How to Apply

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 and 500 words).

Include your personal details, educational, and work experience in English.

You will be able to request a letter of recommendation directly from your online application. The recommendation should come from a professional with whom you have worked or collaborated and who can convey your musical strengths and skills. Recommendations should not be done by friends or peers, but rather a professor or someone 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.

For applicants who attended university in the US or Canada:

• Via Email (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 US or Canada: 
Transcripts from institutions outside the US 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.

Students who have completed higher education outside of the United States and Canada are required to submit a credential evaluation report. Below is information about the supporting materials we need from you.

What is credential evaluation?

Credential evaluation is a process that provides Berklee with an official report that lists the courses taken, marks received, and honors earned by an applicant in their US equivalents. For example, the report will tell us if an applicant has the equivalent of a bachelor's degree, or other academic honor(s), and will list the marks received in the standard 4.0 US grading system.

Why do I need credential evaluation?

Berklee requires that applicants who have attended schools outside of the US and Canada use a credential evaluation agency to submit a report of their academic equivalency. Documents must be submitted to Berklee directly from a credential evaluation agency. Your credential evaluation along with your application and supporting materials will be used to determine whether you are ready for admission to a Berklee graduate program.

Note that academic documents sent directly by the applicant will not be accepted to complete the application, nor can they be returned to the sender.

Can I just send a translation instead?

No. Credential evaluation and translation are not the same. Part of the credential evaluation process involves checking that the applicant attended the institutions and earned the honors that they have listed. We do not accept international transcripts directly from the applicant and will not accept a translation to complete an application.

What if my school has US accreditation?

If your school has US accreditation, then you do not need to submit a credential evaluation for that institution.

We will accept transcripts directly from schools that are accredited by the following:

• New England Commission of Higher Education

• Higher Learning Commission 

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

• Cognia

How can I get a credential evaluation report?

Berklee works closely with SpanTran and Educational Credential Evaluators, and we recommend their services. 

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.

How do I submit my documents to SpanTran?

Please go to the SpanTran website and complete the application for a credential evaluation. 

Follow the website prompts to request your evaluation. You will be able to select which Berklee campus(es) you would like to receive your evaluation, indicate whether your documents need to be translated, decide on how your credentials will be verified, and order additional copies of your evaluation. 

Upload the appropriate documents to the application. 

Pay the fee and submit.

What type of report should I request?

Berklee Valencia requires a course-by-course evaluation and grade point average (GPA) for your college/university studies. SpanTran will provide this service automatically.

All course-by-course reports must include a grade point average/grade equivalencies (GPA). Please make sure this is included in your report.

What if I want to use another company?

Although we highly recommend SpanTran and ECE, we do accept credential evaluation reports from any of the following companies:

International Education Research Foundation (IERF)

Other options

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.

Note that all course-by-course reports must include a grade point average/grade equivalencies (GPA). Please make sure this is included in your report.

What if I have not finished my bachelor’s degree?

You must submit a credential evaluation report of all your courses/marks received so far. If you are admitted, you will be required to submit proof of graduation from your college/university before attending Berklee.

When are my supporting materials/the credential evaluation due?

Review the Graduate Admissions Deadlines page for due dates.

Can I audition and interview before sending the supporting materials?

No. Your graduate application and supporting materials must be received by the application deadline. Review the How to Apply page for further information on what you need to submit. 

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.

If admitted, a copy of your diploma from your college/university will be required before enrolling at Berklee.

• 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.

DOWNLOAD THE PORTFOLIO SAMPLE

* We will not download materials. Do not share materials via WeTransfer, DropBox, Google Drive, or other platforms.

• 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 being a video of a live performance. Do not include any post-production processes.
• 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.

DOWNLOAD THE PORTFOLIO SAMPLE

*We will not download materials. Do not share materials via WeTransfer, DropBox, Google Drive, or other platforms.

• 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

DOWNLOAD THE PORTFOLIO SAMPLE

* We will not download materials. Do not share materials via WeTransfer, DropBox, Google Drive, or other platforms.

• 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.

DOWNLOAD THE PORTFOLIO SAMPLE

* We will not download materials. Do not share materials via WeTransfer, DropBox, Google Drive, or other platforms.