Music (Education)

Entry requirements

Months of entry

September

Course content

About this Course

The MMus Music (Education) program is designed to deepen your theoretical and practical understanding of music education, preparing you for a career in music teaching or advanced research. On this course, you will study:

• Current trends in musicological method and critical practice.
• Key research skills in music education.
• A range of instrumental teaching techniques, styles, and methods.
• The technique, history, and repertoire of your instrument or voice, and associated performance techniques.

You will receive intensive one-to-one tuition from academic staff who are internationally noted performers and established composers in contemporary, electronic, media, and jazz music.

Key Features and Structure

• Flexible Pathways: The MMus is a broad program with four specialist pathways (Music Education, Musicology, Performance, Composition). You can mix your Music Education modules with topics from other pathways to customize the course to your interests.
• Practical Final Project: The course culminates in an 8,000 to 10,000-word final project. You can choose to submit either an extended essay or a portfolio of recorded lessons accompanied by a written commentary, allowing you to showcase practical teaching skills.
• Real-World Experience: Students gain real-world music education experience through activities like the Music Clinic and have opportunities to interact with performers and have their music played by professional musicians.
• Industry Links: The music department runs joint projects with the Turner Sims concert hall and Welsh National Opera.
• Assessment: Methods include lesson observations and reflection, essays, presentations, and the final project.
• Structure: This is a 12-month full-time master's degree. The taught part takes place over the first 9 months, with the final 3 months dedicated to your independent final project.

Career Prospects

The program equips graduates with the skills and confidence for professional roles in the cultural and educational sectors:

• Teacher (in schools or private practice).
• Further Research at a doctoral level (PhD).
• Working in the music industry or wider cultural sector.
• Working as a freelance musician.

Further Information

• Award: Master of Music (MMus)
• The course allows for a highly practical final assessment, where you can submit a portfolio of recorded lessons to demonstrate your hands-on teaching capability, backed by theoretical and critical study.

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