Master of Music

New Zealand

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What will I learn?

Achieve excellence in your main field of musical interest with this internationally recognised qualification.

Programme overview

The Master of Music (MMus) is designed to further develop your musical skills, enabling entry to a high-level career in many areas of music. At masters level, you are able to specialise in one of four distinct areas – performance, composition, musicology or studio pedagogy.

You will have the chance to investigate your individual interests and talents, engage in independent thought about music and critically analyse the theories and practices that influence your discipline.

Programme structure

The MMus is a 120-point or 180-point degree and is available as a research or taught option.

The research masters is ideally suited to students who want to work on a major project. This can include several different elements or with a focus on a single topic. Within the research option, you can also study a selection of elective (taught) courses.

In a taught masters you can choose from a wide range of elective courses, allowing you to explore a variety of subject areas in addition to completing a smaller research project.

Both research and taught options are available from a broad choice of areas including classical performance, jazz, popular music, music education, composition, music technology/production, musicology and more.

You'll also need to meet other requirements, including time limits and total points limits. See Postgraduate enrolment.

Where could this programme take you?

Postgraduate study in music boosts your potential to build a successful performance or composition career. It also helps to secure a future in academia and research, contributing to influential projects in music and the wider arts community.

Jobs related to this programme

Academic

Arranger/composer

Arts director

Instrumental teacher

Music educator

Music journalist

Music producer

Performer

Further study options

Doctor of Philosophy

Which department am I in?

Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries

Study options

Full Time (1 Year)

Tuition fees
NZ$43,242.90 (US$ 25,795) per year
Accommodation - Starting 315 per week

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

December 2025

Venue

City Campus

Alfred Nathan House, 24 Princes Street,

Auckland,

1142, North Island, New Zealand

Full Time (1 Year)

Tuition fees
NZ$43,242.90 (US$ 25,795) per year
Accommodation - Starting 315 per week

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

December 2024

Venue

City Campus

Alfred Nathan House, 24 Princes Street,

Auckland,

1142, North Island, New Zealand

Entry requirements

For international students

Taught and Research 120 points: You need to have completed a one-year postgraduate degree, after an undergraduate degree, in music or a similar field indicative of advanced study in music. Your study must have been at a recognised university (or similar institution) and you will need a GPE of 4.0 or higher.

Taught and Research 180 points: Your Bachelors degree must be in a relevant discipline (arts, creative arts, education, humanities, or performing arts). It should have included a music component and the study must have been completed at a recognised university (or similar institution).

IELTS (Academic): Overall score of 6.5 and bands less than 6.0; Internet-based TOEFL (iBT): Overall score of 90 and written score of 21; Paper-based TOEFL: Overall score of 68 and a writing score of 21; Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) or Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE): Overall score of 176 and no bands below 169; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: Overall score of 58 and no PTE Communicative score below 50; Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP): Grade of B-; Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB): 85.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s largest and most highly ranked university, with a global reputation for academic excellence.

  • Ranked 65th globally (QS World Rankings 2025)
  • New Zealand’s largest research organisation
  • Outstanding student support and excellent facilities
  • 13th in the world in THE University Impact Rankings 2024