Artist Diploma

Requirements and Deadlines

  Regular Decision
Application and Fees Dec. 1
Pre-Screen Requirements Dec. 1
English Language Scores Feb. 1
CSS Profile Jan. 15
FAFSA Feb. 15
Transcripts Feb. 1
Recommendation Letters Feb. 1
Portfolio & Scores Feb. 19
Live Auditions Feb. 16-21
AD Final Round Auditions Feb. 21
Decision Release Apr. 1
Enrollment Deadline Apr. 15

Eligibility for the Artist Diploma requires that applicants have the equivalent of an undergraduate degree and subsequent post-graduate study.

Additional Required Application Materials

  • Teacher Preference
  • Documents (in PDF form)
    • Repertoire List
    • Resume
  • Portfolio & Scores

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. While you must submit these email addresses by the December 1st deadline, your recommenders will have until February 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].

You are strongly encouraged to list studio teacher preferences on your application if applicable. These preferences have no bearing on the consideration for your admission to Peabody and are not shared with the faculty prior to your audition.

Studios can fill up quickly, especially in the larger departments, so we recommend listing 2 to 3 different faculty choices for areas of study that have multiple studio faculty. If you have any questions about teacher assignments, please contact the admissions office at [email protected].

Biographies are listed alphabetically here, or you can find their information on the department’s specific page under Area of Study. More information can be found on our FAQ page.

  • 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 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. Please indicate any repertoire performed in public with an asterisk (*). Piano or Voice applicants must upload a complete repertoire list.

Upload a copy of your resume.

In advance of your first round audition, please prepare hard copies of the scores for all of your audition repertoire and a hard copy portfolio of significant, professional performing experience, e.g. programs and reviews. Scores should be brought to your initial audition if you are performing with an accompanist.

If you advance to the Artist Diploma finals on Friday, February 23, submit a hard copy of your portfolio and scores to the Admissions Office when you arrive on campus to check-in. Documents and recordings submitted may not be returned. Please make copies of all documents for your records.

The Artist Diploma is a fully funded (tuition) program. Applicants to diploma programs (including AD) are not eligible for federal financial aid.

AD applicants must prepare a program of no less than 70 minutes duration, representing at least three style periods and including at least two large-scale works. Full audition repertoire requirements can be found here.

Live Auditions: AD applicants who are auditioning in person will find out about advancement to the final round of AD auditions shortly after their first round audition. The final round of in person AD auditions will take place on Friday, February 23rd.

Recorded Auditions: AD applicants who chose the recorded audition modality must submit their complete repertoire as listed above by the recorded audition deadline of February 1st. We are unable to accommodate a dual-modality option for AD auditions.