Introduction
The MMus in Music capitalises on research strength within the department of music and is intended for composers (vocal, instrumental, or electronic), performers, sonic artists, musicologists (of all kinds studying any genre) with a specific interest in an area of musical study. Our MMus students can design their study by selecting one or two study concentrations from four paths: Composition, Musicology, Performance, and Sonic Arts. Applicants must confirm in their application which area(s) they wish to specialise in.
At the centre of the MMus in Music is an extended project where the student can realise a large-scale project with support and supervision from specialist staff. The medium of the project will be determined by the student’s interests and research and our programme offers considerable flexibility in approach. This allows our students to build a significant portfolio of work that will work as a springboard toward their future careers whether it is in their chosen industry or in academia.
In addition to the extended project, our students take a mix of compulsory and optional courses. The MMus Programme Coordinator discusses options with individual students to ensure the best fit between available courses and student interests.
The aim of the programme is threefold:
- To provide a natural development from undergraduate programmes, both within and outwith the 51cg, to postgraduate study in the university in the areas of composition, musicology, performance or sonic arts or any combination of these paths;
- To help the students develop and explore options in their future careers in academia or in industry;
- To continue to develop the research environment in the Department of Music.
The MMus in Music will also offer an opportunity for those who have already worked for a number of years after their undergraduate or postgraduate study and would like to return to hone their chosen skills at university as part of their continuing professional development (either on a full-time or part-time basis).
Available Programmes of Study
- MMus
-
Music
- Qualification
- MMus
- Duration
- 12 months or 24 months
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Study Mode
- Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month
- September
- Location
- Aberdeen
- Qualification
- MMus
- Duration
- 12 months or 24 months
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Study Mode
- Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month
- January
- Location
- Aberdeen
Programme Fees
- UK
-
- Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year
- £11,100
- Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year (51cg Graduates *)
- £7,000
-
51cg graduates are eligible for the Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship, reducing tuition fees to £7,000 - matching the current SAAS tuition loan - See full terms and conditions
- EU / International students
-
- Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year
- £23,000
- Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year (Self-funded Students *)
- £15,000
-
The above fee includes the £8,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship provided to self-funded international students. Full terms and conditions apply.
Semester 1
Full Time Route: Students will take the courses as listed here.
Part Time Route: This route will run over two years. Students take 60 credit points in year 1(January to December) and 120 credit points in Year 2 (January to December). Students must complete 180 Credits in total.
PD5506 and PD55C1 must be taken in year 1 and MU5524 and PD50C2 must be taken in year 2.
In Year 1:
Second half-session courses (Beginning in January)
Select one elective course from list below (30 credit points)
MU5526: Equality, Equity and social Justice through Community Music (30 credit points)
MU5525: Renaissance Counterpoint (30 credit points)
Semester 1: Compulsory Courses
- Research Communication (MU5523)
-
30 Credit Points
This course provides students with an applied understanding of research communication skills relevant to all six study paths (community music, composition, music education, musicology, performance, and sonic arts). Students will engage directly with current issues in music research, experiencing and critiquing different methods of written, recorded, and oral communication. The course is structured around the departmental Music Research Seminars, but students are also expected to attend other seminar and/or events relevant to their own research practice.
- Getting Started at the 51cg (PD5506)
-
This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.
Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.
Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.
Semester 1: Optional Courses
Select ONE elective from the list below:
- Arts Management and Content Creation (FS5535)
-
30 Credit Points
This course simulates the development of an arts project, from initial proposal to a formal funding pitch, covering essential components for project success. Through case studies, readings and site visits, students will explore the ways artists and arts managers develop projects and events and build content to connect with audiences. This learning and experience will enable students to apply theoretical insights and practical strategies to their own creative concepts.
- Composition Playlist (MU5527)
-
30 Credit Points
This course is designed for master’s level composers to encounter key repertoire of contemporary music and relate new ideas to their own practice. The works studied will largely be from the Western classical tradition, but students will also have the opportunity to explore different and hybrid genres to obtain a fuller picture of today’s music making. Students will be required to regularly critique existing works as part of their formative assessment. The summative assessment will require students to show how they have assimilated new ideas and worked them into their own music.
- Making Space: Spatial Thinking in Music (MU5554)
-
30 Credit Points
Any sound, to be heard, needs space. To think about, write, and perform music, you need to consider the space or place where it is to be played. In this course – taught by a team of researchers in musicology, composition, performance, and sound art – you will explore ways in which to investigate, imagine, design, and realise sound-in-space.
Semester 2
Semester 2: Compulsory Courses
- Extended Project (MU5524)
-
60 Credit Points
This course enables students to be creative in developing their own independent and individual ideas through an extended music research project in their chosen area of study, resulting in a piece of original work. They will acquire a range of skills, techniques and understanding enabling them to become effective researchers. The exact nature of the project is the result of negotiation between supervisor (or supervisory team) and student, subject to the approval of the programme coordinator.
Semester 3
Semester 3: Compulsory Courses
- Research Practices (MU5022)
-
30 Credit Points
This course provides students with an opportunity to reflect on and develop their own research practices. Engaging with topics and methods relevant to all six of the MMus study paths (community music, composition, music education, musicology, performance, and sonic arts) the course will encourage students to engage with both novel and well-established approaches to music studies.
Semester 3: Optional Courses
Select ONE elective from the list below:
- Work - Based Placement in Film, Visual Culture, Music (FS5032)
-
30 Credit Points
This course offers students the opportunity to gain workplace experience in a field relevant to their degree. Students wishing to take FS5532 will require approval from the Course Coordinator and will be responsible for securing a suitable placement in advance of the start of Term with support from the Course Coordinator or other staff member. Work-placements will run for the equivalent of 2-weeks full-time and will involve tasks agreed by the student and project partner in consultation with the course coordinator.
- Music of Scotland (MU501U)
- Music, Health and Wellbeing (MU5035)
-
30 Credit Points
This course will explore practices and research from the fields of music, therapy, public health and medicine, to rigorously explore the relationship between music, health and wellbeing.
Students will be supported to undertake a range of self-directed research-based activities to develop a community music-based intervention in an area of their own interest.
Programme Fees
- UK
-
- Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year
- £11,100
- Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year (51cg Graduates *)
- £7,000
-
51cg graduates are eligible for the Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship, reducing tuition fees to £7,000 - matching the current SAAS tuition loan - See full terms and conditions
- EU / International students
-
- Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year
- £23,000
- Tuition Fees for 2026/27 Academic Year (Self-funded Students *)
- £15,000
-
The above fee includes the £8,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship provided to self-funded international students. Full terms and conditions apply.
- PgCert
-
Music
- Qualification
- PgCert
- Duration
- 4 months or 9 months
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Study Mode
- Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month
- January
- Location
- Aberdeen
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page. In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips.
Fee Information
Scholarships
All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students will receive an £8,000 scholarship. Learn more about this Aberdeen Global Scholarship here.
To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.
How You'll Study
Learning Methods
- Individual Projects
- Lectures
- Research
- Tutorials
Assessment Methods
Assessment is by most appropriate mode for the subject area (e.g., essay, presentation, composition, performance, etc.) and we typically have more than one option within each course to cater to students on different study paths.
Why Study Music?
- Expert tutorials and courses from specialists across the musical spectrum, including 30 hours of individual lessons for students on the performance study path.
- A wide range of interesting and imaginative courses
- Flexibility in tailoring the degree to your specialism
- A vibrant research environment offered by the Department of Music and the University
- Opportunities to join various ensembles, music societies, and research groups
- Create a multi-channel (8.2.4) electroacoustic and sonic arts project at a state-of-the-art electroacoustic studio (Bennachie EA Studio) that offers ambisonic sound acquisition and production capability
Interested in this programme?
Entry Requirements
Candidates must normally have a degree at 2(ii) or above, or equivalent qualification or proven experience in Music.
References are not required for applicants to apply. They are not usually required for a decision to be made but in certain cases, applicants may be asked to provide a single academic reference at the request of the academic selector.
An example of work relevant to the applicant’s study path is required with the application. Anyone applying for more than one study path should provide examples of work in both areas.
For performance, submit two contrasting songs/pieces totalling 7-15 minutes. By ‘contrasting’ we mean songs/pieces that showcase different aspects of the applicant’s musical and technical abilities. We will assess performers working in many genres and styles, e.g., musical theatre, pop vocals and/or classical, operatic singing. A list of our current visiting tutors for performance can be found on the Department of Music web pages. If you cannot see a tutor for your chosen study, please use the email address or Enquire Now button (above) to ask about possible tuition. Whilst we will try to accommodate specific genres/specialisms/instruments, this is not always possible. All performances submitted with applications should be recorded as if live, i.e., without significant editing. Applicants typically include a link to an online video at the end of their personal statement. The video does not need to be made to professional standards; the important thing is that it lets us assess the quality of the performance.
Details about applying for other study paths are in the box below.
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the 51cg.
For composition, submit at least two contrasting notated compositions. By ‘contrasting’ we mean compositions that showcase different aspects of the applicant’s abilities. Since most composition tuition in the Department involves some form of notation in the tradition of Western art music, we must see the scores for the submitted compositions. If applicants also wish to provide audio or video files of their compositions, we will assess those, but only the notated scores are required. Applicants typically include (a link to) score files and a brief commentary (no more than 500 words) on the submitted work. We will assess composers working in many genres and styles; what we are looking for is evidence of creativity and experimentation as well as a sufficient craft to thrive at master’s level.
For musicology, submit one essay in English of approximately 2000 words. We can assess essays on any music-related topic, and we welcome students adopting any methodological approach (ethnographic, historical, theoretical, etc). The main things we are looking for are coherent academic English and evidence of engagement with relevant scholarly literature (e.g., references to academic sources). We hope to see evidence of a reflective approach to the topic, ideally engaging with recent debates in the field.
For sonic arts, submit at least two contrasting compositions that make good use of technology, which can include electronic music, soundscape composition, audio-visual composition & sound design and music for film and/or games. By 'contrasting' we mean compositions that showcase different aspects of the applicant's technical and creative abilities. Applicants typically include (a link to) audio files and a brief commentary (no more than 500 words) on the submitted work.
Careers
Students entering the MMus might have specific career aspirations from the start, i.e., composition or musicology, or they may want to use the programme as a route to further study (i.e., a PhD). We also welcome students wishing to generalise and simply learn more about their subject.
The courses are designed for in-depth work and to enable students to understand and experience a number of different aspects of music research and the music profession. The degree can also be used as an entry to other professions, as is the case with other postgraduate degrees, where subject specialism is not important.
Our Experts
- Programme Coordinator
- Dr John De Simone
Information 51cg Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions
51cg
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX