Music Schools and Programs in Canada

Music Studies in Canada

Music in Canada is studied at university schools and faculties of music, in the music departments of smaller liberal arts universities and in college diploma programmes. Entry to a performance degree almost always depends on an audition as well as on school grades. Education is the responsibility of the provinces, so each institution sets its own programmes and requirements.

SpainExchange lists 18 schools in Canada for music. They are spread across the country: Montreal, Toronto, Victoria and Edmonton have two each, and there are others in cities such as Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Kingston and Charlottetown.

Degrees and how they are organised

According to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC), a bachelor's degree normally takes three or four years of full-time study, depending on the province. A master's degree takes one to three years, and a doctorate at least three years. In music, the doctorate may be a PhD or a Doctor of Music (DMus).

The main options are:

• Bachelor of Music (BMus). The professional music degree, with individual lessons on an instrument or voice, theory, aural skills, music history and ensembles. At the University of British Columbia (UBC) it is a four-year course of study. At Mount Allison University, BMus students have four years of weekly private lessons and can put the emphasis on performance, music education, composition, music history or theory.
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in music. A broader degree for students who do not plan a career as performers. UBC and the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) both describe it as a four-year programme; at UPEI it has 120 semester hours.
• College diplomas. Camosun College in Victoria offers a two-year, full-time Music Performance diploma in partnership with the Victoria Conservatory of Music, with a second-year focus on composition or on classical or contemporary performance.
• Graduate degrees. The Schulich School of Music of McGill University, which has more than 850 students, lists Master of Music (M.Mus.) programmes in areas such as jazz performance, early music, conducting and sound recording, and doctorates as D.Mus. or PhD.

Mount Allison University has taught music since 1874, when it awarded its first Certificate in Music.

Admission and auditions

Applicants for a BMus apply to the university and, separately, to the music school. The second step is the audition.

• At McGill, the admission cycle shown for Fall 2026 had a 15 January deadline for the application form, documents and recorded auditions, with on-campus auditions in February and March. The school lists an application fee of $131.41 and an audition fee of $82.12 for 2026.
• Mount Allison requires a supplemental application and an audition for the BMus; BA applicants do not audition.
• UPEI asks BMus applicants to audition at the level of Grade VI of the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), with tests in theory and aural skills. An audition is not required for the BA with a major in music.

Some schools accept recorded auditions, as the McGill deadline shows; the details differ by school and instrument. Teaching is in English at the schools named here. Canada's other official language is French, and applicants whose first language is not English normally have to prove their level with a recognised test. The required score is set by each university.

Costs

Tuition fees are set by each institution, and international students pay more than Canadian students. As an example with a published figure, Camosun College estimates tuition for its two-year Music Performance diploma at $45,175 for international students and $18,630 for domestic students (fees effective from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026). University fees should be checked in each university's fee calendar. Music students should also budget for the instrument, scores and audition travel.

Study permit

Most foreign nationals need a study permit, which costs CAN$150 according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The application needs a letter of acceptance, in most cases a provincial or territorial attestation letter obtained through the school, and proof of funds. Students going to Quebec, for example to McGill in Montreal, need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). For applications from 1 September 2026, a single student outside Quebec must show CAN$23,448 for one year of living expenses, on top of tuition and travel. Eligible students can work off campus up to 24 hours per week during term.

Careers

Music graduates work as performers, teachers, composers and arrangers, and in related fields. UPEI mentions further study towards careers such as music librarian, musicology, music publishing, communications media and sound recording. For school teaching, some universities offer combined degrees, such as the joint Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education listed by McGill. No official employment figures were used for this page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an audition to study music in Canada?

For a Bachelor of Music, yes at the schools consulted: McGill, Mount Allison and UPEI all require one. A BA with a major in music at Mount Allison or UPEI does not require an audition.

How long is a music degree in Canada?

The Bachelor of Music at UBC takes four years. In general, bachelor's degrees in Canada take three or four years depending on the province, and a master's degree one to three years.

Is there a shorter alternative to a degree?

Yes. Colleges offer diplomas, such as the two-year Music Performance diploma of Camosun College in Victoria, taught with the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Can I work while studying music in Canada?

Eligible full-time students with a study permit can work off campus up to 24 hours per week during term, according to IRCC.