Course overview

Description

This specialist degree is designed for professionals or graduates to pursue composition, musicology or performance at postgraduate level.

Course title
Master of Music (research)
Award abbreviation
MMus
Course code
10720
Course type
Master's degree by research (thesis and creative work)
Status
Current / 2024
Administered by
Graduate Research School
CRICOS code
083361K

Course details

Intake periods
Throughout the year
Attendance type
Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
Credit points required
48
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Standard course duration
1 year
Time limit
2 years
Delivery mode
Internal
Locations offered
UWA (Perth)
Domestic fee type
RTP
Available to international students
Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

Enquiries and course advice

Course advice
Graduate Research School
6488 2807
[email protected]

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.

Specialisations

Master of Music (in composition)

Students are required to present for examination a portfolio consisting of a composition or group of compositions which show(s) advanced technical accomplishment and imaginative resource, and a thesis on a topic related to one or more aspects of the portfolio.

Master of Music (in musicology)

Students are required to present for examination a thesis or a transcription and edition of a substantial body of music to be accompanied by a critical commentary.

Master of Music (in performance)

Students are required to present for examination a recital program which demonstrates advanced artistic integrity and technical accomplishment, and a thesis on a topic related to one or more aspects of the recital.

Course structure

See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.

Rules

Definitions

In these Rules, unless the context suggests otherwise—

the Board is the Board of the Graduate Research School and includes any position to which the Board has delegated authority for a particular function;

work means scholarly writing or, in the case of the creative arts and building sciences, may mean music composition or music recitals or exhibitions or recordings or scholarly documentation of exhibitions or recordings.

Applicability of the Master's Degrees by Research Rules for courses administered by the Board of the Graduate Research School and the University's Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Master's Degrees by Research Rules for courses administered by the Board of the Graduate Research School, excluding Rules 29, 30, 66, 67 and 68, apply to the Master of Music except as set out in the rules which follow.

(2) The Student Rules, policies and procedures apply except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct and Research Integrity Unit

1.A(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct and Research Integrity unit  (the ACRI module) and complete within the first six months from the date of commencement in the course.

(2) A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACRI module when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in the rules for this course.

(3) A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of (2) is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation'.

Admission

2.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have the degree of Bachelor of Music with honours or Bachelor of Arts with honours of this University, or equivalent as recognised by the Board.

(2) An applicant for the course in composition or musicology must Pass a portfolio review and interview.

(3) An applicant for the course in performance must pass an audition and interview.

(4) The arrangements for the portfolio review and interview or audition, including the nature, duration and timing, are determined by the Head of the Conservatorium of Music.

Course requirements

3. The fields of study for the course are composition, musicology and performance.

4. A student must—

(a)(i) for the course in composition present for examination a portfolio consisting of a composition or group of compositions which show(s) advanced technical accomplishment and imaginative resource, and an 8000 to 10,000 word thesis on a topic related to one or aspects of the portfolio; or

(ii) for the course in musicology present for examination a 20,000 to 25,000 word thesis; or

(iii) for the course in performance present for examination a performance program of normally 60 to 80 minutes' duration which demonstrates advanced artistic integrity and technical accomplishment, and an 8000 to 10,000 word thesis on a topic related to one or more aspects of the performance program;

and

(b) demonstrate satisfactory attendance at, and participation in, the Conservatorium of Music's Research Seminar.

5. The word count for the thesis or critical commentary excludes tables, footnotes, endnotes, appendices and other illustrative matter.

6.(1) A student must submit the following information to the Board for approval:

(a) for the course in composition, the proposed musical forms and media of the portfolio the details of the thesis;

or

(b) for the course in musicology, details of the thesis or the transcription and edition of a substantial body of music to be accompanied by the critical commentary;

or

(c) for the course in performance, a preliminary proposal for the performance program and details of the thesis.

(2) The information referred to in (1) must be submitted within four months of the date of first enrolment in the program if the enrolment is full-time, or the equivalent as determined by the Board if the enrolment is part-time or a mixture of full- and part-time.

(3) The approval of the Board is required for any significant changes to the information referred to in (1).

Examination

7.(1) The composition portfolio and thesis, musicology thesis, or performance recital and thesis, are examined by two examiners, at least one of whom must be external to The University of Western Australia.

(2) The examiners are appointed by the Board, on the recommendation of the Head of the Conservatorium of Music.

Master of Music (in performance)

(3) For the Master of Music (in performance)  where one or both examiners are examining in person, the Head of the Conservatorium of Music must advise the Board at least two months prior to the date of the performance program, of the details of the program, including the date, venue and other relevant details.

(4) Where one or both examiners are exmining in person for the Master of Music (in performance), they are nominated by the Head of the Conservatorium of Music at least one month prior to the performance program.

(5) The performance program is recorded and the recording made available to the examiners for their consideration and subsequent archival retention.

(6) If examiners are not present at a performance program, they examine on the basis of the recording.

(7) The performance program is performed before the Head of hte Conservatorium of Music or his/her nominee.

(8) Examiners must forward to the Board their final report pertaining to the performance program and theses, and recommendations for classification.

Minimum and maximum time limits

8.(1) Unless otherwise approved by the Board, the minimum period of enrolment is eight months full-time, sixteen months if the enrolment is part-time or pro-rated if the enrolment is a mixture of full- and part-time.

(2) Unless the Board, in recognition of exceptional circumstances, grants an extension of time, a full-time student must submit the thesis within one year from the date of first enrolment, or the equivalent as determined by the Board if the enrolment is part-time or a mixture of full- and part-time.

Transfer of candidature


9.(1) The Board, on the recommendation of the head of school concerned, may permit a
student in the Master of Music (research) to upgrade candidature to the degree of Doctor of
Musical Arts.
(2) A student who wishes to upgrade to the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts must, at the
time of application for upgrade, provide a research proposal through the head of school for
the Board's approval.