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Professional Music - BFA (Hons)

Professional Music - BFA (Hons)

Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours)
Faculty: The Creative School

Requirements: Grades-Plus
Grade range: Low 80s1
Experiential learning: Internship mandatory
Full-time format: 4 Year

Is this degree for you?

Launch your career in the music industry with our one-of-a-kind Professional Music degree program tailored for both artists and non-artists. Dive into music fundamentals, business essentials and production, all in the heart of Toronto's vibrant music scene.

Here you'll have countless networking opportunities with leading music and media organizations, including Universal Music, Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall, Audible, SOCAN and more. Engage in hands-on internships, access top industry professionals, and utilize leading technologies, labs and resources.

Join our diverse community of like-minded students to contribute to music's next wave of innovation and make an impact in the industry.

240

Internship hours where you'll learn from industry experts

Spotlight

Professional Music BPM Industry Night connects students with top industry professionals

Top music industry professionals met with students at the BPM Industry Night hosted by the Professional Music program. Executives from Loft Entertainment, Anthem Entertainment, Canadian Music Week, SOCAN, Women In Music Canada and Billboard Canada connected with students pursuing careers in the field. This experience is important because it creates a space for industry leaders to be introduced and welcomed into the Professional Music community and for the students to learn and network with these leaders and their respected organizations. 

Read more: Professional Music BPM Industry Night connects students with top industry professionals

Panelists sitting in front an audience for the BPM Industry Nights event.

After you graduate with this degree

🎓 Further education:

  • Business (MBA)
  • Cultural studies
  • Education
  • Law

Visit graduate and postdoctoral studies.

 Career possibilities:

  • Booking agent
  • Entrepreneur
  • Producer
  • Sound engineer
  • Talent manager


Tuition and fees range 2024-2025

For detailed fees information, visit tuition and fees by program.

Full-time format:

Ontario students: $7,305 - $7,798
Out-of-province students: $8,481 - $8,995
International students: $35,102 - $35,521

First-year courses

Here is a preview of first-year courses based on the available undergraduate calendar information.

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

  • BPM 101 Modern Music Fundamentals I
  • BPM 201 Digital Music Production I
  • CRI 100 Creative Industries Overview

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Creative Industries Table I, RTA Table II, Performance Table III, or Music Table IV.

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Creative Industries Table I, RTA Table II, Performance Table III, or Music Table IV.

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

The Creative School

The Creative School stands as a beacon of innovation. Here, creativity isn't just a skill—it's the core of everything we do, transforming learning and expanding the boundaries of what’s possible. We offer a truly transdisciplinary education that immerses students in a creative ecosystem and encourages collaboration across faculties and around the globe.

The Creative School degree programs

Thinking of applying? Make sure the program is still accepting applications.


Requirements

Academic requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses including the following program specific requirements.

Typically, a minimum overall average of 70% establishes eligibility for admission consideration; subject to competition individual programs may require higher prerequisite grades and/or higher overall averages:

  • English/anglais (ENG4U/EAE4U preferred)
  • The minimum grade required in the subject prerequisite (normally in the 70-75% range) will be determined subject to competition.

Academic admission requirements for all other applicants are available on the admission requirements page.

Non-academic requirements 

This is a Grades-Plus program. In addition to meeting competitive academic requirements, you are required to submit the following non-academic requirements. Your ability to follow and adhere to the requirements is part of the assessment of your application. 

Fall 2025 non-academic requirement due date:
February 1, 2025 or 10 business days from your application submission date, whichever comes later.

Prepare a current resumé/curriculum vitae highlighting education, musical experience, work experience, volunteer experience and extracurricular activities. 

 Please save your resumé as a .pdf file to be submitted (refer to these instructions for submission).

Your portfolio consists of two parts, explained in the instructions below.

 Please save your portfolio as one .pdf file to be submitted (refer to these instructions for submission).

Part 1 - Statement of intent

Why are you interested in a career in music, and what draws you to this industry? Explain why you are pursuing a university education and why you believe you are a good fit for this program (250 words).

Part 2 - Artistic or music business option

Please select one of the two following options. At the top of your portfolio indicate if you chose option A or option B.

Option A - Artist option (this option requires uploading your demo).

This is a music DIY project created by you. It can be a single piece or a compilation containing a solo performance, a group/band performance, electronic music, a beat, a production, or an arrangement. You may have collaborators. This demo is your opportunity to present your musical identity. We encourage you to submit material created within the past two years. It is a chance for you to show us your passion and experience in music. 

  • Your demo should not exceed four minutes in length and must be your original work.
  • Include a link to your demo. It can be an audio or video format/file. The link must be public. Please do not provide a private Google Drive link.
  • To support your demo, please explain (500 words maximum) your role in the submitted music (e.g. producer, songwriter, singer, etc.). You may include information about the genre you chose for your demo, its historical antecedents, musical structure, and what about this genre attracts you and others to it. Include a brief explanation of the creative process behind your music project.
Option B - Music business professional option (demo is not required). 

Please write an essay (500 words maximum) in length, plus citations, based on the following prompt:

The music industry is rapidly changing. Consider the many ways music consumers discover new music. Discuss two of the best methods of music discovery, and from a business perspective, explore the pros and cons of each method.

Reference forms are a requirement for admission consideration. Two forms must be completed and submitted (refer to these instructions for submission):

  1. One must be from a current or past academic reference (e.g. guidance counsellor, teacher, professor). This form is titled, Academic Reference 1, in the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal
  2. Your second reference form may be from an additional academic reference or a collaborator, supervisor, or employer — this can be any individual who works with you in a musical or professional capacity. This form is titled, Reference 2, in the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal.

The non-academic requirements assessment fee is $50 CAD and must be paid in order for your submission to be reviewed. Here’s how to pay:

  1. Access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account (instructions to access the portal can be found below under Submission Instructions).

  2. Click on the button to link to the eForms Centre.

    eForms Centre button highlighted in the applicant portal account
  3. Next, click on the eForms Center tile.

    eForms Center button highlighted in the bottom right corner of MyServiceHub.
  4. Then click on the Non-Academic Fee Form link.

    Non-academic Fee Form highlighted in the eForms Center page.

Applicants are required to submit all components of their non-academic requirements via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. Due to the volume of applications received and our system performance, we strongly encourage you to submit your documents well in advance of the noted deadlines.

Here’s how to access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account:

  1. Get your TMU Student Number in the email acknowledgement of your application
  2. Activate your TMU Online Identity. Fill in the Activation Form on the Accounts website. When asked for your Student/Applicant ID, enter your nine-digit TMU Student Number. Keep a record of your user name and password
  3. 24 hours after activating your TMU Online Identity, visit the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal

Complete the following steps to submit your Reference Forms:

  1. Input your references’ contact information via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. Please ensure that all reference information is inputted accurately. If you wish to amend your reference information (e.g. change reference, change email address) please complete and submit the  (google form) Upload Help Form (external link, opens in new window) .
  2. Have your references complete the Reference Form. Your references will receive an email giving access to the Reference Form and instructions. If a reference has not received the email, please ask your reference to review their “trash” or “junk mail.” To request that the email be sent again, please complete and submit the  (google form) Upload Help Form (external link, opens in new window) .
  3. Confirm that your references have completed the Reference Form. A Reference Form is complete once its status on the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal indicates “Received.” It is your responsibility to ensure each reference completes their Reference Form by the noted deadline.


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Notes:

  1. Actual minimum grade ranges required for fall 2025 admission/wait list consideration will be determined based on grades and qualifications presented by the applicant pool as they become available. Required grade ranges may fluctuate from year to year (up or down) as a result of competition. Applicants not educated in Ontario may present the equivalent of the Ontario requirements. TMU reserves the right to determine equivalency at its sole discretion.

Disclaimer: 

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this site, in the event of a discrepancy, TMU's current Undergraduate Calendar is the official reference.