Vancouver,
BC,
Canada
Type
Public
Degrees offered
Bachelor's Degree
Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition in Vancouver Canada | The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia
|
Vancouver Canada
Visit institution website
for more information
Qualification
Doctor of Philosophy
Languages
English
Delivery Mode
On-Campus
Tuition (2025)
CAD
9,690
(c. USD6,947.33)
Attendance
Full-time
Full-time Duration
36 months
The Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) program caters to accomplished composers seeking to advance their creative practice and potentially pursue university-level teaching. This intensive program enables participants to elevate their compositional and performance skills while expanding their academic foundation through specialized coursework in music history, theory, and related disciplines. Composition students collaborate closely with faculty mentors and must produce significant works for public presentation alongside completing academic requirements.
Recognized as among Canada's premier composition programs, UBC's Composition Division fosters innovation in contemporary music through diverse creative and performance opportunities. Beyond comprehensive coursework, the division organizes regular composition events such as Student Composer Concerts, masterclasses, professional ensemble collaborations, and performances by the Contemporary Players. Annual orchestral readings with the UBC Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble provide valuable experience. The division regularly welcomes distinguished visiting composers and international ensembles. Students have access to cutting-edge electronic music facilities for projects involving sound synthesis, digital audio production, and computer-assisted composition.
Destination of Study
Subjects of Study
Language Requirements
English
IELTS 6.5
Qualification Requirements
Applicants for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) must have completed one of the following requirements prior to admission: a master's degree (or equivalent) from an approved institution, with clear evidence of research ability or potential and a minimum overall average in the B+ grade range (76-79% at UBC) in all graduate courses; a bachelor's degree, with one year of study in a master's program with 12 credits of first-class average, of which, normally, 9 credits must be at the 500 level or above and at least 9 credits must be of first-class standing, and clear evidence of research ability or potential. Transfer directly into a doctoral program is normally accomplished after the first year of study and will not be permitted after the completion of the second year in a master's program; or in exceptional cases, applicants who hold an honours bachelor's degree with an overall average in the A grade range and who demonstrate advanced research ability may be granted direct admission to a doctoral degree program on recommendation of the admitting graduate program and approval of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
English Language Proficiency Requirement
TOEFL (IBT) OVERALL SCORE REQUIREMENT
93
ibT Reading 23
ibT Writing 22
ibT Listening 23
ibT Speaking 22
IELTS OVERALL SCORE REQUIREMENT
6.5
IELTS Reading 6.0
IELTS Writing 6.0
IELTS Listening 6.0
IELTS Speaking 6.0
Tuition
CAD
9,690