Music

Entry requirements

You will be expected to have at least a 2:1 Bachelor’s degree, or international equivalent, in Music. We are open to considering candidates from other backgrounds, however, we would encourage you to get in touch with us to discuss how you can provide evidence of your suitability for this course in your application.

Applicants for all pathways will need to submit a 500-word personal statement which should include the following:

• Why have you chosen the MA Music at Durham University?
• Your chosen pathway. More details of these can be found here Taught Masters - Durham University
• Specific modules or areas of study that you are interested in
• What skills and knowledge you would bring to the course
• What skills and knowledge you would hope to acquire
• An indication of your planned area of research

Applicants wishing to take the Composition pathway should be aware of the requirement to satisfy the following prerequisite:

Upload a portfolio of two or three contrasting works of ten to 15 minutes (total duration) of a standard at least equivalent to a strong 2:1 degree final-year composition portfolio. *

For applicants choosing the instrumental route please also upload a copy of your performance scores for us to review.

Applicants wishing to take the Performance pathway should be aware of the requirement to satisfy the following prerequisite:

Upload a video recording of between 10 and 12 minutes of a standard at least equivalent to a strong 2:1 degree final-year performance recital.*

*If your file is too large to upload to your Applicant Portal, please submit a link to a folder or similar.

Months of entry

October

Course content

The MA in Music embraces your passion for music, providing the guidance, opportunities, and tools you’ll need to flourish in your chosen field. Our course encourages you to draw critically from others’ work and develop your own specialisms, be they in performance, composition, musicology, or a combination of these. As a Masters student, you’ll enjoy studying within a close-knit community, encountering a wide range of interests relating to diverse musical forms from across the globe.

Every Masters student takes a specialist core module, selected from a list of five options: musicology, ethnomusicology, composition, performance, and music psychology. This core module explores the various issues currently at the heart of the discipline while providing the skills and knowledge needed to carry out independent research at Masters level.

Relating to your chosen specialism, you’ll also work closely with one of the Department’s experts to produce a major project in the form of a dissertation, portfolio of compositions, or performance. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to delve deeply into specific musical practices that you find particularly fascinating. Additionally, our Masters programme includes a Research Methods and Resources module (compulsory for all but the Performance specialists) while offering a wide range of elective modules to choose from.

We pride ourselves on being one of the leading music departments in the UK, offering innovative courses and producing cutting-edge music research. As a postgraduate, you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including recording studios, practice and rehearsal rooms, our concert room, and an instrument collection. In addition, the University library contains a wide collection of books, scores, and CDs, and offers a rich range of online resources.

Course structure

All the MA programmes offered by the Faculty of Arts & Humanities consist of three components:

• a Major Research Project to the value of at least 60 credits
• Core Modules to the value of 0-90 credits, depending on the programme
• Elective Modules, making up the total number of credits to 180; some of these modules will be defined as Recommended Electives for particular programmes.

The MA in Music offers five specialisms each year as follows:

• Performance
• Musicology
• Ethnomusicology
• Composition
• Music Psychology

For MA Music Students, the 60-credit Major Research Project is linked to your chosen specialism and will be one of the following:

• Dissertation in Music. To be taken if you are specialising in musicology, ethnomusicology or music psychology.
• Portfolio of Compositions. To be produced if you are specialising in composition.
• Performance Project. To be selected if you are specialising in music performance.

Additionally, you will be required to study a 60-credit core module which, again, corresponds to your chosen specialism:

• Music Performance
• Contemporary Musicology
• Ethnomusicology in Practice and Theory
• Topics in Contemporary Compositional Techniques
• Advanced Topics in Music Psychology

With the exception of those specialising in Performance, all MA Music students are additionally required to take the following 30-credit core module:

Research Methods and Resources provides an introduction to music research and to training in research methods and resources. This module will encourage critical thinking around music research within a framework of the existing professional standards and conventions.

Remaining credits for all MA Music students will be taken from the following 30-credit modules:

• Recorded Performance Project (only available to Performance specialism students)
• Audiovisual Media Creation for Research
• Special Topic in Music (not available to Performance specialism students)
• Contemporary Musicology (not available to Performance specialism students)
• Special Topic in Performance (only available to Performance specialism students)
• Advanced Projects in Stylistic Composition and Arranging
• Ethnomusicology in Practice and Theory (not available to Performance specialism students)
• Research Experience in Music (not available to Performance specialism students)

Information for international students

If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.

Fees and funding

For further information see the course listing.