The Master of Applied Science (MASc) degree in Music Technology and Computation is a coursework-based residential program designed to be completed in two semesters. Applicants need to have a firm background in both music and computation while also showing particular strength in one of these areas. One semester of fellowship funding is automatically awarded to all students admitted to the program.

Applications are now open for enrollment in the fall of 2026. Deadline to submit your application is December 22, 2025.

Please fill out this interest form to receive periodic updates about the program.

The specific requirements for the MASc degree will be described here at a later date (requirements listed in the MIT Bulletin are out of date), but as a general overview, the MASc degree requires:

• 84 units (e.g., 7 x 12-units) of graduate classes related to music technology or approved electives

  • Relevant coursework includes:
    • 21M.585 Interactive Music Systems
    • 21M.587 Fundamentals of Music Processing
    • 21M.570 Digital Instrument Design
    • 21M.584 Signal Processing with Music Applications
    • 21M.561 Electronic Music Composition
    • 21M.586 Algorithms and Interactions for Human-AI Music Making
    • 21M.588 Musical Acoustics, Synthesis, and Audio Effects

• 21M.590 Colloquium in Music Technology (2 units, 1 each semester)

• 21M.591 Capstone Project in Music Technology (6 units)

Students will most likely take four classes in the fall and three classes in the spring and spend time over Independent Activities Period (IAP, the MIT January term) proposing a capstone project to be implemented by the end of the spring semester.

Funding

All students accepted to the program receive one semester of fellowship funding, which includes the cost of tuition, health benefits, and a standard stipend for living expenses. Paying for the remaining semester is the student’s responsibility. The fellowship is typically awarded in the second semester. MIT does not offer need-based scholarships to graduate students.

Application

The application for Fall 2026 admission is now open! Deadline to submit the application is December 22, 2025.

The following is required of all students applying for the MASc degree:

• A Bachelor’s degree with high academic standing from a recognized institution or, in the judgment of the department, the equivalent of this degree.
• Unofficial transcript(s) from undergraduate and graduate institutions from which you received a degree.
  • Official transcript(s) will be required to be submitted, if admitted to the program.
    • All applicants must submit official transcript(s), in English, of their performance at the undergraduate and graduate institutions from which they received their degree(s) or performed graduate work. Transcripts from international (non-US) institutions must be in English and certified.
• Two letters of recommendation.
  • Recommendation letters should be from faculty or supervisors, someone who can attest to your technical and/or musical abilities.
• A Resume or CV.
• A description of your experience as a musician, including all music classes taken and extracurricular musical activities. 
• Portfolio submission: Two projects that showcase your musical and technical abilities. At least one of the projects MUST be technical. Examples include:
  • Audio recordings of music you composed, performed, produced, and/or engineered.
  • Video recordings of you performing music.
  • A software program, web app, plugin, or other app that you have created.
  • A piece of hardware, interface, sensor, or similar device that you have designed and built.
    • For music recordings, tell us about the work and circumstances that led to the performance, including dates composed/created and performed, and any collaborators on the project.
    • For technical projects, include a description of the project goals, a general overview, how you created it, what inspired you, the challenges you encountered and how you overcame them. Explain one or two critical details that show us your technical skill and experience. Show how the project is used, how successful you think it was, and what you would do to improve it if you had more time. Also tell us how long you worked on it, when you finished it and, if it was a team project, what your role was. You can use text (up to 500 words) or video (up to 3 minutes) to present your project narrative.
• Coding evaluation within the application.
  • The applicant will have the choice to complete one of three music computation evaluations. It is an opportunity for the applicant to show where they are strongest or what area they are most excited about. It may be completed in any coding language, but cannot use AI code generators.
• List 2-3 ideas you have for an independent project that you think you would want to work on for your capstone project. 
• Statement of objectives about career goals, what do you hope to gain from the program, etc. Statement should be kept to 250-500 words in length. 
• English language test scores, if an international student.
  • Minimum test scores:
    • TOEFL: 100 (iBT)
    • IELTS: 7 
  • Self-reported scores must have a testing date within the last 2 years. 
  • Waiver: Applicant’s main language of instruction was English in their primary and secondary schools (i.e., from age 6 through age 18) OR  Applicant has been residing in the U.S. (or country where English is an official language) for a minimum of three years and has earned a degree from an accredited institution where English is the main language of instruction. A master’s degree alone is not accepted as proof of English proficiency. 
• An optional supplemental statement describing any additional information or extenuating circumstances.
• Interview may be required if the applicant is a finalist.