Bachelor of Music

Admission to UC with University Entrance (or equivalent) is required to enrol.

If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.

Performance courses

Entry to Performance courses MUSA 141 Performance Major 1A and MUSA 143 Performance Non-Major 1 (instrument or voice) is limited. Places are awarded on the basis of a School of Music audition.

Applications for the Performance courses should be made to Te Kura Puoro | School of Music no later than 20 September 2020. Early auditions begin 22 August 2020.

Composition and song writing courses

For entry into MUSA 120 Song Writing 1 and MUSA 121 Notated Composition 1A, we would like to hear some of your own songs along with a description of your musical interests. Please apply to Te Kura Puoro | School of Music by 31 January 2021.

The Bachelor of Music requires a total of 360 points:

• 135 points of compulsory Music courses
• at least 120 points towards a major
• 120 points of courses in Music or from other degrees.

A minimum of 225 points must be from courses above 100-level, with at least 90 points at 300-level (60 points of which must be from Music courses).

MusB students complete a major in the degree. Each major has specific course requirements, but all consist of a minimum of 120 points.

The degree takes 3 years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to 10 years.

For study planning help, contact Te Rōpū Takawaenga o UC | UC Liaison Office (new students) or a Te Rāngai Toi Tangata | College of Arts Student Advisor (advancing students).

Double degrees

It is possible to combine a Bachelor of Music with other degrees, such as the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, or Bachelor of Commerce.

Find out more information about Double degrees.

The Bachelor of Music is a highly flexible degree, including core courses in music production, performance, and community. Students have considerable flexibility in choosing their courses in the second and third years of the degree, from Music and other subject areas.

Students will also undertake courses from their chosen major throughout the degree.

See ‘How do I plan my degree?’ above for an example degree structure diagram.

Music majors

Students can choose from one of the following major subjects:

• Musical Culture
• New Music
• Performance

Compulsory courses

All students in the MusB take core Music courses in their first and second years.

Year 1

• MUSA 100 Essentials in Music Techniques
• MUSA 101 Musicianship, Harmony and Analysis 1
• MUSA 125 Music Technologies
• MUSA 131 Songs, Symphonies and Samples: Music in a Changing World
• MUSA 150 Music in Aotearoa New Zealand

Year 2

• MUSA 200 Musicianship, Harmony and Analysis 2
• MUSA 201 Harmony and Score-Reading
• MUSA 250 Music in our Community

Plus one of:

• MUSA 231 The European Concert Tradition
• MUSA 232 Musics of the World
• MUSA 233 Popular Music in Context
• MUSA 234 Contemporary Music

Optional courses

All students in the MusB must complete 120 points in additional courses from Music or other subjects at UC across their degree studies.

Including the required courses in your chosen major, at least 75 points must be at 200-level, and at least 90 points must be at 300-level (with 60 points of 300-level Music).

Additional Music courses include notated composition, songwriting, popular music genres, Kapa Haka and Māori performances, acoustics and recording techniques, chamber choir, performances, and music internships.

Note that some 100-level performance and songwriting courses are limited entry and require an application, audition, or a portfolio. See 'Entry requirements' above for more information.