Course details

Summary

The Doctor of Musical Arts is a three-year full-time programme in Music with three areas of specialisation: Performance, Composition or Studio Production. The DMA offers creative musicians the opportunity to develop their skills to the highest artistic and professional levels, while working within the innovative and stimulating environment of Otago's Music Department.

Attaining a DMA will demonstrate your mastery in a creative field of music performance, composition or studio production. The DMA signals to the professional and creative musical world that you are capable of independently conceiving and presenting high quality musical creative outputs in your area of specialization.

Structure of the Programme

The degree will be awarded in one of the following subjects:

1. Composition
2. Performance
3. Studio Production

The Senate shall approve the proposed area of study on the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Music and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).

As a guide to the candidate, the recommended relative workload weighting can vary from 90% for the creative portfolio, performances or studio productions, and 10% for the exegesis, through to 70% for the creative portfolio, performances or studio productions, and 30% for the exegesis. The workload weighting will be determined by the Department's Postgraduate Committee, based on the nature of the proposed project. Detailed and descriptive programme notes should accompany each performance. Students are required to sit an oral examination.

Entry criteria

Every candidate must be a university graduate and produce evidence of ability to undertake study in the proposed area. Such evidence shall include:

• a Bachelor’s degree with first or upper second class Honours or equivalent; or
• a Master’s degree (including an appropriate research component); or
• appropriate experience in the proposed area of study.

A candidate for a Master of Music degree may apply to transfer to candidature for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts, and may have the date of admission backdated as is considered appropriate.

English Language Requirements: IELTS - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22.; Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.