How to Apply
The Graduate Board of Admissions will only evaluate complete applications. Review the information below to ensure you have submitted all requirements.
Submit Online Application
Complete all required sections in the application, and upload your statement of purpose, resume, and program-specific portfolio to the application. You will then be able to pay the $150 non-refundable application fee and submit your completed online graduate application. If you are a Berklee alumnus (including Boston Conservatory, and Berklee Online)you may be eligible for a fee waiver.
Submit Required Supporting Materials
Apart from the materials you will upload to your application directly, there are several other materials all graduate applicants are required to submit to support their application. Your resume, statement of purpose, and other program specific materials must be in PDF format.
Statement of purpose
This is your chance to tell us all about you, your musical journey, and why you would like to pursue a master’s degree program at Berklee College of Music (must be in English between 400-500 words).
Résumé/curriculum vitae
Include your personal details, educational, and work experience in English.
One letter of recommendation
You will be able to request a letter of recommendation directly from your online application. The recommendation should come from a professional that you have worked or collaborated with who can convey your musical strengths and skills. Recommendations should not be done by friends or peers, rather a professor or someone that you have reported to professionally. The letter must be written in English and signed by your recommender. Your recommender will receive instructions on how to submit their recommendation by email.
Official Transcripts
For applicants who attended university in the U.S. or Canada:
- Via E-mail (Preferred Method)
We need the official transcripts from your undergraduate studies. Most institutions are able to provide transcripts electronically. Your institution should email these to admissionsvalencia@berklee.edu, but note we only accept documents sent via email if provided directly by the issuing institution. Do not submit transcripts for high school or other degrees. If admitted you will be required to submit a copy of your diploma from your college/university before enrolling at Berklee. - Via Mail (Alternative Method)
If your college or university does not send transcripts via email, they should mail your physical transcript to the following address:
Office of Admissions
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía - Anexo Sur
Avenida Profesor Lopez Piñero, 1
46013 Valencia, Spain
For applicants who attended university outside the U.S. or Canada:
Transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. or Canada must be evaluated by an approved third-party credential evaluation service. Berklee works closely with SpanTran and Educational Credential Evaluators, and we recommend their services. Please ask for a course-by-course evaluation.
The credential evaluation process can take several weeks to complete, and we strongly urge you to begin the process as early as possible. Your application will not be complete until we have received credential evaluation reports for all of your academic credentials. If admitted, you will be required to submit a copy of your bachelor degree diploma from your college/university before enrolling at Berklee.
Other documents, such as résumés, statement of purpose, and creative works must be uploaded to your application form before you submit it.
English exam
If your first language is not English, you are required to submit one of the standardized English tests listed below. Your results must be emailed directly to admissionsvalencia@berklee.edu. Also see below for minimum score requirements.
Contemporary Performance Graduate Program Applicants
- Duolingo: 110
- TOEFL: iBT (internet-based) 80; computer-based 213; paper-based 550.
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- Cambridge English Language Exams: B2 First (FCE) or B2 Business Vantage (BEC Vantage) or higher
All Other Graduate Program Applicants
- Duolingo: 130
- TOEFL: iBT (internet-based) 100; computer-based 250; paper-based 600.
- IELTS Academic: 7.5
- Cambridge English Language Exams: Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or C1 Business Higher (BEC Higher) or higher
If you are finishing or have completed your bachelor's degree at an English-speaking university, this requirement may be waived.
Bachelor's degree diploma
If admitted, a copy of your diploma from your college/university will be required before enrolling at Berklee.
Submit Program Specific Supporting Materials
Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games
- Provide a link to a self-produced video introducing yourself and describing the reason why you want to be part of the program, and what you hope to gain from it. Please expand on your statement of purpose and use this as a chance for us to get to know you, beyond what we read on paper or see/hear in your art. Take advantage of the opportunity to let your personality shine through and be as natural as possible. Your video should be a maximum of three minutes.
- To support your application also provide three video files of original compositions for picture. Submit the three corresponding scores for the original compositions. Each file should not exceed two minutes. If you have not had the opportunity to score a film or video project, you may extract clips from existing films and television shows via a number of available applications, import them to your music sequencing program, and create original compositions for the purposes of this application.
Please do not submit the materials as separate links. Your program specific materials should be organized in one PDF document with all links properly embedded and sections clearly labeled. If including links to YouTube, Spotify, or other, make sure they are public/unlisted so that we can view them.
* We will not download materials. Do not share materials via WeTransfer, DropBox, Google Drive, or other platforms.
Contemporary Performance (Production Concentration)
- Provide a link to a self-produced video describing one to three possible ideas for your Culminating Experience (thesis) project that may be of interest to you. Each description should be as specific as possible and include how each project will foster your academic, artistic, musical, and professional growth. You may include slides or any visual aids that would help to convey your ideas. Your video should be a maximum of three minutes.
- To support your application also provide links for three recent performances (at least one video), with a short description of your role in each.
- Optionally you may also include the link of your artist webpage or Facebook page, or one page artistic biography.
Please do not submit the materials as separate links. Your program specific materials should be organized in one PDF document with all links properly embedded and sections clearly labeled. If including links to YouTube, Spotify, or other, make sure they are public/unlisted so that we can view them.
*We will not download materials. Do not share materials via WeTransfer, DropBox, Google Drive, or other platforms.
Global Entertainment and Music Business
- Provide a link to a self-produced video presenting one original idea for a product, a service or any initiative to introduce innovation or to solve a problem in the world of music and entertainment; the video should also demonstrate your capacity to think creatively and to develop a compelling communication narrative. Your video should be a maximum of one minute and should be uploaded to Youtube as unlisted.
Please do not submit the materials as separate links. Your program specific materials should be organized in one PDF document with all links properly embedded and sections clearly labeled. If including links to YouTube, Spotify, or other, make sure they are public/unlisted so that we can view them
* We will not download materials. Do not share materials via WeTransfer, DropBox, Google Drive, or other platforms.
Music Production, Technology, and Innovation
- Provide a link to a self-produced video describing three projects you feel passionate about, and that you would like to develop as part of your Culminating Experience (thesis) project. Each description should be as specific as possible and should include how each project will foster your academic, artistic, musical, and professional growth through Berklee and beyond. You may include slides or any visual aids that would help to convey your ideas. Keep in mind that you should not talk about projects that you have already completed. This video is a chance for us to get to know you beyond what we read on paper or see/hear in your art, so take advantage of the opportunity to let your personality shine through. Your video should be a maximum of three minutes.
- To support your application also provide three recorded musical projects, audio or video files of your work, including a short description of your role in each project
- Optionally, you can also submit the corresponding scores to your music, if available (not required)
Please do not submit the materials as separate links. Your program specific materials should be organized in one PDF document with all links properly embedded and sections clearly labeled. If including links to YouTube, Spotify, or other, make sure they are public/unlisted so that we can view them.
* We will not download materials. Do not share materials via WeTransfer, DropBox, Google Drive, or other platforms.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Berklee Valencia Admissions Office.