Application Process

1. Read through the Admissions Information page.
2. The application deadline for Fall 2026 admissions for the MA or PhD in Music (Critical  Music Studies) is December 15, 2025.
3. Complete the application  found here:https://graduateadmissions.stonybrook.edu/apply/ 
4. Please note that the Critical Music Studies program may email you to request an interview (to be held on Zoom in mid-January), in order to learn more about your interests and potential in the program. 

REQUIRED MATERIALS FOR APPLICATION

• M.A. in Music (Critical Music Studies)

  1)    Application – submitted through the Graduate School application system (Slate) (link on this page, above).

  2)    Application Fee – paid via the application.

  3)    Statement of Purpose - uploaded to the application.  Please indicate what you hope to accomplish from your graduate studies in Stony Brook's Music Department, what your career goals are, and what music or musicians have influenced your path as a musician. Please note: All written work submitted to support your application must be your own. In particular, the use of generative AI to generate entire sentences and paragraphs is not permitted and may be disqualifying.

  4)    Resume/CV - suploaded to the application.

  5)    Three (3) Letters of Recommendation – recommenders submit through the application system.

  6)    Transcripts – official transcripts from institutions where a degree was received. For coursework relevant to the proposed course of study taken outside of a degree, unofficial transcripts will suffice.  Details on the submission process can be found here (see Transcripts: Requirements and Submission).

  7)    2-3 Academic Papers –  uploaded to the application.  These should be original papers in music research, analysis or criticism in the range of 2500-5000 words.  In addition to these, you may send papers on other subjects if you think that they support some aspect of your application for admission.  Please limit your papers to those that exemplify your best work.  Please note: All written work submitted to support your application must be your own. In particular, the use of generative AI to generate entire sentences and paragraphs is not permitted and may be disqualifying.

  8)    GRE Scores - GRE scores are NOT required.

  9)    TOEFL/IELTS Scores (if applicable):

  Applicants whose native language is not English who have received/will receive a degree from an English-speaking institution will not have to supply a TOEFL iBT score (or approved equivalent) for the purposes of admission. 

  Applicants who only have received/will receive an Artist’s Diploma or Advanced Graduate Certificate in an English-speaking institution will be required to  provide a TOEFL iBT score (or approved equivalent) for the purposes of admission.

  Applicants whose native language is not English and have not received/will not have received a degree from an English-speaking institution will be required to provide a passing TOEFL iBT (or approved equivalent- see below for acceptable tests) score in order to be admitted.  For any test, the most recent scores are counted, and the test must not be more than two years old at the time of application (this means that tests taken prior to September 2024 cannot be considered for Fall 2026 admissions).

  Tests Accepted: Stony Brook University accepts either TOEFL iBT or IELTS scores.  For Fall 2022, Stony Brook University is also accepting TOEFL IBT Special Home Edition and IELTS Indicator.  Currently, Stony Brook University does NOT accept Duolingo, TOEFL My Best Score, or TOEFL ITP scores. 

  Reporting of Scores:

  • For TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition, have ETS send scores to Stony Brook University using code 2548.  Only electronic transmission of scores from ETS to Stony Brook University is considered official for TOEFL scores – copies of your results are not acceptable.
  • For IELTS, have the organization mail an official score report to the Music department. 
  • For IELTS Indicator, email the score results you receive to the Graduate School at gradadmissions@stonybrook.edu.

  Minimum Scores

  Minimum score requirements are as follows:

  • TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition: 80 for MA applicants
  • IELTS or IELTS Indicator: An overall score of 6.5 with no subsection below 6

  Spoken English

  All students with a TA/GA stipend whose native language is not English and who have not received/will not have received a degree from an English-speaking institution must demonstrate a sufficient level of English-speaking proficiency and may be required to take English courses based on these measures. Proficiency is determined by the speak subsection score. For TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and IELTS/IELTS Indicator speak subsection scores, please see the chart below:

  TOEFL iBT Speak	IELTS Speak	Course Requirement	Result
  25-30	7 or higher	none	Eligible to TA
  22-24	6.5	OAE 594	Eligible to TA
  19-21	6	OAE 592	Eligible to run recitation and lab sessions and/or grade
  15-18	5-5.5	OAE 590	Not eligible to TA

  More information

  Please see the Graduate Bulletin for further information:

  https://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/graduatebulletin/current/admissions/requirements/english.php

• Ph.D. in Music (Critical Music Studies)

  1)    Application – submitted through the Graduate School application system (Slate) (links on this page, above).

  2)    Application Fee – paid via the application.

  3)    Statement of Purpose - uploaded to the application. Please indicate what you hope to accomplish from your graduate studies in Stony Brook's Music Department, what your career goals are, and what music or musicians have influenced your path as a musician. Please note: All written work submitted to support your application must be your own. In particular, the use of generative AI to generate entire sentences and paragraphs is not permitted and may be disqualifying.

  4)    Resume/CV - uploaded to the application.

  5)    Three (3) Letters of Recommendation – recommenders submit through the application system.

  6)    Transcripts – official transcripts from institutions where a degree was received. For coursework relevant to the proposed course of study taken outside of a degree, unofficial transcripts will suffice.  Details on the submission process can be found here (see Transcripts: Requirements and Submission).

  7)    2-3 Academic Papers – uploaded to the application.  These should be original papers in music research, analysis or criticism in the range of 2500-5000 words.  In addition to these, you may send papers on other subjects if you think that they support some aspect of your application for admission.  Please limit your papers to those that exemplify your best work.  Please note: All written work submitted to support your application must be your own. In particular, the use of generative AI to generate entire sentences and paragraphs is not permitted and may be disqualifying.

  8)    GRE Scores - GRE scores are NOT required.

  9)    TOEFL Scores (if applicable):

  Applicants whose native language is not English who have received/will receive a degree from an English-speaking institution will not have to supply a TOEFL iBT score (or approved equivalent) for the purposes of admission. 

  Applicants who only have received/will receive an Artist’s Diploma or Advanced Graduate Certificate in an English-speaking institution will be required to  provide a TOEFL iBT score (or approved equivalent) for the purposes of admission.

  Applicants whose native language is not English and have not received/will not have received a degree from an English-speaking institution will be required to provide a passing TOEFL iBT (or approved equivalent- see below for acceptable tests) score in order to be admitted.  For any test, the most recent scores are counted, and the test must not be more than two years old at the time of application (this means that tests taken prior to September 2024 cannot be considered for Fall 2026 admissions).

  Tests Accepted: Stony Brook University accepts either TOEFL iBT or IELTS scores.  Stony Brook University is also accepting TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and IELTS Indicator.  Currently, Stony Brook University does NOT accept Duolingo, TOEFL My Best Score, or TOEFL ITP scores.  

  Reporting of Scores:

  • For TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition, have ETS send scores to Stony Brook University using code 2548.  Only electronic transmission of scores from ETS to Stony Brook University is considered official for TOEFL scores – copies of your results are not acceptable.
  • For IELTS, have the organization mail an official score report to the Music department. 
  • For IELTS Indicator, email the score results you receive to the Graduate School at gradadmissions@stonybrook.edu.

  Minimum Scores

  Minimum score requirements are as follows:

  • TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition: 90 for PhD applicants
  • IELTS or IELTS Indicator: An overall score of 6.5 with no subsection below 6

  Spoken English

  All students with a TA/GA stipend whose native language is not English and who have not received/will not have received a degree from an English-speaking institution must demonstrate a sufficient level of English-speaking proficiency and may be required to take English courses based on these measures. Proficiency is determined by the speak subsection score. For TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and IELTS/IELTS Indicator speak subsection scores, please see the chart below:

  TOEFL iBT Speak	IELTS Speak	Course Requirement	Result
  25-30	7 or higher	none	Eligible to TA
  22-24	6.5	OAE 594	Eligible to TA
  19-21	6	OAE 592	Eligible to run recitation and lab sessions and/or grade
  15-18	5-5.5	OAE 590	Not eligible to TA

  More information

  Please see the Graduate Bulletin for further information:

  https://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/graduatebulletin/current/admissions/requirements/english.php