Assistantships and Scholarships

Approximately 40 graduate assistantships become available for master’s candidates each year. The assistantships available can be found by clicking on the links below. Assistantship needs may change during the course of the year and, in some cases, more than one vacancy may exist for one of the listings. Students may interview for assistantships outside of their major area.

Please note: to be eligible for any graduate assistantship, you must complete a live interview for the position at an audition day (in person or virtual). No assistantship can be awarded without an interview. The only exception are studio assistantships, which may be awarded based on a recorded audition.

Musicology/Composition/Theory

Aural Skills, Composition, Music History, Music Technology, Music Theory, Instrumental and Choral Arranging, World Music, MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music and Non-major Offerings.

Availability and descriptions for Musicology/Composition/Theory assistantships.

Music Education

Class Piano, Choral Techniques, Cooperative School Band Assistant, Curriculum Lab, Field Experience, Classroom Techniques, Brass Techniques, Woodwind Techniques, String Methods and University Band Activities.

Availability and descriptions for Music Education assistantships.

Music Performance

Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Tuba/Euphonium, French Horn, Choral Assistant, Jazz, Guitar, Studio Piano/Piano Accompanying, Flute, Trombone, Percussion, Orchestra Conducting Assistant, Violin (Graduate String Quartet), Viola (Graduate String Quartet), Cello (Graduate String Quartet), Trinity United Methodist Church and Voice.

Availability and descriptions for Music Performance assistantships.

Music Office

Music Admissions Coordinator Assistant and Public Events Office

Availability and descriptions for Music Office assistantships.

Assistantship Information

Stipend

Current first-year, nine-month contracts provide stipends from $6,000 to $10,800. In addition, with tuition scholarship the total value in 2024-25 would range from $20,410 (18 credits + lowest stipend amount) to $30,013 (24 credits + highest stipend) per year. 

Fall 2025 Appointment: August 25, 2025

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in music, 3.0 GPA and unconditional admission to the Graduate College. In most cases, candidates must present a campus interview to be considered for an assistantship.

Deadline

To be assured of consideration, candidates should complete the application and campus interview/audition by February 22, 2025. (The Orchestral Conducting application deadline is January 1, 2025 and the Choral Conducting application deadline is January 31, 2025.)

You can indicate your assistantship preferences on the BGSU Graduate College Application.

Additional information on assistantships can be found on the Graduate Assistantships page through the Graduate College website.

Scholarship Information

All students are considered for partial to full tuition scholarships, which may be awarded in lieu of assistantship awards. No application is required for scholarship consideration.  Applicants to the Master of Music in Composition degree program will be considered for the Toledo Symphony Composition Scholarship, a prestigious $10,000 award distributed equally between the student’s first and second years of master’s study as well as the opportunity to have an orchestral work written at BGSU performed by the Toledo Symphony during the annual Toledo Symphony Reading Session. To be considered for this award, composition applicants must include a previously written work for orchestra and/or a large instrumental ensemble in their application portfolio. 

For more information please call (419) 372-2182 or email Music Graduate Studies to request information about application procedures or available assistantships and scholarships.

Assistantships Outside The College of Musical Arts

Although most graduate assistantship positions are awarded through the academic departments, on occasion the Graduate College will receive notification of GA openings in other University offices/departments. These positions will be listed on the available graduate assistantships page. Contact the individual listed or review the accompanying job description for additional information.