Graduate Application
After reviewing these web pages and communicating with the faculty members associated with your graduate degree program, we encourage you to complete the following:
- Notify the Director of Graduate Study, Dr. Tyler Wottrich, of your intention to apply.
- Secure three recommendations from those familiar with your experiences as a musician.
- Secure official copies of all transcripts.
- Find a sample of your academic writing style, either from a paper or project.
- Applicants for Challey School of Music residential graduate programs (excluding the MMME program) wishing to begin the program in Fall 2027 must complete their application and audition process according to the following timeline:
- Complete and submit NDSU Graduate School application by December 1, 2026.
- Any pre-screening material required by your program must also be submitted by December 1, 2026.
- Invitations to participate in required live auditions will be issued by January 8, 2027.
- Audition invitations must be accepted and audition repertoire/scores for accompaniment provided by January 25, 2027.
- In-person graduate auditions will take place Friday, February 12, 2027 and Saturday, February 13, 2027.
- Graduate program admission offers will be sent by March 1, 2027.
- Availability of Graduate Teaching Assistant duties and positions will be publicized by November 1, 2026.
Other Important Information
- All international applicants to NDSU Challey School of Music graduate programs must have achieved a satisfactory English language exam score within two years of application to the NDSU Graduate School. For admission to the NDSU Graduate School, scores of TOEFL 71, Duolingo 105, or IELTS 6.0 are required; for those students wishing to be awarded a Teaching Assistantship that includes classroom teaching duties, scores of TOEFL 81 (Speaking 23, Writing 21), Duolingo 115, or IELTS 7.0 (Speaking 6.0, Writing 6.0) are required. Students applying to graduate programs in the NDSU Challey School of Music who have earned a degree from a recognized institution in a recognized country where English is the only official language will not be exempted from the English language exam requirement.
- The NDSU Challey School of Music offers a range of Graduate Teaching Assistantships to qualified applicants. The duties involved in these Teaching Assistantships can include serving as an instructor of record or assisting with music courses, working with ensembles, piano accompaniment, production and/or administrative support, and other duties as applicable to the abilities and professional development of the graduate student as well as the needs of the Challey School of Music. Graduate Teaching Assistants receive full tuition waivers and yearly stipends between $9,000 - $15,000, depending on the number of weekly hours assigned to the student.