The University of Texas at Austin Application Deadline: March 1

Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music Application Deadline: Dec. 1

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 the ApplyTexas application and 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 ApplyTexas application, such as essays, transcripts and other supplemental documents may be submitted to the Office of Admissions through March 1.

Transfer Eligibility

If you have already started your post-secondary studies at another college or university after graduating from high school or earning a GED, and have or will have earned 24 semester hours of required transferable coursework at another college or university, apply for transfer admission.

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 studied for one semester and performed a jury.

Application Instructions

Applying to The University of Texas at Austin as a music major is a two-part process that requires separate applications to the university and the Butler School of Music. The Butler School of Music accepts applications for fall semesters only.

To be considered, complete and submit the following:

The University of Texas at Austin Requirements

Follow the Office of Admissions instructions to submit the ApplyTexas application, application fee, essays, transcripts, résumé and other required documents.

To be seriously considered for admission to the Butler School of Music, select a music major as your first-choice major on the ApplyTexas application. Music majors are listed under the College of Fine Arts on the ApplyTexas application.

Butler School of Music Application

The Butler School of Music application will allow you to request an audition/interview date and upload letters of recommendation, prescreening materials, portfolios and résumés, as applicable to your program. Materials must be uploaded to your application before the form can be submitted for review. Do not complete more than one application without prior approval.

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Open Dates

The Butler School of Music fall application opens on Aug. 1. The deadline to apply is Dec. 1. 

Processing Time

Applications are generally processed within five business days of receipt.

Letters of Recommendation

Ask three references to provide a concise statement concerning your musical ability, diligence as a student, potential for future development and any other information that may be pertinent to our consideration of your application. Avoid recommendations from those who know you too well to be unbiased—family members, for instance. If possible, these letters should come from references who know your work as a musician.

Submission Instructions

Upload and attach your letters to the Butler School of Music application, or enter your references' email addresses directly into the application. Once your complete application is submitted, references will receive an email invitation that will allow them to upload a private recommendation directly to your application. Letters that are sent by mail, fax or email will not be reviewed.

Timeline for Submission

Letters are due Dec. 1. Keep in mind that letter of recommendation email invitations sent through the music application are only delivered after the application is submitted. If your application is submitted on Nov. 30, your references will have only one day to upload letters of recommendation.

Prescreen Video

Bassoon, clarinet, classical guitar, flute, jazz guitar, piano, viola, violin and voice applicants to the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree (excluding Composition emphasis) and the Bachelor of Music degrees in Performance, Music Studies and Jazz must submit a video prescreen recording to be considered for an audition. View prescreen repertoire requirements online.

Submission Instructions

Each selection may be recorded in a separate video. Upload and attach your video prescreen recording(s) to the Butler School of Music application prior to submission.

Decision Timeline

Prescreen recordings will be reviewed after Dec. 1 and results will be sent by email in mid-Dec.

Composition Portfolio

Bachelor of Arts in Music - Emphasis in Composition, Bachelor of Music in Composition and Bachelor of Music in Jazz Composition applicants must submit a composition portfolio with recorded performances.

Bachelor of Arts in Music - Emphasis in Composition and Bachelor of Music in Composition applicants must also submit a performance video with the portfolio.

Submission Instructions

Upload and attach your portfolio to the Butler School of Music application prior to submission.

Decision Timeline

Portfolios will be reviewed after Dec. 1 and results will be sent by email in mid-Dec.

Résumé

Although submitting a résumé to the Butler School is not required to complete your application for admission, we strongly encourage you to submit one. Keep in mind that a résumé is required to complete your application to the Office of Admissions. You may submit the same résumé to the Office of Admissions and the Butler School of Music.

What to Include

Your résumé should include your previous five years of musical, academic, extracurricular, community and work activities and your honors and awards—including your high school accomplishments if they took place within the last five years. 

Be sure to incorporate:

  • All your achievements, not just those that didn’t fit on the ApplyTexas application
  • Details about what each activity involved rather than a general description
  • The number of hours per week and weeks per year you spent on each activity

Submission Instructions

Butler School of Music (optional): Upload and attach your résumé to the Butler School of Music application.

Office of Admissions (required): Submit your résumé using the Document Upload System.

Audition

Applicants to the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree (excluding Composition emphasis) and the Bachelor of Music degrees in Performance, Music Studies and Jazz must audition for admission consideration.

Select your preferred audition date on the Butler School of Music application. View repertoire requirements online.

Audition Invitations

Applicants in non-prescreening areas will be invited to audition once their ApplyTexas and Butler School of Music applications are processed.

Applicants in prescreening areas are invited to audition after a successful review of the prescreen recordings and other submitted materials. Prescreening results are sent in mid-Dec.

Interview

Bachelor of Arts in Music - Emphasis in Composition and Bachelor of Music in Composition applicants must interview with the composition faculty for admission consideration.

Select your preferred interview date on the Butler School of Music application. View detailed portfolio and interview requirements online.

Interview Invitations

Applicants will be invited to interview after a successful review of the composition portfolio, performance video and other submitted materials. Invitations are sent in mid-Dec.

Helpful Hints for a Smooth Application Process

  • Include your UT EID and full name on any document you submit to the Office of Admissions or the Butler School of Music.
  • Check your application status regularly. MyStatus is a secure online tool that lets you follow the progress of your admission application and related processes from initial submission to your final admission decision and beyond.
  • Print this webpage for your fridge or bulletin board.
  • Add "uga@mail.music.utexas.edu" to your safe senders list.