All applicants for whom English is not a first or primary language must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL or TOEFL home edition), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test.

Recommended minimum scores for admission to the Master of Music (MM), Graduate Performance Diploma (GPD), Graduate Diploma in Composition (GD), and Artist Diploma (AD):

TOEFL: 63
IELTS: 5.5
Duolingo: 90

Completing a full-time degree program at a college or university where English is the language of instruction may be grounds for a waiver of the English Proficiency requirement. All students seeking this waiver must email [email protected] to request a waiver.

All international applicants are required to submit official transcripts from their previous institution(s). Transcripts that are not in English must have an official English translation. This translation cannot be done by the applicant.

Longy only accepts translated transcripts submitted directly from the school, with the official school seal that include graduation dates and degree(s) received.  All students must complete their studies and earn their respective credentials (certificates, diplomas, etc.) before enrolling.

NOTE: Transcripts that do not include final grades for all courses, graduation date, and degree(s) received will not be accepted. Transcripts that do not have this information directly published on the transcript must provide a supporting certificate from their school (with the official seal) confirming the graduate date and degree(s) received.

Longy prefers translations via one of the following services:

• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
• World Education Services (WES)
• The Evaluation Company (TEC)

We accept official transcripts in the following formats:

• Hard Copies mailed to our Office of Admissions in a sealed envelope by your institution. We cannot accept transcripts mailed to us by the student. Hard copied should be mailed to the following address:

Longy School of Music
Office of Admissions
27 Garden St
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States of America

• Digital copies emailed directly from your institution to [email protected]

International students are required to obtain an F-1 Student Visa before travelling to the US to study at Longy. To obtain an F-1 Student Visa, the student must first be enrolled into one of Longy’s SEVP certified programs. This includes accepting an offer of admission and paying the enrollment deposit.

Once the student has enrolled with Longy, the student must then provide documentation proving they have enough funds available to pay tuition and fees as well as living expenses during their studies in the US. Afterwards, one of Longy’s SEVP Designated School Officials (DSO) will send an I-20 Form to the student. Once received, the student may then apply for an F-1 Student Visa.

Please note: while Longy will do everything possible to help students obtain an F-1 Student Visa, it is the student’s responsibility to research and understand the requirements in obtaining and maintaining US nonimmigrant status. Please read the following websites to learn more about studying in the US:

• Department of Homeland Security – Study In The States
• USCIS – Students and Exchange Visitors
• Department of State – International Student Visas

Will Longy offer online classes again next year?
Only Longy’s Online Master of Music in Music Education is fully online at this time.

Do I need an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility?
If you are an international student at Longy, a valid I-20 Certificate of Eligibility is required for the 2025-2026 school year. We recommend scheduling time to speak with Benjamin Nourse Gross (Longy’s PDSO) about your individual circumstances. If you are joining us in person for the first time, you should have an I-20 with a start date corresponding to your program. To obtain this document, please provide updated financial documentation by completing the I-20 Documentation Form on your Longy Admissions Portal as soon as possible, but no later than May 01, 2025 for Summer 2025 applicants May 15, 2025 for Fall 2025 applicants. The I-20 allows you to complete an F-1 Visa application and schedule an appointment at your regional U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Who do I contact with questions?
Benjamin Nourse Gross, Longy’s PDSO, will be your primary resource for all matters related to the visa process. Our entire Academic Affairs team looks to his guidance for these matters, and it is vital that you do the same. Please feel free to schedule an appointment with him at any time to discuss your situation. Schedule a meeting with Benjamin!