Overview
Composition is offered as 4-year undergraduate Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree and as an emphasis area within the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Music degree.
Composition students receive lessons in a wide range of styles and genres including wind ensemble, orchestral, choral, chamber music, electro-acoustic music and film scoring. Student works are read and performed by ensembles and chamber groups.
In addition to extensive training in composition, students participate in ensembles and receive comprehensive instruction in music theory and music history. All composition majors also complete the university’s core curriculum. B.A. Composition majors are also required to complete a secondary area of study and additional general education requirements.
Two-Part Application Process
Prospective students must apply for general admission to The University of Texas at Austin and also submit the major-specific Butler School of Music application in order to be considered for admission as a music major. The Butler School of Music gives preference to applicants who select music as their first-choice major on the university application. The Butler School accepts applications for fall semesters only.
- Freshman applicants must complete the university application by Dec. 1 and Butler School application by Dec. 1. Submitting your applications by the Nov. 1 priority deadline will not affect the school’s admission decision or decision release date.
- External Transfer applicants must submit the university application and Butler School application by Dec. 1. Supplemental university application materials may be submitted through March 1.
- Current University of Texas at Austin students applying to change majors or add a simultaneous major in music are not required to reapply to the university but must attend an information session in the fall semester prior to submitting the Butler School application.
- Former Butler School students applying for readmission may be required to submit a new Butler School application if they have been absent for more than one long semester.
- Current music majors that would like to change majors within music should contact the undergraduate academic advisor for music for assistance.
Application Timeline
| Application Event | Date |
|---|---|
| The University of Texas and Butler School of Music applications open | August 1 |
Freshman university application due
| December 1 |
Butler School of Music application due (all applicants: freshmen, transfers, current UT)
| December 1 |
| Transfer university application due Music applications are only accepted from transfer applicants who also submit the university application by December 1. | December 1 |
| Prescreen results and interview invitations | By December 20 |
| FAFSA or TASFA (optional but highly recommended) | January 15 |
| Interview dates | January |
| Freshman admission decisions Applicants are notified of their decisions through MyStatus. | March 1 |
| Transfer university application supporting materials due | March 1 |
| Continuing and Transfer Scholarship Application | March 15 |
| Butler School merit-based scholarship award notifications (no additional application required) | April 1 |
| Freshman response deadline | May 1 |
| Transfer admission decisions Applicants are notified of their decisions through MyStatus. | June 15 |
| Transfer response deadline | July 1 |
| Orientation | June - August |
Application Materials
University Application
You must submit an admission application to The University of Texas at Austin and receive a UT EID prior to beginning the Butler School of Music application. UT EIDs are sent by the Office of Admissions through email 2-3 business days after your application is submitted and processed.
You may begin the Butler School application at any time after submitting your university application and receiving your UT EID.
University of Texas at Austin Admissions Checklists:
Selecting a Music Degree on the university application
- Begin a new application for the fall semester
- Select "College of Fine Arts" as your first-choice school and continue
- Select your desired music degree
Butler School of Music Application
The Butler School of Music application will allow you to request an audition date and upload application items. All materials must be uploaded to your application before it can be submitted for review. Do not complete more than one application without prior approval.
Introductory Video
Submit a one-to-three-minute video recording on which you verbally introduce yourself. Tell us who you are as a musician and as a person. What makes you want to be a part of the Butler School? What special qualities would you contribute to our community?
Submission Instructions
- The video may be casual, unedited, and taken from your mobile device, tablet, computer, etc. There are no special dress, presentation, or formatting requirements.
- Acceptable file-types include: MP4, MPEG, MPG, MOV, AVI, WMV, M4V, FLV, WEBM, MKV, M2V
- Upload and attach your video to the Butler School of Music application.
Résumé (optional)
Although a résumé is not required to complete your application for admission, we strongly encourage you to submit one.
What to Include
- Your résumé may include your musical, academic, extracurricular, community and work activities and your honors and awards. Be sure to incorporate details about what each activity involved rather than a general description and the number of hours per week and weeks per year you spent on each activity.
Submission Instructions
- Upload and attach your résumé to the Butler School of Music application.
- If you would like to include an optional résumé with your university application, submit it through the Document Upload System. The same résumé can be used for both your university application and your Butler School of Music application.
Letters of Recommendation (optional)
Letters of recommendation are helpful only when they provide meaningful information about you and give additional context or information to support your admission that is not already provided in your music application. With this in mind, you may choose to submit up to two optional letters of recommendation with your Butler School of Music application. These letters may be from teachers, mentors, or people who know you well, either within or outside of your school. Avoid recommendations from those who know you too well to be unbiased – family members, for instance.
Submission Instructions
There are two acceptable ways to submit your letter(s) of recommendation. Choose one:
- Upload yourself
- Upload and attach your letter(s) to the music application prior to submission.
- Acceptable file-types include: PDF, PS, DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPS, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, OPT, SXW, ODP, SXI, ODS, SXC, RTF, TXT
- You cannot change or upload new or additional letters after submitting your music application.
- Request electronically
- Enter your references' email addresses directly into the music application prior to submission. Once your complete application is submitted, references will receive an email invitation that will allow them to upload a private recommendation directly to your music application.
- If necessary, you may return to manage your letter of recommendation requests after submitting your music application.
- Letters that are sent by mail, fax, or email are not accepted.
Select an Audition Date
Select your preferred audition date. Please do not make travel plans until you have received an audition confirmation email. We do our best to place applicants on their first choice audition date.
Additional Requirements
External Transfer Applicants
The Butler School does not accept audition requests from prospective students who have not applied to the university. Therefore, applicants applying for fall admission must submit both the university application and the Butler School of Music application prior to the Butler School of Music deadline (Dec. 1) in order to schedule an audition. Supporting materials for the university application may be submitted to the university’s Office of Admissions through March 1.
- Transcript Evaluations
- Evaluation of individual courses is not available over the phone, in person or by email from the Butler School of Music. Specific course evaluations and decisions about the transferability of individual courses are made only by the university's Office of Admissions after an applicant has been admitted. The Transfer Resources page offers several suggestions for self-evaluation of transcripts for transfer credit.
- Upon entering the Butler School of Music, your transcript will be evaluated by a faculty committee to determine which previous music coursework is equivalent to our courses. There are many factors in these decisions, including your grades, how recently the course was taken, the workload of the course, etc. Up to two semesters of ensemble credits may transfer and apply toward your degree. You won't know how much credit you will receive for your performance lessons (if you've had any) until you have completed one semester of lessons at UT Austin and performed a jury.
International Applicants
TOEFL or IELTS scores
- All international applicants are required to submit a TOEFL score, unless qualifying for an exemption. Visit the Texas Admissions website for a list of exemptions.
Currently Enrolled UT Austin Students
The deadline to apply for fall admission is Dec. 1. It is not necessary to reapply to UT Austin.
You may apply if you meet one of the following criteria:
- You are seeking to change majors.
- You are applying to add music as a simultaneous (second) major.
Prior to submitting an application to the Butler School of Music, all prospective internal transfer and simultaneous major applicants are required to attend a virtual information session in the fall semester. The session will enhance your understanding of university policies effecting internal transfer and simultaneous major applicants, application and audition requirements and music degrees. The information session will be co-hosted by an admissions representative and a member of the advising team.
Fall 2024 Information Session Dates
- TBD
Formerly Enrolled Butler School of Music Students
If you were previously an undergraduate student at The University of Texas at Austin and are ready to return after an interruption of at least one fall or spring semester, you may be eligible to apply for readmission as a former student and should complete a readmission application.
- You may be required to submit a new application to the Butler School if you have been absent for more than one long semester.
- If you are readmitted, contact the Academic Advisor for Music for registration assistance.
Composition Portfolio
Composition applicants are required to submit additional prescreening materials within the Butler School of Music application by December 1. Prescreen materials include a composition portfolio and performance video.
You will be notified as to whether or not you have passed the prescreening round by the date on the application timeline.
COMPOSITION PORTFOLIO
- Submit a portfolio of three to five original compositions, preferably for different combinations of instruments, voices or electronic media.
- The scores should be accompanied by recorded performances. If live performances are unavailable, synthesized performances are acceptable.
Acceptable File-Types
- Score File-Types: PDF only
- Audio File-Types: MP3, OGG, M4A, WMA, WAV, AAC, FLAC, AIFF, AIF
- Video File-Types: MP4, MPEG, MPG, MOV, AVI, WMV, M4V, FLV, WEBM, MKV, M2V
Quality
- Play back and check your recordings for any distortion or excessive “buzz”.
- Review your recordings before uploading to ensure that they are of good quality and represent your best work to date.
Submission Instructions
- Scores may be handwritten or prepared with music notation software.
- Compositions and recorded performances should be uploaded as separate files.
- Complete your uploads well in advance of the appropriate deadline, as upload times vary depending on file size and internet signal strength.
PERFORMANCE VIDEO
- One piece or a movement of your choice, performed from memory by you on the instrument/voice selected for the application.
Format
- You are required to upload your files in a video format.
- Acceptable file types include: MP4, MPEG, MPG, MOV, AVI, WMV, M4V, FLV, WEBM, MKV, M2V
Quality
- Recordings must be genuinely performed by you.
- Recordings must not be edited, nor should any effects such as “reverb” be added.
- Play back and check your entire recording for any distortion or excessive “buzz”.
- If accompaniment is required, ensure that it does not drown out your playing.
- Review your recordings before uploading to ensure that they are of good quality and represent your best work to date.
Interviews
After successfully passing the prescreening portion of the review process, you will receive an invitation to attend a live interview. Do not make travel plans until your interview date is confirmed.
- You will receive an email confirming your interview date in mid-December.
- You will receive an email containing your interview time block—a two-hour window of time in which you can expect to interview—two weeks prior to your confirmed interview date.
- Interviews take place only at The University of Texas at Austin. Interview day details will be sent with your interview time block.
INTERVIEW REQUIREMENTS
- Discuss your composition portfolio and creative plans with the faculty.
- Answer questions designed to test your aural ability and knowledge of music theory, such as terminology and identification of basic chords and intervals
INTERVIEW DATES
Select your preferred interview date on the Butler School of Music application:
- January 25
- February 1
Do not make travel plans until you receive an interview invitation email in mid-December.
Sample Interview Day Schedules
Weekday Interviews
- 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Interview Check-in
- 9:00 a.m.: Interviews Begin
- 12:00 p.m.: Butler School of Music Facility Tour
- 5:00 p.m.: Interviews Conclude
Saturday Interviews
- 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: General Information Table Open
- 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: Check-in Table Open
- 9:00 a.m.: Auditions/Interviews Begin
- 9:00 a.m.: Composition Information Session
- 10:00 a.m.-2 p.m.: Butler School of Music Facility Tours
- 12:00 p.m.: Butler School Student Performance and Q&A with Admissions Staff
- 1:00 p.m.: Academics at the Butler School Information Session
- 5:00 p.m.: Auditions/Interviews Conclude
Sunday Interviews
- 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: Interview Check-in
- 11:00 a.m.: Interviews Begin
- 12:00 p.m.: Butler School of Music Facility Tour
- 5:00 p.m.: Interviews Conclude
Scholarships & Financial Aid
All students admitted to the Butler School of Music are automatically considered for Butler School-administered, merit-based scholarship awards. Nonresidents of Texas are eligible to be awarded out-of-state tuition waivers. There are no separate or additional applications for these awards. More than 60% of incoming students receive merit-based scholarship awards from the Butler School of Music.
Information about university-wide scholarships (scholarships that are not specifically for music students) and other types of financial assistance is available from the following websites:
- Undergraduate Scholarships - freshman, transfer and international applicants
- Texas Exes - entering freshmen and current undergraduate students
- FAFSA (UT FAFSA Code: 003658)
- Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Work-Study Jobs
For more information about tuition and expenses, visit Texas One Stop.
More information about our awards can be found on the Financial Aid section of the website.
Decisions & Enrolling
Decisions will be posted to your MyStatus page, as noted on the timeline.
The deadline to respond to an offer of admission is May 1, unless otherwise noted.
New student orientation takes place in June, July and August.
UT Austin Resources
Visits
Admissions Information Sessions & Campus Tours
Fine Arts Information Sessions (in person)
Fine Arts Information Sessions (virtual)
Butler School Performance Calendar
Applying
Sign up for Admissions Information
Freshman University Application Requirements
External Transfer University Application Requirements
Transcripts & Test Scores
College Credit and Placement Exams
Automated Transfer Equivalency System
Tuition & Financial Aid
Decisions & Enrolling
Double Majors, Certificates & Minors
Minors in the College of Fine Arts