Low-Residency Master of Music Degree

Requirements and Deadlines

  Low-Res Admission
Application and Fees Nov. 1
English Language Scores Nov. 1
FAFSA Feb. 15
Transcripts Dec. 1
Recommendation Letters Dec. 1
Interviews Ad-hoc
Decision Release Dec. 15.
Enrollment Deadline Jan. 15

The Low-Residency MM is available for Composition only and offers the artistic excellence and academic rigor of a Peabody education in a more focused and flexible format. This program allows you to complete your Master of Music degree in just 13 months. More information can be found here.

The Low-Residency MM is its own application round. To access the application, select “Start New Application” → “Fall Entry Term 2025” → “Application for Low Residency 2025”

Additional Required Application Materials

  • Repertoire List
  • Resume

Once you have started your application, you can save your progress and return to your application at any time.

When you have completed your application, you will be able to review and submit it before paying the application fee of $120. Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed or scheduled for an audition/interview unless we have receive the application fee. If you feel that you qualify for an application fee waiver, please email [email protected] with your request.

After submission you will not be able to make changes to the application itself, but you will be able to edit your portfolio through your application status portal.

You will be asked to submit email addresses for three people who know your musical ability. These people will automatically be emailed with instructions on how to electronically submit their recommendation.

Your recommenders will have until the application deadline of December 1st to submit their recommendations. If you want to change your recommender or their email address after submitting your application, please contact the admissions office at [email protected].

  • International applicants for all programs must submit a verified TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score by the deadlines below.
    • We do not accept the Duolingo English Test. We are now accepting the TOEFL iBT Home Edition (policy update as of 10/4/2022) if Covid-19 policies in your home country have prevented you from taking the TOEFL at a test center.
  • International students currently studying at an institution where English is the primary language, or in the US, should submit a TOEFL/IELTS score if their period of enrollment in that school is less than two years.
    • Students enrolled for two years or longer at a school in which English is the primary language should submit a transcript from this school and do not need to submit an English proficiency test score.
  • Test scores will be self-reported on the application but verified test scores must be submitted to Peabody through their respective testing agencies by the deadlines below. Peabody’s TOEFL School Code is 5532.
  • Minimum score requirements: TOEFL – 79, IELTS – 6.5 overall band score.
    • We do not accept the TOEFL “My Best Scores”.

If we do not have an official score by the posted deadline, your application will be considered incomplete and we will be unable to make an admission decision.

Please submit official transcripts from all schools you have attended to Peabody Admissions directly from the institution.

  • Official transcripts are required of all applicants and should include a cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.
  • Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the institution to Peabody. Any transcripts sent or submitted by you (the applicant) will be considered unofficial.
  • You may upload unofficial transcripts to your application, but note that official transcripts will be requested prior to rendering an admission decision.
  • Classes that are in progress for which you have not yet received grades should be included.
  • We strongly recommend sending official transcripts through an official electronic channel (Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc). 
  • If you are accepted and choose to enroll at Peabody, you must request that your school send a hard copy of your official final transcript with a conferred graduation date by July 1. Without an official final transcript, you will be unable to enroll in classes at Peabody.
  • International applicants are required to upload an official English translation of all transcripts.

A qualifying undergraduate degree should include 3 years of study following completion of secondary school (or high school) and 25 post-secondary credit hours of non-musical study, the equivalent of 50 European transfer credits (ETCS).

Upload a representative list of the repertoire you have studied in your major instrument or area. Composition applicants should list your own works with instrumentation. Please indicate any repertoire performed in public with an asterisk (*).

Upload a copy of your resume.

The FAFSA/CSS Profile submission is required for admission. Please note that you must submit the FAFSA if you wish to be considered for need-based aid such as work-study and grant aid. Please visit our Financial Aid page for more information. Low-Residency applicants are not eligible for Peabody merit scholarships.

Auditions/interview for the Low-Residency MM program will be held on an ad-hoc basis and scheduled directly with the faculty. Requirements for auditions/interviews can be found here.