Master of Music
Overview
Take the next step in your music studies with a program that will enhance your existing knowledge and skills, while teaching you how to improve your creative and intellectual focus.
UQ’s Master of Music incorporates contemporary theory and practice, intensive courses and overseas independent study opportunities. This program is designed for music professionals working in school-based music education, independent studio music education, and community music education.
With a flexible study program customised to your individual career goals, you can diversify and extend your existing professional practice. Select courses according to your interests as you deepen and broaden your learning in areas such as performance, conducting and music theory, education, technology and composition.
You'll complete core courses in research methods, and a research thesis or a professional engagement project, according to your interests. You'll also select from a range of advanced elective courses, including practical studies of your instrument, choral and instrumental conducting, composition, advanced music theory and music technology.
Graduates gain the knowledge and skills required to contribute to the music profession in a range of educational, independent and community settings.
Program highlights
- Undertake advanced study designed for music educators, administrators, community musicians, composers, performers and researchers.
- Complete core courses in research methods and a research thesis, or a professional engagement project.
- Benefit from intensive courses and overseas independent study opportunities.
- Take advantage of research-focused pathways to pursue a Higher Degree by Research.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Overseas study
- Research experience
- Seminars
- Studios
- Workshops
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Music Research Methods
- Contemporary Perspectives in Music Education
- Applications of Music Technology
- Psychology for Musicians: Performing, Teaching and Wellbeing
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Head of music
- Composer
- Conductor
- Music therapist
- Vocal performer
- Instrumental performer
- Music school coordinator
- Music program director
- Music researcher
- Instrument teacher
UQ honed my critical and performance skills. One of the things I found particularly useful was the rigour of doing a thesis.
UQ honed my critical and performance skills. One of the things I found particularly useful was the rigour of doing a thesis.
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements
It's possible to complete this degree in 1.5 years or 1 year depending on your qualifications and experience.
You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements. You may also be eligible to apply for credit or exemptions to shorten your degree further. You'll graduate with the same qualification no matter how long you take to complete the degree.
1.5-year degree (24 units of study)
To be eligible to complete the degree in 1.5 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (see below), or
- the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Music from UQ*, or
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, plus 2 years full-time equivalent, relevant work experience (see below).
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
* Please note if the Graduate Certificate is used as the basis of entry into the program you will not be eligible for credit towards the Master's program.
1-year degree (16 units of study)
If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.
To be eligible to complete the degree in 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:
- a bachelor honours degree (or equivalent)** in a relevant discipline (see below).
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
**You must have completed a substantial research project in your Honours degree equivalent to at least one semester of full-time study (or part-time equivalent).
Relevant disciplines for previous qualifications
Relevant disciplines include studies in performance, composition, musicology, or music education*.
*For the field of music education, a degree qualifying a person to become a classroom music teacher satisfies the requirement.
You must have completed at least a major, field of study, or approximately 30% of program content in the discipline, including a mix of introductory and advanced courses.
Relevant work experience
Relevant work experience includes work in music teaching, arts administration, or any other profession where you have built a portfolio demonstrating your music expertise. which should be supported with evidence (see below). Applications on the basis of post-secondary study and/or work experience will be assessed individually and applicants may be required to attend an interview test.
Evidence of relevant work experience should include a letter from your employer (and/or previous employers) stating the following:
- that you work (or worked) within the specified organisation
- the nature of your work, including any relevant duties and responsibilities
- the length that you were there (i.e. 2 years)
- the level at which you worked (full-time, part-time or casual)
*if part-time or casual, please list the average amount of hours worked per week.
Related programs
Depending on your previous qualifications and current goals, you might want to consider
one of these related programs:
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Music are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$9,880
2025
$9,880
2025
Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $43,200
2025
AUD $43,200
2025
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Master of Music are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.
Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Master of Music is 5368.
This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.
When you apply, select your preferred duration. If you don't meet the requirements for your first preference, we'll automatically consider you for entry into a longer duration.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Music is 5368.
This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.
When you apply, select your preferred duration. You can also ask us to consider you for a longer duration if you don't meet the entry requirements for your first preference.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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