Application Fee (Required)
$65 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
$80 for international students.
English Proficiency Test (Required)
This program uses the Graduate School's English Language Proficiency Score Requirements and Minimum Scores for Regular Admission.
Minimum Scores for Regular Admission
TOEFL iBT: 4.5 (no sub score less than 4) (or 79 for students who took the test prior to January 2026)
IELTS: 6.5 (no sub score less than 6)
Duolingo English Test: 120 (no sub score less than 110)
PTE: 59
More information is available at https://graduate.ua.edu/applicants/international-students/.
Letter of Recommendation (3 Required)
Three (3) letters of recommendation, including at least one from a professor who can write about the applicant's potential as a scholar.
Resume (Required)
Statement of Purpose (Required)
Statement of Purpose with the following parts: A) Describe the specific focused area within our program that aligns with your research interests. B) Identify a research question or problem within this area that you're passionate about investigating. Explain its importance and relevance to current issues in the field. C) Briefly outline your academic and professional experiences that have led you to pursue this research interest. D) Describe your long-term career aspirations and how our PhD program will help you achieve these goals. Discuss how you hope your research will contribute to the advancement of knowledge in your chosen area. Remember, while your research interests may evolve during the program, demonstrating a clear, focused, and well-informed research direction at this stage is crucial for a strong application.
Transcript (Required)
Please upload an unofficial transcript for any institution of higher education at which you have completed 15 or more credit hours. Please include a grading scheme if your university does not use a letter-based (e.g. A, A-, B) grading scheme.
Writing Sample (Required)
Scholarly Paper: Submit one piece of your academic writing, such as a course paper, thesis, or published article. If the paper has multiple authors, please indicate your approximate percentage of contribution on the title page or in the header of the document.
Additional Requirements (not listed) (Recommended)
Video Introduction: Create a video up to 3 minutes long answering the following prompts: a) Introduce yourself, b) State which one of the nine focal areas you would like to pursue; c) Why do you want to be part of this PhD program?; d) What are your career goals after completing your PhD?; e) Share one thing about yourself that is not covered in your other application materials. The video can be recorded with a cell phone. We would like to be able to see you and hear you, but beyond that, we are evaluating the content of the video and not the production quality. Music Education prefers a minimum of three years of successful contractual teaching as a certified teacher and at least one degree in music education (master's or bachelor's). Music Education students should contact the Music Education Graduate Coordinator for deadline information.