Music Program Admissions

1. Completed online Institute application (for all disciplines except composition; see below). Applicants must also apply separately to the School of Music. The ISM does not charge an application fee. 
2. Electronic transcripts of all academic records uploaded into the application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but must include your name, the name of the institution, the degree program, course-work, and your GPA. (If offered a live audition, applicants must submit official transcripts to the School of Music). All transcripts must be in English. 
3. Curriculum vitae (a résumé of academic, performance, and employment information). Optional: examples of involvement in liturgical, musical, or artistic activities (orders of worship, prayers, hymn texts or tunes, sermons, special events, etc.).
4. Repertory list of major performance areas.
5. Audition recording (see recording guidelines below).
6. A 5-page writing sample representing your best academic writing and thinking. A portion of a senior thesis or term paper is acceptable. A short essay (500–1,000 words) relating your goals to the mission of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. The essay should discuss your work thus far in sacred music, your vocational goals, and your interest in interdisciplinary study in collaboration with Yale Divinity School students. 
7. Three letters of recommendation.
8. Scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if English is not your first language (see below for details). TOEFL scores are not accepted. Self-reported scores for your ISM application are acceptable, as long as the official record is in your YSM application.

An audition recording and live audition is required of music candidates. 

Prescreening Recordings

All applicants should upload audio and video files directly to the application website. Audio quality must be excellent on audio and video recordings. If you are choosing between submitting audio or video files, and your video does not have high audio quality, we prefer that you submit an audio recording. Choral Conducting applicants must provide a video recording.

For specific information, please refer to the Prescreening Recordings section of the Yale School of Music How to Apply page. 

Live Auditions

Auditions are held during the last week of February. Exact dates and details will be included with the invitation to audition. For specific information, please refer to the Live Auditions section of the Yale School of Music How to Apply page. 

Students for whom English is a second language must demonstrate a level of language proficiency appropriate for study. Applicants to the ISM and Yale School of Music should arrange to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) before December 1. Yale School of Music and ISM will not extend an offer of admission to any student who has not met our English language requirement before March 1 of that application cycle. View full details on requirements and next steps.

International students are a vital part of our community at the ISM. We welcome international applicants, and seek to offer them support throughout the application process and during their time on campus. In order to gain admission to the Institute and to obtain a visa, international students must show that they have sufficient funds to provide for their expenses while in residence as a student in the United States. Bank affidavits and certificates of finance will be required.

The Institute’s Admissions Committee will consider applications for all degree programs, invite music applicants for auditions and interviews, and then make its recommendations to the appropriate admissions committee of either the School of Music or the Divinity School. 

Letters of acceptance will be sent to successful candidates on or around March 15. There is no early decision process, nor is there a summer program. Divinity School students must obtain the ISM director’s approval to complete a degree on a part-time basis. School of Music students must be enrolled full-time and in consecutive years.

Students who are not admitted may reapply the following year without resubmitting these materials, although they may send new ones if they choose. All other application materials must be submitted, as for first-time applicants, by the deadline. Letters of recommendation and transcripts will be kept on file for one year.