short video (an unlisted YouTube link or Vimeo link) and/or audio recordings (SoundCloud, Spotify, etc.) to demonstrate the projects discussed.

These links can be embedded into the PDF. Please double-check your links to make sure they are accurate and operational, and mark any YouTube videos as unlisted.

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 the Graduate International Student 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:

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.