Music (Composition)

Entry requirements

Months of entry

September

Course content

About this Course

The MMus Music (Composition) program gives you the opportunity to specialize intensively in musical composition. You will engage with:

• Current trends in composition.
• 20th and 21st century musical developments.
• Aesthetic, technical, and critical issues in modern compositional practice.
• In-depth analysis of your chosen compositional genres, materials, techniques, and forms.

The course is taught by academic staff who are internationally noted performers and established composers of contemporary art music, electronic music, media music (for film, TV, and video games), and jazz. These experts provide intensive one-to-one tuition.

Key Features and Structure

• Composition Portfolio: The program culminates in the creation of a final composition portfolio (35 minutes of music with a 3,000-word commentary, or 40 minutes with a 1,000-word commentary).
• Flexible Pathways: The MMus is a broad program with four specialist pathways (Composition, Performance, Musicology, Music Education). You can mix composition modules with topics from other pathways to develop a wider skill set and personalize the course.
• Facilities & Resources: You will have access to specialist facilities, including:
• Recording studios and specialist music software.
• A loud rehearsal room and practice rooms.
• Use of the Turner Sims concert hall facilities for recitals.
• Industry Engagement: Students are encouraged to get involved in workshops and masterclasses; a past student highlighted getting involved in workshops with the BBC Singers as an inspiring experience.
• Structure: This is a 12-month full-time master's degree. The first 9 months consist of taught modules (refining professional writing and presentation skills), and the final 3 months (over the summer) are dedicated to the independent composition portfolio.

Career Prospects

The MMus in Composition prepares you to work professionally in the music and wider cultural sector, or to pursue further academic study. Graduates are ready to:

• Work as a freelance musician or composer.
• Continue research at a doctoral level (PhD).
• Work in the music industry or wider cultural sector.
• Become a teacher.

Further Information

• Award: Master of Music (MMus)
• The course is highly practical and focused on developing your artistic output, culminating in a significant portfolio of original music which forms the core of your final assessment.

Information for international students

If English is not your first language, you will need to demonstrate your English is at a level of our band C: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in all components. For more information on accepted English Language tests, please see our website.

Fees and funding

A variety of scholarships, grants and bursaries may be available to help you fund your master’s study, both from the University and from other organisations. Please check the website for more information - https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/funding/postgraduate.page