As a postgraduate student in Music you will join one of the most vibrant and exciting Music Departments in the world. We are an international leader both in research - ranked joint second in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise - and in student satisfaction - with an overall satisfaction score of 98% in the most recent National Student Survey.
We have an excellent record of postgraduate employment, with many former students holding academic posts at institutions such as the University of Manchester, Edinburgh University, the University of Sheffield, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the University of Malaysia, and Harvard University.
All our postgraduate programmes are available full and part-time. Some are available through a Distance Learning option. Read more about our programmes via the links below.
Taught programmes
The Music MA is a flexible programme designed to cater for those with a wide range of interests and specialisms. It is conceived as a 'next step' after the undergraduate degree, either as a stepping stone to research, as a qualification for teaching in the FE sector or simply to satisfy a thirst for development. There are 16 specialist pathways that you can choose from; each includes a range of core and optional taught modules and you will complete the course with a dissertation, recital or composition portfolio.
Scholarships
Our new Bramall Performance Scholarships are available for students starting the Choral Conducting or Performance pathways of the Music MA in September 2013.
Funding is also available for taught and research programmes through the College, AHRC and ESRC scholarship schemes. For more information on all funding opportunities, visit the College of Arts and Law Graduate School website.
Applications
All prospective students must submit sample work.
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Applicants in musicology or performance practice should send one example of their written work, of at least 2,000 words in length
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Applicants for degrees in music composition must send two or three scores and/or recordings of their previous compositional work
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All applicants for performance pathways of the MA should submit a repertoire list. Overseas applicants should also submit a DVD of their playing of approximately 20 minutes' duration; home applicants should be prepared to audition.
Sample work in musicology or performance practice should be sent to:
Dr Matthew Riley - m.j.riley@bham.ac.uk
Sample work in composition should be sent to:
Dr Scott Wilson - s.d.wilson@bham.ac.uk
Materials can also be sent by post to:Music Department, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT
N.B. Although there is not a formal deadline for applications there are deadlines for funding, and competition can be fierce for the limited number of places available each academic year. Students will not normally be considered for funding if they have not already accepted an offer. It is thus necessary to make an application to study well in advance of funding deadlines. For this reason we recommend applying as early as possible in the previous academic year.