New Freshmen

To become a student in our program, you must:

  • Apply to UNLV.
  • Apply to the School of Music. Do not wait to receive a decision from your UNLV application. Both applications are done simultaneously. Supplemental application with your specific instrument information and audition dates.
  • Select your Audition Date. In your School of Music Supplemental application you will choose dates that you are available for your audition. Please plan to be available all day until you hear confirmation from the School of Music about your confirmed audition date and time.
  • Acceptance and Notifications.
    • Most applicants will receive academic admissions decision prior to their audition. Admission to the School of Music does not guarantee admission to the University and vice versa. Although these independent decisions can influence each other, students must gain admission to both to become a music major.
    • For Fall applicants, Music decisions are made at the end of the audition season and notifications are sent by early March. For Spring applicants, decisions are rolling. If you do not hear anything regarding admission decision or scholarship offers well after these time frames please reach out to your instrument’s area coordinator for more information

Transfer Students

If you are a transfer student and would like to pursue a degree in our school, you are required to:

  • Have at least a 2.5 grade point average in transferable college credits and a 2.7 in the area of concentration.
  • Audition in the appropriate primary performance medium (principal instrument or voice classification). You will then be placed in the appropriate level of applied study based on your audition. 
  • If you have questions about how your prior course work will transfer please reach out to our transfer specialist Ashley Stone at ashley.stone@UNLV.edu.

All entering freshman music majors and transfers from other institutions must take music theory and music history placement examinations for assignment to the appropriate level of study.

Scholarship Auditions

In addition to submitting a complete application for admission to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, each music major enrolling at UNLV for the first time must audition in the primary performance medium (principal instrument or voice classification). The audition serves as both an admission entrance audition to lower-division applied study and as an audition to determine scholarship support. Transfer students must also audition in the primary performance medium and will be placed in the appropriate level of applied study based on the audition. Audition dates are scheduled throughout the academic year.

For Fall applicants, Music Scholarship decisions occur between your admission date and May 1. The School of Music does not have a specific release date for scholarship offers. We generally do not offer scholarships for students entering in Spring semesters.

Admission entrance auditions are for those students intent on majoring in music AND for students of all majors who wish to be reviewed for music scholarship support. To make sure your audition will be considered for scholarships, please make sure to audition on a scholarship designated day. These days can be found on your School of Music Application. These auditions are not for individual School of Music ensemble placement. Ensemble auditions (for bands, choruses, orchestras, etc.) usually occur during the week before classes begin.

For additional information, please see Undergraduate Scholarships and Financial Aid.

UNLV offers competitive merit-based awards for students that apply by the University priority due date. To be the most eligible for the most funding possible for Fall 2027 entrance, apply by Nov 15.