Admissions

Most applicants are required to obtain a minimum of 70% in Grade 11 or Grade 12 English (or their equivalents). Check the admission requirements linked above for exact requirements for your province, country, or institution.

Applicants must obtain their required English score AND meet the English Language Competency.

Please have the following information ready:

• Your planned audition format (in person/video*)
• Audition instrument(s)/voice part
• Proposed audition repertoire (see audition details below)
• Major(s) for which you are applying

Three short-answer questions (250-400 words each):

1. What is your most significant musical experience?
2. What are your motivations and goals for pursuing a BMus degree?
3. Why are you interested in studying at UBC Music?

The application form requires a separate fee. Applicants may submit their supplemental fee via the Applicant Service Centre before the deadline.

Applicants must send the reference form link to two referees. UBC Music will not contact your referees on your behalf - referees must use the linked form to submit their letter of reference. Reference information is confidential, and the applicant cannot fill out the form. Institutional emails are required for references from secondary or post-secondary educators. Personal emails may be used for all other referees.

Typically, references are supplied by private studio teachers and ensemble directors. However, any referees who can speak to an applicant's musical abilities, work ethic, accomplishments, and aptitude are considered.

Late references are accepted but are not guaranteed to be considered.

Domestic applicants are expected to audition in-person for the BMus program. If distance, accessibility considerations, or extenuating circumstances impact your ability to attend an audition in-person at UBC, please complete the relevant questions on the supplemental application. 

Applicants located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia are expected to audition in-person. Applicants from Vancouver Island may request audition times that accommodate their ferry schedule. If you are an applicant from outside the Lower Mainland (E.g. Vancouver Island, Canada, United States) and you plan to audition in-person, please complete the relevant questions on the supplemental application.

Composition portfolio deadline: TBD, early January 2027

For both performance and general studies majors:

Bass trombone

Print out the trombone audition pieces which must be performed for your bass trombone audition along with a piece of your choice.

• For second-year transfer applicants, your piece of choice must be one work of a substantial nature.
• For third-year transfer applicants, your piece(s) of choice must be two contrasting works or movements.

Euphonium

Print out the trombone audition pieces (below) which must be performed for your euphonium audition along with a euphonium piece of your choice.

• For second-year transfer applicants, your piece of choice must be one work of a substantial nature.
• For third-year transfer applicants, your piece(s) of choice must be two contrasting works or movements.

Trombone

Print out the trombone audition pieces which must be performed for your Trombone audition along with a piece of your choice.

• For second-year transfer applicants, your piece of choice must be one work of a substantial nature.
• For third-year transfer applicants, your piece(s) of choice must be two contrasting works or movements.

Trombone audition pieces

Trumpet

Print out and perform the trumpet audition pieces for both performance and general studies majors.

Tuba

Print out the tuba audition pieces which must be performed for your tuba audition along with a piece of your choice.

• For second-year transfer applicants, your piece of choice must be one work of a substantial nature.
• For third-year transfer applicants, your piece(s) of choice must be two contrasting works or movements.

For both performance and general studies majors:

• All applicants will be expected to play mallets, timpani, and snare drum for this audition.
• Any applicants having advanced playing skills in world percussion instruments or drums set are encouraged to demonstrate these skills as an additional part of their audition. However, any applicant choosing to do so must inform the School of Music so that we may adjust your audition time to accommodate the extra material being presented.

First-year

• Print out the first-year audition pieces which you must perform for your percussion audition.
• You need only play up to letter B for the Bach, but you are welcome to play the entire movement if you choose.
• In addition, one work of a substantial nature of the player’s choice may be added if desired.
• Please bring one copy of your added piece(s) for the committee. You can play these works with or without accompaniment.
• The audition will include sight-reading and testing basic techniques such as rolls, rudiments, scales, etc.

Second-year

• Print out the second-year audition pieces which you must perform for your percussion audition.
• In addition, applicants should prepare one or two other works to represent their current level of performance.
• Please bring one copy of your added piece(s) for the committee. You can play these works with or without accompaniment.
• The audition will include sight-reading and testing basic techniques such as rolls, rudiments, scales, etc.
• Note: you must contact Vern Griffiths, percussion instructor, at vern.griffiths@ubc.ca to discuss and receive approval of appropriate audition material.

Third-year

• Print out the third-year audition pieces which you must perform for your percussion audition.
• In addition, applicants should prepare two other works to represent their current level of performance.
• Please bring one copy of your added piece(s) for the committee. You can play these works with or without accompaniment.
• The audition will include sight-reading and testing basic techniques such as rolls, rudiments, scales, etc.
• Note: you must contact Vern Griffiths, percussion instructor, at vern.griffiths@ubc.ca to discuss and receive approval of appropriate audition material.

The UBC piano programs consist of two areas of study: Piano Performance, and General Studies (including Elementary and Secondary Education).

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the audition requirements for each stream and connect with keyboard faculty with any questions about choosing a program.

Program Requirements

The UBC Voice and Opera programs consist of three distinct streams of study: Opera, Voice, and General Studies (including Elementary and Secondary Education). Students have great flexibility in choosing which of the streams they wish to study and can take electives in other streams.

Students may also transfer between the different streams at the end of their first and second year or beginning of their third year (auditions are required for some courses). All Voice, Opera, and General Studies students, including both education streams, (voice concentration) are eligible to pursue dual degree programs.

Program Requirements

Program Comparison

General Studies (Voice Concentration), General Studies, Secondary Education (Voice Concentration), General Studies, Elementary Education (Voice Concentration)

• Students typically participate in Choral Union or University Singers from Year 1 – 4
• General studies (voice) students may audition for any large ensembles, including Opera Workshop
• Students fill degree requirements by choosing from a variety of courses in music and those offered in the Faculty of Arts

Voice

• Students may take opera courses as electives for stage and acting experience
• Studies in song repertoire, vocal techniques, and small ensembles are mandatory
• Voice Performance students perform two recitals at the end of their third and fourth years
• Students must take choir for four years
• Solo opportunities for Voice Performance students are available for the choral and orchestral concerts

Opera

• Opera students take choir in their first and second years and opera workshop in their third and fourth years
• Opera workshop involves performing in the chorus and possible assignment of small, medium, and leading roles
• Third- and fourth-year courses include opera repertoire, opera history, theatre techniques, and opera workshop
• Opera students may take courses in art song, early music, and contemporary music
• Performance opportunities include three fully-staged productions per year (with full orchestra), Opera Tea concerts, and excerpt concerts
• Tours to Europe and Asia are frequently arranged in the spring and summe

Audition Requirements

Voice

Applicants should prepare 5 pieces from the classical art song repertoire, oratorio, traditional folksong repertoire or Classical Music Theatre.

All repertoire must be memorized.

Opera

For both performance and general studies majors

First and Second Year Entry

There is no specific grade level required. Students should be prepared to sing five or six pieces from the standard concert repertoire and may include traditional folk songs if desired. 

An ability to perform in a language other than English is an advantage but not a requirement for 1st year. 

A pianist is provided for in-person auditions. A pianist is highly recommended for video auditions. If this presents a hardship, please get in touch with the Admissions Manager.

Third Year Entry

There is no specific grade level required. Students should be prepared to sing five or six pieces from the standard concert repertoire and may include traditional folk songs if desired.

Those students transferring from a college into 3rd year should display familiarity with languages and show some degree of technical proficiency as demonstrated by selecting appropriate repertoire.

A pianist is provided for in-person auditions. A pianist is highly recommended for video auditions. If this presents a hardship, please contact the Admissions Manager.

Performance major

First-year

• A 30-minute program including two studies of an RCM Grade 8-9 level is required.
• Knowledge of all major, harmonic and melodic minor scale patterns is expected.
• At the audition, your program is reviewed and select pieces are performed.

Second-year

• A 30-minute program including two studies of an RCM Grade 8-9 level is required.
• Knowledge of all major, harmonic and melodic minor scale patterns is expected.
• At the audition, your program is reviewed and select pieces are performed.

Third-year

• Performance majors should have the equivalent of a 2nd year UBC jury program (i.e. a 50-minute program with at least one major work and two advanced studies).
• At the audition, your program is reviewed and select pieces are performed.

General studies major

First-year

• Applicants for the concentration in general studies (including the Education streams) should prepare two pieces and two studies of a Grade 6 RCM level.

Second-year

• Applicants for the concentration in general studies (including the Education streams) should prepare two pieces and two studies of a Grade 6 RCM level.

Third-year

General studies students should prepare a 30-minute program including two studies of a Grade 7-9 RCM level. At the audition, your program is reviewed and select pieces are performed.

To enroll in any honours, major or minor in Music, students must meet the academic admission requirements of the Faculty of Arts. Minors are declared at the end of the second year, although coursework usually commences in the first year.

BA honours, major/minor in Music Admissions

There are no audition requirements for entrance into the honours, major, or minor in music. Students may declare their specialization after they reach second year standing.

Students who are not in the BMus who are registering for music courses must join the waitlist to be contacted about registration.

1. Apply to UBC

Prospective dual degree students applying to year 1 must select the B.Sc. - Bachelor of Science as their first choice and the B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music as their second choice. 

2. Supplemental Applications

Complete any supplemental applications or submit any supporting documents for the B.Sc. - Bachelor of Science application. Please reach out to Undergraduate Programs and Admissions for Bachelor of Science application/admissions inquiries. 

Prospective dual degree students must also complete the BMus Supplemental Application, submit two letters of reference, pay the BMus Supplemental Fee, audition, and submit all required documentation. Applicants must complete the supplemental application by the deadline to schedule their audition/receive video audition instructions. 

Complete the relevant questions on the BMUS Supplemental Application to indicate your interest in the dual degree.  

3. Reviewing your Offer

If you are accepted to both the B.Sc. - Bachelor of Science and the B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music and you intend to apply to the dual degree, accept your B.Sc. - Bachelor of Science offer in the Applicant Service Centre. Email music.admissions@ubc.ca and notify them that you have been admitted to both programs and you’ve accepted your B.Sc. - Bachelor of Science offer.  

Note: at this stage, students have been successfully admitted to the B.Sc. - Bachelor of Science and the B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music. The remaining steps are for admission to the dual degree. Successful applications to both the B.Sc. - Bachelor of Science and the B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music does not guarantee admission to the dual degree.

4. Applying for the Dual Degree

Following the recommendation of the School of Music, dual degree prospective students must apply for the dual degree program via the Science Information & Advising Centre in the summer following their first year (see the Bachelor of Science Dual Degree page below). 

In addition to applying for the dual degree following the website linked above, students should also complete the Application to Change Degree Program. This facilitates the process of adding the B.Mus. degree to students’ record if they are admitted to the dual degree. 

Why do I need to apply to be a dual degree student at the end of my first year? 

The B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music and B.Sc. - Bachelor of Science programs consider first-year studies and second year specialization for acceptance to the dual degree. Students may also need to complete pre-requisites or improve their academic performance prior to beginning the dual degree program.

Current UBC Bachelor of Science students may audition for the B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music and be considered for the dual degree after they have completed a minimum of one years of study in their science program.

1. Identify yourself to Music Admissions
BSc students interested in the dual degree must email music.admissions@ubc.ca to identify themselves before the end of the calendar year prior to the January application deadline.

2. Audition & Application
Complete the supplemental application, letters of reference, and pay the supplemental fee by mid-January. You will be invited to audition with the cohort in late January/early February.

3. Reviewing your offer
If you have successfully auditioned, you may be registered for music courses in September.

4. Applying for the Dual Degree
Following the recommendation of the School of Music, dual degree prospective students must apply for the dual degree program via the Science Information & Advising Centre in the summer following their first year (see the Bachelor of Science Dual Degree page below). If you successfully audition in February/March of 2027, you will apply for the Dual Degree in the summer of 2028.

I have received my offer from the B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music program but not the B.Sc. – Bachelor of Science program and my deadline to respond to the B.Mus. is approaching. What should I do?  

Contact music.admissions@ubc.ca with your name and student number to request a deadline extension on your B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music offer response deadline. 

I was accepted to the B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music but not the B.Sc. – Bachelor of Science. Can I still apply for the dual degree?  

If you choose to start your B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music and you wish to re-apply for the B.Sc. – Bachelor of Science:  

1. Connect with Science advising for admission requirements. Note that you must apply within the admission cycle (October – January) 
2. If you are admitted to Science, request a program change to the B.Sc - Bachelor of Science. After completing one year in the B.Sc - Bachelor of Science program, you may apply for the dual degree

I was accepted to the B.Sc. – Bachelor of Science but not the B.Mus. – Bachelor of Music. Can I still apply for the dual degree? 

If you do not successfully audition for the B.Mus. – Bachelor of Music, you may re-audition in the upcoming admission cycle. See = “Current Bachelor of Science Students”. 

Do prospective Dual Degree students take both music and science courses in their first year? 

Yes – typically, students take science courses, large ensembles, and lessons in their first year. Note that this only applies to prospective dual degree students who are admitted to both programs in the regular admission cycle.

Prospective Dual Degree Students may note the following:

• Admission to specializations within science and music may be competitive, and admission to the dual degree program does not imply future admission to particular specializations.
• Admission at any time is conditional; maintenance of good academic standing and in each term are required throughout the program. Students must satisfy all of the degree and program requirements for both the major in the Bachelor of Music and the major in the Bachelor of Science.
• Individual courses may be considered to satisfy requirements for both degrees; MUSC courses may satisfy the Arts and Breadth requirements for the BSc major program and Science courses may satisfy the non-music elective requirements for the BMUS.
• Dual degree students should aim to register courses under the most appropriate degree, and if courses are found to be under the incorrect degree, they’ll be moved to the other degree.
  MUSC courses numbered below 300 may not count toward the upper-level credit requirement for the BSc program. Students should endeavor to satisfy lower-level course prerequisites for both programs in their first two years.
• Students must communicate with both an advisor in the School of Music in the Science advising office prior to enrolling in their first year of courses and at least annually thereafter.

Note that students cannot be admitted to the dual degree at the time of application to UBC.  

Applicants who are auditioning to enter years 1 or 2 should indicate your intention to pursue the dual degree by answering the relevant questions on the BMUS Supplemental Application and contacting music.advisor@ubc.ca.

Consult with the Academic Advisor and degree-planning resources prior to course registration to plan your pre-requisites and requirements for entry to the dual degree in year 2 or 3. You may also consult the application form typically completed in your second or third year for course recommendations:  

Applicants entering year 3 are encouraged to consider completing the Bachelor of Music and pursuing the 11-month post degree Bachelor of Education.

Post-secondary applicants are evaluated on a combination of factors, including overall academic history. 

Applicants interested in transferring to UBC Music must be eligible based on the criteria set by Undergraduate Programs and Admissions.

To self-assess your transfer credits, review the program requirements for the major you intend to transfer into. Use the course numbers to compare with your current institution via the BC Transfer Guide:

Program Requirements

*program requirements for all instrument and voice concentrations in the General Studies stream

Audition requirements for applicants applying to enter year 2 and year 3 are available on this page. Transfer applicants are encouraged to connect with the faculty they intend to study with prior to application.

The School of Music does not accept document submissions. Refer to this page for detailed instructions:

International applicants are encouraged to contact International Student Advising to assist with documentation and entry requirements.

International Student Advising: 1-604-822-5021

Can I rent an instrument while I'm on exchange?
Rental options are limited. Contact music.office@ubc.ca for details.

Can I play in an ensemble without taking the course for credit?
You may ask the Ensemble Director if you can audition for the ensemble without taking the course. Refer to the audition requirements for instructions to contact the Ensemble Director.

Who should I contact with questions about course selection?
go.global@ubc.ca

Where can I find a list of music courses?

What additional documents are required?

Refer to the, "Additional documents required by faculties or departments at UBC" section.

Contact non.degree@ubc.ca for more details.

To register in music courses, contact Amy Farahbakhsh (music.advisor@ubc.ca) with your name, student number, and course requests. Note that registration in courses is not guaranteed, and may be subject to review by the instructor.

Some courses require an audition.

Private lessons are not available to Non-Degree students.