Teaching & modules
Teaching methods - what to expect
If you are studying the Music Studies Specialism, we will give you six to eight hours of teaching each week (if you are a part-time student, three to four hours) through seminars, and we will expect you to undertake 24 hours of self-study (12 hours for part-time).
If you are studying the Composition Specialism, we will give you an average of four hours of teaching each week (two hours if you are a part-time student) through seminars and one-to-one teaching, and we will expect you to undertake 26 hours of self-study (13 hours for part-time).
If you are studying the Performance Specialism, we will give you an average of five hours of teaching each week (two to three hours if you are a part-time student) through seminars and one-to-one teaching, and we will expect you to undertake 25 hours of self-study (12.5 hours for part-time).
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Modules
Required modules
Music Studies Specialism. You are required to take:
- Special Study in Music Studies (60 credits)
- Approaches to Music Research 1 (30 credits)
- Approaches to Music Research 2 (30 credits)
Composition Specialism. You are required to take
- Special Study in Composition (60 credits)
- Introduction to Contemporary Composition (45 credits)
- Composing for Ensemble (45 credits)
Performance Specialism. You are required to take:
- Special Study in Performance (60 credits)
- Creative Practice in Music Studies (45 credits)
- Performance as Research (45 credits)
Optional Modules
Music Studies Specialism
In addition to the Compulsory Modules for Music Studies, you are required to take 60 credits from a range of optional modules that may typically include:
- Topics in Music before 1700 (15 credits)
- Topics in Eighteenth Century Music (15 credits)
- Topics in Nineteenth Century Music (15 credits)
- Topics in Music of the Twentieth/Twenty-First Centuries (15 credits)
- Topics in Opera (15 credits)
- Topics in Jazz and Popular Music (15 credits)
- Regional Studies in Music Research (15 credits)
- Global Music Histories (15 credits)
- Music and Performance (15 credits)
- Orchestration (15 credits)
- Topics in Music Theory and Aesthetics
- Topics in Music Research (15 credits)
Or from the Composition Specialism:
- Introduction to Contemporary Composition (45 credits)
Or from the Performance Specialism:
- Creative Practice Portfolio (45 credits)
Composition Specialism
In addition to the Compulsory Modules for Composition, you are required to take 30 credits from the postgraduate Music Studies modules, such as those listed above; from Master’s modules offered across the Faculty of Arts & Humanities; or from MMus modules (excluding performance and composition) offered by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
Performance Specialism
In addition to the Compulsory Modules for Performance, you are required to take 30 credits from the postgraduate Music Studies modules, such as those listed above; from Master’s modules offered across the Faculty of Arts & Humanities; or from MMus modules (excluding performance and composition) offered by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
Part-Time Students: Part-time students have some flexibility in how they divide their studies across the two years, but at least half of the optional modules required for the degree should usually be taken in the first year of the programme.
The 30-credit and 45-credit compulsory modules for the different specialisms should be taken in the first year (7AAMM100 & 7AAMM110 for Music Studies; 7AAMM106 & 7AAMM107 for Composition; 7AAMM151 & 7AAMM152 for Performance).
The 60-credit Special Study module (7AAMM051 for Music Studies; 7AAMM050 for Composition; 7AAMM150 for Performance) must be taken in the second (final) year.
Application closing date guidance
Key Information
Course type:
Master's
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time / Part time
Duration:
One year full-time, September to September, two years part-time
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2026