How to Get Into Mahidol College of Music: Requirements, TCAS Timeline, and Application Documents

The application system: 5 TCAS rounds at Mahidol's College of Music

Mahidol University's College of Music admits Bachelor of Music students through the TCAS system, split into 5 rounds. Rounds 1–4 admit students for Semester 1 (starting around August), while Round 5 only admits for Semester 2 and excludes several majors, including Music Technology, Popular Music, Voice (Classic), Musical Theatre, and Piano (Classic).

Based on the AY2026 application cycle, Round 1 opened in early September and closed later that month, Round 2 closed mid-November, Round 3 closed early January, and Round 4 closed early March. Applicants for the next academic year should have documents and repertoire ready by August, since Round 1 typically stays open for under 3 weeks. Always check the exact dates for your application year on the college's admission-schedule page, since the calendar shifts slightly every year.

4 parts of the entrance exam: audition, interview, and TIME results

Entrance to the Classical Performance major consists of 4 parts: (1) the Audition, a live performance test; (2) the Interview, only for applicants who pass the audition; (3) TIME Western Music Theory Grade 12 results; and (4) TIME Ear Training (Musicianship) Grade 12 results.

TIME stands for Thailand International Music Examination, a testing center run by the College of Music itself. Applicants must register for these exams separately at timemusicexam.com before each round's application deadline, and need a score of 60% or higher to meet the requirement. If a score falls below 60% but the audition and interview pass, the college may grant conditional admission, requiring a remedial music theory foundation course in the first year.

Required documents and how to apply

Applications go through the COMMAS Admissions System at commas.music.mahidol.ac.th. After completing the online form and paying the application fee (which does not include the separate TIME exam fee), applicants receive an exam tracking code by email. A signed, printed copy of the application must then be sent to the college along with supporting documents.

Applicants inside Thailand can mail the documents or deliver them in person; international applicants send them by email to msinteradmission@mahidol.ac.th. For document questions, contact the admissions office at 02-800-2525 ext. 1128 or 1109.

• Signed, printed application form from the COMMAS system
• Copy of national ID or passport
• Photos in the specified size
• Proof of application fee payment
• Results for both TIME exams (can be added later if not completed before the deadline)

Audition requirements for trumpet and brass

Trumpet and other brass applicants to Classical Performance must perform 3 major and 3 natural minor scales with arpeggios, across as many octaves as they can comfortably play, plus a chromatic scale as high and low as comfortable without forcing. Judges weigh tone quality and accuracy at a moderate tempo more heavily than speed.

For repertoire, prepare 2 contrasting pieces from established solo or etude literature. Movements from the same piece are acceptable, but total performance time must not exceed 10 minutes. Piano accompaniment is recommended where possible, since judges assess technical ability and musical understanding together — not just how difficult the piece looks on paper.

Audition in person at Mahidol, or submit a video?

Brass and percussion applicants are expected to audition live in front of the panel on campus. Applicants inside Thailand should plan to travel for the announced audition date each round. Only international applicants facing genuine travel barriers can request permission to submit a video audition instead, by contacting the major coordinator listed in that year's application materials in advance. Approval is at the college's discretion, and approved applicants may still be called in for a live audition later.

If a video audition is approved, it must be recorded in one continuous, unedited take, at a minimum of 1080p at 30fps, with a good-quality microphone, recorded no more than 6 months before the application. The frame must show the performer's face, instrument, and accompanist (if any), in landscape orientation only, with a brief self-introduction stating name and applicant ID before playing.

The prep plan Mallanoo recommends before exam day

Because the criteria span technique, theory, ear training, and live performance, applicants who prepare well usually start at least 6–12 months before their intended round (see the detailed plan in "Preparing for University Music Auditions"). One thing often overlooked is preparing for the TIME exams separately from instrument practice — some applicants play well but fail the theory or ear training requirement.

Mallanoo's Road to Mahidol University of Music track plans all four parts together: choosing repertoire that shows real strengths, drilling scales and chromatics for accuracy at a moderate tempo, preparing theory and ear training for TIME, and running mock auditions with recorded video checked against the requirements before the real submission. If you are unsure whether there is enough time left to prepare, a free consultation can assess your starting point and build a plan right away.