MA Music

Our MA Music programme is an opportunity to challenge yourself academically and musically, while developing a specialism in performance, composition or music studies.

We place an emphasis on flexibility and student choice. You'll be able to personalise a significant proportion of your study, tailoring the programme to meet your career goals and ambitions.

You'll study in a research-led university environment and have the opportunity to engage with new research from scholars at Cardiff University and beyond.

This programme is suited to performers, composers and music scholars with an interest in developing their area of expertise, learning valuable skills, and exploring a relevant course of study.
Career prospects - Our graduates will have a broad spectrum of knowledge relating to the specialised subject and variety of skills, making them highly attractive both to potential employers and research establishments. Preparing for, and leading towards, the PhD in Music, the MA has been designed to provide graduates with advanced knowledge, understanding and skills in the chosen area of study. 93% of responding graduates between 2010 and 2013 reported that they are in full-time, part-time, self or unpaid employment and/or continuing study. Those graduates have entered a range of roles, including musicologist, administrator, music manager, freelance musician, research development officer and music teacher. Our annual series of talks on Careers in Music offer a great chance to meet professionals active in a range of fields such as performance, music education, music journalism, arts and artist management, production and licensing, and composing for media.

Typically, you will need to have either:

a 2:1 honours degree in music or other relevant subject area such as anthropology, cultural studies, film and media studies, history, politics, or philosophy, or an equivalent international degree
a university-recognised equivalent academic qualification.
English Language requirements:

IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or an accepted equivalent.

Other essential requirements:

You will also need to provide:

two references, at least one of which should be an academic reference
a personal statement which
demonstrates your interest in the programme and your background in the field of study
states the name of the pathway you are interested in applying to - Composition, Music Studies, or Performance
covers specific requirements for your chosen pathway (one of the following)
Composition - addresses your style and rationale for your compositions, looking at techniques, imagination and confidence in approach
Music Studies - information on your musical experience
Performance - discussion and evidence of your knowledge of performance, style, and technique
additional evidence for your chosen pathway
Composition - provide three notated scores in either Sibelius, Finale, or PDF. Audio links of these pieces would also be helpful but you will not be penalised if these cannot be provided
Music Studies - provide an essay which is the best example of your undergraduate work (in English or Welsh). The essay should be of 1500-2000 words about a specific topic (e.g., a composer, piece, musical practice) which demonstrates your knowledge of leading scholars, contemporary theories, and relevant literature in the field. The essay should include citations and a comprehensive bibliography. Unless discussing ethnography, narratives about musical experience should be in your personal statement rather than essay sample
Performance - provide a link to an online audition showing an unedited video performance of two contrasting pieces of music, with your face and hands visible at all times to show technique (performance evidence).
TOEFL (iBT) - At least 90 overall with minimum scores of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking
International Baccalaureate Language A- HL 4 or SL 5