Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts [CB038] : Handbook 2025 : The University of Western Australia

Students should ensure they review the Course Structure information provided on the Course Details page for their Bachelor’s Degree. It is essential that students complete any Foundation units identified in that information at the earliest available opportunity in their studies. For those degrees which do not identify any Foundation Units, the necessary fundamental knowledge is incorporated within each degree specific major in your course. Where Foundation units are identified, they are essential and are chosen to provide fundamental knowledge which will assist you throughout the remainder of your studies. In some cases these foundation units are also essential prerequisites to enable you to undertake required units within your chosen majors, so these units should always be completed as early as possible in your course.

Students can access specific major pages through the handbook search function.

Course overview

Description: The Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts is an advanced, practical degree offering specialisations for composers, electronic musicians, musicologists, and performers, and another specialisation within an Arts discipline. The degree enables students to significantly expand their thinking about music and sound art; to hone their practical skills and technique to an international standard; to work with experts in the field and collaborate with visiting artists and scholars; to establish lifelong skills in communication and critical thinking; and to develop the skills and expertise relevant to a specialisation within a related or non-related Arts discipline. The degree provides a firm foundation for postgraduate study in music, as well as for a variety of careers within the music profession, such as performer, composer, academic, educator, administrator, and a range of other professions in the Arts and beyond. Graduates of this course will demonstrate both specific and transferable skills that are highly valued by employers, making them competitive in the job market.
Course code: CB038
Status: Current / 2025
Administered by: School of Music
Course Coordinator(s): Head of Conservatorium of Music
CRICOS code: 115051M

Course details

Credit points required: 192
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Structure: 192 points comprising 32 six-point units. Students normally take eight units each year, four in each semester.
Available to international students: Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Attendance type: Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
Delivery mode: Internal
Standard full-time completion: 4 years
Standard part-time completion: 8 years (maximum 12 years)
Locations offered: UWA (Perth)
First Degree major(s): Students should take a degree-specific major from the BP008 - Bachelor of Music
Second Degree major(s): Students should take a degree-specific major from the BP001 - Bachelor of Arts
excluding the majors listed below:
MJD-PSYCH Psychological and Behavioural Sciences
Domestic fee type: Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP; or postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
Fees: Visit the fees calculator.

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.

Course structure

Key to availability of units:

All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.

Students undertaking the Creative Music Technology of the BMus may not enrol in either MJD-MUSCO Contemporary Popular Music major or MJD-MEMSD Music: Electronic Music and Sound Design major

Rules

Title
1. These rules are the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts Degree Combined Course Rules.

Terms Used

2. The Glossary provides an explanation of the terms used in these rules.

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

3.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials module

4.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in an undergraduate degree course of the University for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module), Communication and Research Skills (the CARS module) and Indigenous Studies Essentials (the ISE module) in the teaching period in which they are first enrolled.

(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module or the ISE module is not required to repeat the relevant module.

English Language competency requirements

5. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

6.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) achieved an ATAR of at least 75, or equivalent as recognised by UWA; and meet the additional requirements stated at (2) below

(b) an assured pathway offer;

(c) a place in a relevant UWA access program.

and

(2) Successful audition with the Conservatorium of Music

(3) The specific prerequisites for each non-BMus major as stated within the UWA Handbook.

Admission ranking and selection

7. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

Transfer Requirements

8.(1) A student enrolled in an undergraduate degree course at UWA may apply to transfer into this combined degree course if they satisfy the following conditions:

(a) the student has not commenced their final semester of enrolment in their current course;

and

(b) the course transfer is undertaken within the two transfer windows in each academic year;

and

(c) there are no quotas preventing the student from enrolling in a major or unit in which the student seeks to enrol; and
(2) the student has completed a minimum of 24 points of study in their current course and achieved a WAM of at least 60

Course structure

9.(1)

The Combined Bachelor's degrees consists of 192 credit points (normally 32 units), comprising:

(a) no more than 96 credit points (normally 16 units) at Level 1; and

(b) at least 96 credit points (normally 16 units) completed at Level 2 and Level 3, including at least 36 credit points (normally 6 units) at Level 3; and

(c) a degree-specific major for the BP008 - Bachelor of Music :

(d) a degree-specific major for the BP001 - Bachelor of Arts except the majors listed below:

MJD-PSYCH Psychological and Behavioural Sciences

and(e) any relevant foundation units.

and(2) Students may choose to undertake an additional major from any undergraduate degree, provided the student will be able to complete all nominated majors and minors within 192 credit points.

Exit awards

10.(1) This course has the following exit awards:

BP008 - Bachelor of Music
BP001 - Bachelor of Arts

(2)(a) A student who withdraws from the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts before completing it, but after completing a minimum of 144 credit points of study, including all requirements of the Bachelor of Music, may apply to the School to be awarded the BP008 - Bachelor of Music.

(b) A student who withdraws from the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts before completing it, but after completing a minimum of 144 credit points of study, excluding the following majors, may apply to the School to be awarded the BP001 - Bachelor of Arts.

MJD-PSYCH Psychological and Behavioural Sciences

Satisfactory progress

11.(1) To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

(2) A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module or the ISE module when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress.

(3) A student who fails a unit twice is not permitted to enrol again in that unit unless the relevant board approves otherwise.

Progress status

12.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances —

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 11(1) is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 11(1) is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 11(1) is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded';

(d) a student who does not make satisfactory progress under Rule 11(2) is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation' unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to make satisfactory progress under Rule 11(1).

Deferrals

13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).

UWA Handbook 2025