English Language Tests

Attention: Policies for the 2010-2011 Academic Year

English Language Requirements and Policies
All applicants (Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Professional Studies, DMA, and Artist Diploma) auditioning for Manhattan School of Music whose first language is not English must submit an official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score from a test taken after January 1, 2009 but prior to December 1, 2009, as it can take up to two to three months to register, take an exam, and receive official results. The Office of Admission must receive official TOEFL scores no later than February 1, 2010. Applications received without a TOEFL score will not be considered for admission.

Applicants must register for the TOEFL through Educational Testing Service (ETS). To get a schedule or to register for a test,, visit www.ets.org/toefl or call ETS at (609) 771- 7760. Manhattan School of Music’s code is 2396.

Minimum Scores by Degree Program
Manhattan School of Music's recommended minimum for admission without required remedial English classes is 79 iBT. Admitted students scoring less than 79 iBT, higher than our instituional minimum score, and who do not reach the recommended minimum will be required to enroll in summer English courses at Manhattan School of Music.

All Doctor of Musical Arts program applicants must submit an official TOEFL score with a required minimum of 100 iBT.

Applicants who pass their audition but fail to submit a TOEFL score will not receive their audition results.

Exemption to English Language Requirement
Applicants who have completed a full-time, 4-year degree program at an English-speaking college/university within one year of application may request a petition for exemption from the TOEFL requirement. To do so, students may email the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management, explaining the applicant's reason for exemption. The subject line of the email should say, "Request for TOEFL Exemption." Submission of a request for exemption from the TOEFL requirement is not a guarantee of exemption from taking the test. Each applicant's exemption request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

This petition is due no later than December 1. Requests received after December 1 will not be reviewed. Please bear in mind that official school transcripts will be an important factor in the consideration of this request and must be submitted with the petition. Additionally, past TOEFL or IELTS scores, SAT, ACT, or GRE scores, and other documents proving English ability will be required for review.

Additional Notes: First-year undergraduate applicants (first-time Freshman) who wish to be exempted from the English Language Test requirement should also submit an official copy of an SAT Verbal score of 450 or higher or an ACT English score of 18 or higher. Doctoral Program applicants are not eligible for exemption from taking the TOEFL.

To request the official petition for TOEFL exemption, please click here.

International Transcripts

Due to the difficulty in interpreting international transcripts, it is possible that the School may have questions as to the American equivalency of international studies. Manhattan School of Music therefore requires that transcripts from international institutions, except from the countries noted below, be evaluated by World Education Services (WES). This evaluation will allow the school to determine eligibility for an intended program of study at Manhattan School of Music.

Note these exceptions: the educational systems of some countries—Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Canada—make transcript evaluation by WES unnecessary. Therefore, applicants with transcripts from these countries most likely do not need to have them evaluated by WES.

To assist applicants in determining their degree eligibility, it is highly recommended that they submit a preliminary evaluation prior to auditions. This will ensure that applicants audition for the program for which they are eligible. For example, if an applicant applies for a Master of Music degree based on studies and classwork in the applicant's home country, and WES evaluates the applicant's academic credentials as showing the equivalency of only a U.S. high school diploma, then the applicant will be eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Music instead of the Master of Music.

The online WES application is available at www.wes.org. Applicants must fill out the application online and then send academic documents separately to WES (information on exactly which documents will be required from each country can be found on their web site). It is recommended that applicants request a "Course-by-Course" evaluation. It may take up to six weeks for evaluation, and it is recommended that applicants leave plenty of time in order to request their WES evaluation. On the WES form, request a copy of the report to be sent to "a third party" and indicate the following:

Office of Admission and Financial Aid
Manhattan School of Music
120 Claremont Avenue
New York, NY 10027

Electronic delivery of a WES evaluation is recommended.

All final WES evaluations must be received by the Office of Admission by August 1, 2010. If a WES evaluation is required and is not received by the Office of Admission by August 1, the result will be delays in visa/immigration processing and difficulty beginning the academic year.

Financial Aid to International Students

The only institutional sources of financial assistance that Manhattan School of Music offers international student applicants are Manhattan School of Music Scholarships and President's Awards. Scholarships in varying amounts are offered to a select group of highly qualified applicants, based on the results of the audition and financial need. The offer of a President's Award is based solely on the results of the applicant's audition. Any international student who wishes to be considered for this assistance must complete all required applications and submit requested materials by the published deadlines. See Financial Aid page for complete information.

International graduate students can apply for alternative student loans, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. See Financial Aid page.

Visas

Auditioning Live
International applicants traveling to New York City for a live audition should bring the letter of invitation they receive via email from the Office of Admission (stating the time and date of the scheduled audition) to their embassy to obtain a tourist visa.

Student Visas
Applicants who are offered admission to Manhattan School of Music will be sent information about how to apply for a student visa. This process will require the submission of documents proving financial support for the entire length of the individual's degree program at Manhattan School of Music. International students must pursue a full-time program of study in order to obtain a visa to study at Manhattan School of Music. The school's Director of International Student Services provides accepted applicants and current students with assistance in visa matters.