Music (with performance): Performance pathway
Entry requirements
You should have, or expect to get, a 2:1 Honours degree in Music. We can consider an Honours degree in another subject if you have significant professional musical experience and relevant qualifications.
In your personal statement, please include the MA Music pathway you're applying for in the first paragraph.
All applicants for pathways in performance must submit a sample of written work. This needs to be in English and at least 1,500 words. The written work should focus on a musical topic, with academic bibliography and references.
You'll also need to present a 20-minute audition where you play a varied programme focusing on Western classical repertoire. The audition should include a brief spoken introduction to the programme, discussing the repertoire performed. This needs to be spoken in English.
All applicants are expected to submit a video-recorded audition through an internet video link, (e.g., YouTube/Vimeo/Youku or Dropbox/WeTransfer/YouSendIt). The URL should be pasted into a text document and uploaded to the application portal. The video and written work should be submitted at the same time as your application or uploaded within two weeks of submitting your application. If these aren't provided in this timeframe then your application may be declined.
Months of entry
September
Course content
Hone your skills as a performer and get ready for a brilliant career in the music industry.
Gain all the practical skills and theoretical knowledge you’ll need to perform at an advanced level. Get ready to pursue your passion for playing music as a profession as we nurture your musical development.
At Birmingham you'll receive instrumental or vocal tuition through one-to-one lessons by leading professional performers from the University or the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. You can also take advantage of the early performance opportunities available through our Collective for Early Music Performance and Research (CEMPR).
You'll develop and refine your skills as a performing musician through expert individual tuition and performance classes, seminars, and tutorials. You'll also enhance your professional skills and gain the knowledge you need to build a music career, as well as transferable skills for other career paths.
- We’ve taught music since 1905 and have a strong reputation as a Music department at the forefront of cutting edge developments in the field of practicing and studying music. This is reflected in our diverse module options covering current UK and worldwide music practices.
- Take advantage of our fantastic music facilities, such as the Bramall Music Building, and the University Music Hub’s superbly equipped recording studio and flexible rehearsal spaces.
- Turn your passion for music into your career with our practical employability module, providing you with the tools to be a successful music professional.
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in Music history, theory and performance.
- Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
- Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
- Solo recital– instead of a traditional dissertation, you’ll perform a solo recital. This will be 45 minutes long. You’ll also produce short summaries of research seminars presented during the academic year.
Information for international students
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
Fees and funding
The College of Arts and Law is a vibrant community of students and academics, dedicated to ensuring that excellence is rewarded, and that fears about finance do not constrain current or prospective students. For this reason, in addition to University funding schemes, we offer our own College-specific funding initiatives.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MA
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Postgraduate Enquiries