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College of Fine Arts
School of Music
College of Fine Arts
School of Music

Graduate FAQ

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Apply to TCU Graduate Studies and the School of Music. You do not need to wait to hear from TCU to complete the Music application.

TCU requires a $60 non-refundable application fee for TCU Graduate Studies and a $35 non-refundable application fee for the School of Music.

Please email an official electronic transcript directly from the Registrar’s Office of each institution to tcugradstudies@tcu.edu. 

Do not upload transcripts in your application, as they will not be considered official copies. If your last institution was TCU, we will retrieve transcripts from the Registrar’s Office on your behalf. 

For international transcripts, please provide translations.

Three letters of recommendation are required. Provide emails of three references who can submit letters commenting on your academic achievement, teaching/professional experience and potential for success. Letters will be requested electronically via Acceptd.

The GRE is optional for all graduate and artist diploma applicants but strongly encouraged. Scores provide valuable information for student evaluation and placement.

Sign up for the GRE here.  
TCU’s school code for the GRE: R6820

To be considered for an assistantship, apply early: by Feb. 1 for fall or Nov. 1 for spring. No separate application is required; simply check the box on your admissions application to indicate interest.

Most assistantships require approximately 10 hours per week. Duties will be determined by your department chair or faculty advisor.

The assistantship is paid bi-weekly. To calculate the bi-weekly amount, divide the total assistantship by half the number of weeks in the fall or spring semester (usually 17-18 weeks). Payments begin in mid-September.

The graduate bulletin serves as your graduation contract with TCU and contains important information about rules, regulations and your degree plan. Save and print the graduate bulletin for the year and semester you begin your program. It can be accessed through the TCU registrar’s homepage.

Check apartment availability at the Residential Services website.
 You can learn more about off-campus living here.

International applicants must submit official TOEFL or equivalent scores: 

  • Minimum requirements: 100 iBT, 7 IELTS, or 120 Duolingo.
  • The TOEFL may be waived for students with a degree from an English-instruction university.
  • Scores must be sent directly to TCU (school code: 6820). 

This requirement applies to prospective international students, whether coming from abroad or transferring from another U.S. institution.  

The on-campus interview and submitted writing samples will also be used to assess English language proficiency. International students may be asked to interview via teleconference to evaluate listening and speaking abilities in English. 

As a graduate student, you are responsible for student fees, medical insurance, housing and living expenses. An assistantship may help cover some of these costs, but it may not cover everything. A tuition-only award will only cover tuition. 

For visa purposes, TCU estimates student expenses. Subtract the amount of your tuition award and assistantship from the total estimate to determine the remaining amount your sponsor will need to be responsible for on your financial statement. 

(For example, if estimated expenses are $49,300 and the award is $37,000, your sponsor must prove they can provide the remaining $12,300 per year to obtain an I-20 and visa.)