*We are pausing our PhD program intake for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. Please note that applications will be closed during this time.*
About the PhD Program
The Graduate Program in Music offers MA and PhD degrees. The program’s faculty members include ethnomusicologists, music historians, music theorists, performers and composers, all of whom teach in their specialized areas of research and share a concern for the critical study of methodologies and procedures in music scholarship and composition.
The program offers courses and research opportunities in ethnomusicology, musicology and composition, giving particular but not exclusive emphasis to North American music, including jazz and urban popular music, religious music, concert and folk music in rural and urban localities. Recognition is given to the multiple cultures that coexist in twentieth ant twenty-first century society, and to the many contexts and issues which shape musical expression. Members of the program are concerned with the scholarly study of composition and improvisation, with aural cognition, mediation and reception as well as with cultural studies and criticism.
- PhD fields of study: ethnomusicology, jazz, musicology and popular music
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission should hold a master’s degree in music or a relevant discipline from a recognized university with a minimum B+ average.
Strength in musicianship should be minimally equivalent to that of an undergraduate major in music. Applicants with culture-specific expertise but without the expected academic qualifications may be given special consideration and/or may be asked to make up deficiencies.
All applicants should submit:
- a statement of intent (no less than 500 words)
- an updated résumé (curriculum vitae)
- three recommendation letters (preferably from faculty members who knew the applicant in an academic capacity)
- two samples of scholarly writing (can be any written material by the applicant used for academic purpose-i.e, assignments/articles/journals/essays)
- official sealed transcript from each post-secondary institution attended
In addition to the above documents, applicants are encouraged to submit a portfolio of their work in the form of audio/visuals (av). Applicants can provide us with link(s) to the av files on their statement of intent.
We also advise that applicants identify a potential supervisor in the Program who shares their research interests. Applicants are requested to take the time to ensure that the Graduate Program in Music has a person they would like to work with and that the sentiment is mutual. Applicants can directly reach out to the faculty members by email and express their interest in working with them.
The program accepts only those qualified applicants who are able to benefit from the faculty and facilities available.
Important: Please be advised that our international student acceptance rate is extremely low and we may not accept international Ph.D. applications every academic year.
