Music: Musicology and Sound Studies pathway
Entry requirements
You should have, or expect to get, a 2:1 Honours degree in Music.
We can consider an Honours degree in another subject if you have significant professional musical experience and relevant qualifications.
In your personal statement, please include the MA Music pathway you're applying for in the first paragraph. All applicants for the Musicology and Sound Studies pathway must submit a sample of written work. This needs to be in English and at least 3,000 words. The written work should focus on a musical topic, with academic bibliography and references. You'll need to submit the document at the same time as your application, or upload this within two weeks of submitting your application. If the written work isn't provided in this timeframe, then your application may be declined.
Months of entry
September
Course content
Deepen your understanding of how music has developed across time and different cultures by exploring musicology and sound studies.
Combine teaching with opportunities to be inspired by live music on campus and in the city. Whichever music period you're fascinated by, discover weekly free lunchtime concerts at our Elgar Concert Hall and a variety of musical performances in the city and beyond.
- Our diverse study options include modules such as ‘Historically Informed Performance’, ‘Introduction to Global Popular Musics’ and ‘Postsocialist Music and Ethnography’.
- Get ready to turn your passion for music into your career, with our practical employability module, providing you with the tools to be a successful music professional.
- Top 10 for Music in the UK (Complete University Guide 2026).
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in Music history, theory and performance.
- Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
- Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
- Dissertation – you'll undertake a 15,000-word dissertation in an area that interests you. You'll also attend and to write short summaries of research seminars presented during the academic year.
Information for international students
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
Fees and funding
The College of Arts and Law is a vibrant community of students and academics, dedicated to ensuring that excellence is rewarded, and that fears about finance do not constrain current or prospective students. For this reason, in addition to University funding schemes, we offer our own College-specific funding initiatives.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MA
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Postgraduate Enquiries