At The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, Orchestral Instrument: Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) - UBCV is offered as a doctorate in Music programme. The programme is delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 10,082 per year (CAD 5,739 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Doctorate
Field:Music
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 5,739 / year
International tuition: CAD 10,082 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Instrument at UBC's School of Music, Faculty of Arts, is for performers who have already reached a high level of artistry and may aim to teach at university. It combines advanced performance with academic study in music history and theory, and candidates undertake individual projects in performance practice and music literature; the program has both coursework and thesis components. Students play in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Winds, Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Bands as well as chamber groups and opera productions, and are rotated through large ensembles each season to work under several conductors. Faculty include members of the Vancouver Symphony, Vancouver Opera Orchestra, National Broadcast Orchestra, Standing Wave and Turning Point Ensemble, and performance venues include the Chan Centre, the Old Auditorium and the Roy Barnett Recital Hall. Admission is selective and enrolment limited; no supervisor commitment is required before applying. The program is delivered in person at UBC Vancouver.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:76.00 / %
Admission Requirements: Admission requires a Master of Music degree in orchestral instrument performance, or its equivalent. The Faculty's minimum standard is an overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC), and the program may set higher requirements. Applicants from institutions where English is not the language of instruction must meet, within the past 24 months, TOEFL iBT overall 4.5 on the redesigned six-point band scale, IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, or Duolingo English Test 125 overall. The GRE is not required. An audition, in person or by video, is mandatory, and outstanding performing ability is explicitly required; applicants also submit three reference letters, transcripts, a statement of interest and must identify potential supervisors, with permanent residents providing status documentation. For the September 2027 intake, applications open September 1, 2026 and close December 1, 2026 for both Canadian and international applicants.
Application Details
Start Date:September 2027
Application Deadline:Domestic and international undergraduate applicants both apply through EducationPlannerBC for Winter Session 2027/28 (September 2027 entry) and Summer 2027: applications open in early October 2026 and the equal-consideration deadline is 15 January 2027, 11:59 p.m. PST, the same date for both groups; a few programs keep reviewing late applications on a space-available basis afterwards. Earlier dates apply only to entrance-award consideration -- 15 November 2026 for the International Scholars Program and 1 December 2026 for Presidential/Centennial/Beyond Tomorrow scholars. Several limited-entry programmes -- Law, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing (advanced entry), Occupational/Physical Therapy, Social Work and Teacher Education -- set their own earlier deadlines from October 2026 through February 2027. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
