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In order to determine their course levels, all new students, including students from other faculties who are interested in pursuing a music minor or major, must sit diagnostic placement examinations starting the week prior to the beginning of classes in the fall semester. Placement examinations take place only once a year.

For a precise schedule and exam descriptions, refer to the Placement Exams.

For B.Mus., L.Mus. students (except those in a jazz program) and students in other bachelor programs who would like to pursue a music minor or major:

Compulsory placement exams:

• Theory
• Musicianship (Ear Training and Keyboard Proficiency)

Optional placement exam:

• Music History

For B.Mus. Jazz Performance, B.Mus. Faculty – Jazz concentration, and L.Mus. Jazz Performance students:

Compulsory placement exams:

• Jazz Ear Training
• Jazz Keyboard Proficiency (jazz piano and jazz guitar students are exempt from this placement exam. They will automatically receive exemption credits for jazz keyboard proficiency and will not be required to take substitute courses)
• Jazz Materials
• Theory (B.Mus. Faculty - Jazz concentration students only)

• Jazz Music History [Note: this has become a compulsory placement exam.]

New students will receive the placement examination results on their Online Progam Audit (OPA). See www.mcgill.ca/music/student-resources/undergraduates/academic-resources/program-audit for details. Exemption note(s) will be added to the transcripts for those who have been exempt from one or more course(s) via placement exams.

First-year students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music program who have completed the Quebec Diploma of Collegial Studies (Diplôme d'études collégiales) in a Music concentration or equivalent, or students transferring from other universities or colleges, and who have completed a course equivalent to Western Musical Traditions (MUHL 186) will be reviewed for exemption from this first-year music history course.

All jazz students who wish to be exempt from Jazz History Survey (MUJZ 187) must take a placement exam, even if they have completed a similar course in a college or university.

Students accepted into the Licentiate Diploma, who have completed the degree of Bachelor of Music at a Canadian or American university (or the equivalent elsewhere) within the preceding three (3) years, will not be required to sit the Music Placement Examinations and will be exempted from required Theory, Musicianship, and Music History, Literature, or Performance Practice courses. Should such students wish to avail themselves of the diagnostic service that the Music Placement Examinations provide, they may sit them; without, however, being bound by the recommendation generated from their results. Nevertheless, should great difficulties arise in a specific class because of lack of adequate preparation, the Area Coordinator or the Area Chair, upon the advice of the instructor, reserves the right to counsel the student to undertake studies at a lower level.