Undergraduate Music Admissions
UNCSA offers Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degrees in the School of Music in several instruments of study. To apply, complete the online application and upload the required application documents and recordings. Admission is based on a combination of artistic and academic merits.
Application Deadline
| Application Dates and Deadlines | |
|---|---|
|
Early Application Date |
Monday, November 3, 2025 (11:59 p.m. EST) |
| Application Deadline | Thursday, January 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. EST) |
Dates and Deadlines
Early Application Date
Provides an opportunity for candidates to complete the application process early and receive a decision prior to the new year. Applicants must submit the following by November 3, 2025:
- UNCSA online application
- application fee
- required application documents
- recordings included in the program's audition requirements
- if an early decision is desired, audition no later than December 6, 2025
Select programs prescreen applicants to determine if a live audition or interview will be conducted. For these programs, faculty offers or declines interviews based on the submitted application and required pre-screen materials.
Qualifying applicants will be notified and invited to schedule an audition for faculty.
Application Deadline
Applicants must submit the following in order to meet the January 15, 2026 deadline:
- UNCSA online application
- application fee
- required application documents
- recordings included in the program's audition requirements
Select programs prescreen applicants to determine if a live audition or interview will be conducted. For these programs, faculty offers or declines interviews based on the submitted application and required pre-screen materials.
Qualifying applicants will be notified and invited to schedule an audition for faculty.
Auditions
Applicants who meet the deadline—and advance past prescreening, if required—will be contacted by Admissions with instructions for scheduling an audition. Audition scheduling begins November 4, 2025.
Auditions for the 2026-2027 academic year are held in person on the UNCSA campus. Because audition slots are limited, applicants are advised to keep multiple dates available until they receive their confirmed audition date. In person auditions are strongly encouraged, but applicants unable to travel to the UNCSA campus for an audition may reach out to their Admissions Counselor to request a live virtual audition.
At our auditions for the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute scheduled to take place in Chicago, there may be audition spots available for applicants to other UNCSA School of Music programs. Undergraduate (B.M.) applicants who audition at this site are recorded for later assessment by the appropriate faculty.
Instrumental
| Audition Dates | Location |
|
UNCSA 1533 South Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27127 |
Applicants who audition in Chicago are recorded for later assessment by the appropriate faculty. |
Location provided upon registration. |
Composition
| Audition Dates | Location |
|
UNCSA 1533 South Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27127 |
Voice
| Audition Dates | Location |
|
UNCSA 1533 South Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27127 |
Applicants who audition in Chicago are recorded for later assessment by the appropriate faculty. |
Location provided upon registration. |
Admissions Criteria
Academic Requirements
Applicants should have or be on track to receive a high school diploma or equivalent with the following academic subjects:
| Subject | Units | Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | Four units in English emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature |
| Social Studies | 2 | Includes a U.S. History credit |
| Mathematics | 3 | Includes Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry or a higher level course |
| Science | 3 | Three course units in science including a life or biological science course, a physical science course and at least one laboratory course |
| Additional Coursework | 2 | May be in Mathematics, English, World Languages, Social Studies, Science, and/or Computer Science |
|
Note: Early College High School Graduates This legislation only applies to seniors graduating from North Carolina Cooperative Innovative High Schools (Early Colleges) who will earn an Associate’s degree in addition to a high school diploma. All other Early College students will be evaluated using standard freshman criteria. Applicants from North Carolina Cooperative Innovative High Schools (CIHS) receive special consideration in the admission review for UNC system universities based on North Carolina law. According to House Bill 97 Section 11.16.(a) “any student who graduated from a cooperative innovative high school program with an associate degree and who applies for admission to the constituent institution has the option of being considered for admission as a freshman or as a transfer student.” To determine if your school is a CIHS school, visit the CIHS website: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/students-families/enhanced-opportunities/advanced-learning-and-gifted-education/cooperative-innovative-high-schools Being “considered” refers to the evaluation of your credentials and not your student type. Regardless of how you are evaluated, you are considered a new freshman upon enrollment. You will be a freshman with college credit. If you feel strongly that your standardized test scores or high school GPA will hinder you in the freshman review, please don’t hesitate to contact an admissions counselor to discuss the transfer review option. Admission to UNCSA is by audition and or interview and all applicants to the undergraduate program are considered first time freshmen. The School makes every effort to place the student at the arts level that best reflects his or her proficiency. |
||
GPA
Test Scores
ACT or SAT Scores
All applicants for first-time admission as freshmen with a weighted High School GPA
below 2.8 are required to submit either ACT or SAT test scores with the following
minimum score requirements:
- ACT: 17 (writing portion optional).
- SAT: 930 composite score in Critical Reading & Math
Submitting either ACT or SAT test scores with the minimum score requirements is optional for applicants for first-time admission as freshmen who have a weighted High School GPA above 2.8.
The average applicant's ACT score is 24 and the average SAT Critical Reading, Math & Writing score is 1200.
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on test availability, the UNC Board of Governors waived the standardized test requirement for first-year students applying for admission in Fall 2023.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement for their desired program may submit qualifying SAT or ACT scores in order to meet Admissions Criteria.
International Applicants
International applicants should submit official ACT, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo
scores. Minimum score requirements for international students are:
- TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 79
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- Duolingo English Test: 100
- ACT: English Language Arts (ELA) section: 21
- SAT: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (ERW) section: 540
Advanced Standing for Undergraduate Students through Placement Tests
UNCSA accepts Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International
Baccalaureate Diploma (IB), and Cambridge International Certificate college credits.
Our Division of Liberal Arts grants advanced standing credit. Learn more.
Completed Application, Fees & Required Documents
- Complete the online application.
- Pay your Application Fee: $95 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, $130 for
international applicants. Application fees are non-refundable.
Payment Options- Online: Follow payment instructions at the end of the application or on your Admissions Portal.
- Check or Money Order (through a U.S. bank): Make payable to "UNCSA" and include your full legal name. Mail your payment and fully legible name of the applicant to the Office of Admissions.
- Fee Waiver: Submit an SAT, ACT or NACAC Application Fee Waiver Request signed by your high school counselor.
- International Applicants: Use Flywire to pay your application fee online through an international bank or pay by check or money order through a U.S. bank as listed above.
- Upload all Required Application Documents prior to your listed application deadline.
Please note: If applying to two different UNCSA art schools (Dance, Design & Production, Drama, Filmmaking, and Music), a completed second application and fee is required.