Course details

Summary

Study advanced composition, sonic arts or performance and become a leader in your field as an artist and an innovator.

Build on your Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma and get the high-level music skills and critical perspective you need for a career in music or a related field. This one-year Master's programme will further your knowledge in either composition, sonic arts or performance and is also designed to prepare you for the Doctor of Musical Arts.

Study at New Zealand's most prestigious music school and learn from world-class musicians and academics who are leaders in their fields.

Pathway to the MMA

If you have a Bachelor of Music with Honours or a Postgraduate Diploma in Music, and want to continue your studies, then the MMA could be the right choice for you. Each subject has its own entry requirements you'll need to have met before enrolling. Performance students will need to do an audition and Composition students submit a portfolio. All students will need to outline their research plans and goals in a statement of research intent when they apply.

In your MMA you'll complete both coursework and a thesis.

Coursework

Choose 30 points worth of courses at 400 or 500 level. You'll need to select topics that explore critical perspectives relating to your creative work, such as aesthetics, performance practice and critical analysis. Your courses must contain substantial written components.

Thesis

You'll complete a 90-point creative research thesis on an approved topic of your choice.

Composition students will complete a portfolio of compositions or sound-based works, and a written report of between 10,000 and 20,000 words.

Performance students will express their research through one or two public recitals, and a written report of around 10,000 to 20,000 words.

Research proposal

You'll need to submit a research proposal within one month of enrolment for approval by the NZSM Postgraduate Committee. Performance students will express their research through one or two public recitals, and a written report of between 10,000 and 20,000 words.

Advance your expertise with doctoral study

If you do well in your Master's degree and show an aptitude for advanced research, you'll be able to apply to do a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA).

A doctoral degree is the highest academic qualification offered by the University. You’ll carry out original and sustained research under supervision from world-class academics in the School of Music.

All available subjects

• Composition/Sonic Arts
• Performance

Entry criteria

Bachelor of Music with Honours or a Postgraduate Diploma in Music and audition/portfolio.

Other English Language requirements:

• IELTS overall band of 6.5, no sub-score below 6.0; or
• TOEFL 90 on the internet-based test with at least 20 in writing; or
• A minimum of two ratings of 5 and two ratings of 4 in the Victoria University English Proficiency Programme test
• Pearson Test of English: A score of 65 (with a ‘Communicative’ score of not less than 58).