Why study music at UQ?

UQ is the ultimate destination for musicians eager to connect their passion for music with the broader world and chart a successful career path.

With inspiring courses led by nationally and internationally acclaimed music professionals, our students have access to first-class services, specialist facilities, and thrilling research and international study opportunities through UQ’s exceptional exchange programs.

If music is your passion and you want to build a meaningful career, we can help you excel at your craft and explore new horizons. Studying music at UQ will equip you with the transferrable skills needed to adapt to a changing professional world.

Read on to find out why UQ is considered one of the best music universities in Australia for turning your musical dreams into reality.

Boost your employability with dual degrees and diverse courses

Embarking on a Bachelor of Music program alongside another degree can be an incredibly enriching experience and open up a world of opportunities for employability.

This combination allows you to dive deep into your musical passions while simultaneously acquiring skills and a qualification in another field, such as business, education, or science.

The interdisciplinary approach fosters innovation, critical thinking, and adaptability – qualities highly sought after in today's dynamic job market.

With 6 dual degrees to choose from at UQ, the opportunities to create a skillset unique to you and your career path are endless:

• Bachelors of Music / Arts
• Bachelors of Music / Education (Secondary)
• Bachelors of Music / Science
• Bachelor of Music / Diploma in Languages
• Bachelors of Music / Mathematics
• Bachelors of Music / Business Management

Alternatively, you can also study music under UQ’s Bachelor of Arts. With 3 distinct areas to choose from, this approach allows you to immerse yourself in the world of music while also benefitting from the diverse curriculum of the BA.

Choose to major or minor in:

• Music
• Popular Music (Minor only)
• Music Psychology (Minor only)

What can you do with a music degree at UQ?

UQ’s long tradition of excellence in musicianship ensures we grow with the times. We review and expand our curriculum to make sure our graduates have broad knowledge and strong foundations for any and all musical careers.

Choose from courses such as:

• music psychology
• music education
• musicology
• composition
• music technology.

Learn how to:

• compose film and game music
• analyse music in media
• manage collaborative media projects
• develop your creative voice as a musician in today’s music industry.

What jobs can you get with a music degree from UQ?

With all these options and pathways available, you can create an exciting music career that matches your interests. You could find yourself:

• working on the international stage
• producing electronic music with certified trainers
• becoming a qualified secondary music teacher
• exploring the psychology of music.

Many of our graduates go on to perform with or compose for major orchestras and ensembles, while others find fulfilling careers in education, arts administration, and various industries that benefit from the creative mind of a musician.

Meet UQ Graduate of the Year (2024), Stacey Weir

Stacey is an accomplished cellist and experienced teacher of both cello and piano. She has earned numerous high-profile performance opportunities with acclaimed musical group Nonsemble.

Stacey recently founded her own private music tuition business and now coaches students alongside her Master of Audiology Studies and duties as a research assistant in the UQ School of Music.

Learn from the best

Classes are led by music experts with real-world experience, who nurture your strengths and help you become the best musician you can be. You will work with academic staff who are celebrated around the world as performers, teachers, composers and researchers.

You’ll have the chance to undertake practical music-making through both individual lessons and a wide variety of ensembles. You can also take part in instrument and voice workshops, and masterclasses with internationally acclaimed visiting artists.

One of Australia’s leading musicians and educators joined UQ as the Kinnane Professor of Music earlier this year.

Celebrated internationally as a clarinettist, composer, teacher and artistic director, Paul Dean is now teaching composition, clarinet and music history to UQ students, as well as leading the UQ Symphony Orchestra.

“I also hope to encourage the broader UQ community to consider the valuable role that music and the arts play in communities across the globe,” Professor Dean said.

Get hands-on experience

Employability pathways and work integrated learning experiences are central to the culture of UQ’s School of Music.

You’ll learn alongside and perform with our industry networks, through internship and mentoring partnerships with major Queensland performing arts organisations. There are also opportunities to engage with the community through a regular concert series that features performances from staff and student ensembles as well as high profile guests.

In the past, our students have undertaken work experiences with Opera Queensland, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Musica Viva, Brisbane Festival, 4MBS Classic FM and other industry partners. They’ve engaged in a range of activities from solo and choral performances to chamber music, world music, early music, and contemporary ensembles.

Our partnership with Opera Queensland includes an annual tour to regional Queensland for the Festival of Outback Opera, where our students perform with leading artists. Instrumental students perform alongside musicians from the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and vocal students alongside international superstars such as Sumi Jo and Kate Miller-Heidke.

Study music at UQ and you too could experience the unforgettable landscape of the great Australian Outback coming to life in an array of sound through spectacular open-sky concerts, pop-up performances, panel discussions and events.

Head of UQ’s School of Music Professor Liam Viney said this partnership shows students how to work in a professional environment with industry leaders, while giving them an insight into regional Queensland and what the arts can do for the community.

“We have been strengthening ties with Opera Queensland in recent years, which allows our student singers, instrumentalists and composers to collaborate at the highest level with one of QLD's premier major performing arts organisations,” Professor Viney said.

Lecturer in music technology Dr Chris Perren says the music industry can be difficult to navigate, but UQ’s technology course creates practical outcomes and provides music students with industry experience.

“From music production to digital content and media management, web design, copywriting, project management and communication, students are constantly building their portfolios,” Dr Perren said.

“We work to connect our students with the wider Brisbane and Australian music scenes and build a reputation for passionate and adventurous projects.”

Meet Bachelor of Arts (Popular Music) alum, Jamaine Wilesmith aka Durriwiyn

Jamaine wrote, co-mixed and co-produced Little Bird, which was recorded by fellow students as part of a collaborative Work Integrated Learning project.

“Normally I’d be nervous singing about these things in front of my friends, but having my classmates there was soothing in a way,” Jamaine said.

“Recording in the studio with them was great fun and it actually made me more comfortable.”

Be exposed to innovative research

Groundbreaking research and a culture of excellence places the UQ School of Music in the ranks of the world's best universities.

Our award-winning researchers specialise in diverse areas such as:

• creativity
• collaboration
• composition
• improvisation
• music education
• early learning
• artistic practice
• Western art music
• popular music
• technology
• psychology of music
• musicians’ health.

The School also arranges seminars and conferences to present and discuss the latest discoveries in music research.

Renowned for practice-based research, our experts excel in creative collaboration, genre mixing, embodied performance and cross-artform creativity.

Take the CREATE Lab for example. This cutting-edge media arts hub where technology meets creativity will open at St Lucia campus later this year.

Led by Associate Professor Eve Klein, CREAT Lab will unite advanced audio-visual tools under one roof for arts experimentation.

“With immersive sound systems and powerhouse graphics workstations, CREATE Lab will amplify diverse voices and bridge community gaps.” Professor Klein said. 

“From studying VR motion sickness to examining how generative AI reshapes live performance, the facility will shine new light on how media and technology interact with the arts and human experience.”

Undertake exciting international study opportunities

Cultural engagement is also a high priority for the UQ School of Music. Selective cohorts of elite musicians travel abroad to immerse themselves in collaborative concerts and programs.

In 2019, UQ music students went on tour to China to join forces with the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra (XSO), where they had the opportunity to experience an international professional performance while being immersed in an intensive cultural engagement.

The UQ performers worked alongside professional Chinese musicians in a week-long rigorous rehearsal schedule that culminated in a major concert of the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra’s season.

Choose UQ for your studies in music and you could see yourself jetting overseas to perform in an internationally-renowned ensemble, delving into the latest music research, learning from talented experts eager to help you succeed, and combining your skills in other fields with your love for music.