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MA in Music (by Research): Contemporary Studies

UK

What will I learn?

Our MA in Music (by research) is ideal for those individuals who would prefer to study independently through a research project, with guided supervision from an expert within their chosen field of research.

Your research

This course is aimed at both high-level creators interested in composition, production and musical analysis, and those wishing to develop tools for other content, including composers, performers and analysts.

Guided by your supervisor, you'll work through a series of structured elements, with your final submission being either:

a dissertation between 30,000 and 40,000 words on your registered topic, Â鶹ԭ´´ a comprehensive resource list (including scores, analyses, articles, books and concert ephemera, internet and audio-visual resources). Candidates in musicology, ethnomusicology or analysis will normally follow this route, but it is not exclusively limited to these subjects; or

a portfolio of compositions for any instrument, voice, ensemble, audio media or multimedia, with an accompanying critical commentary. The commentary will draw out the research embedded in the practice, discussing aspects of the compositional processes and situating the work in a research context; or

a portfolio of performance projects, fully documented through video/audio recordings, and submitted Â鶹ԭ´´ a critical commentary. The commentary will draw out the research embedded in the practice, discussing aspects of the performance processes and situating the work in a research context.

Contemporary Studies research area

Delve deeper into creative processes in contemporary music and sound art, and consider related cultural and critical issues.

You should have a research proposal that sets out the topic and research techniques to be used, with experience in your chosen mode of research. This can be primarily practical, rooted in performance, composition, and/or improvisation, or more theoretical and musicological. You have the option to combine practical and theoretical perspectives on the chosen topic by submitting a portfolio of work that includes creative research Â鶹ԭ´´ theoretical investigation.

You should also have some understanding of the range and variety of current musical practices (in composition, performance or improvisation, installation, sound art, music theatre, radio and web-based work, etc), and ability to contextualise this in relation to recent musicology or other theoretical perspectives.

Which department am I in?

Music

Study options

Full Time (1 year)

Tuition fees
£29,900.00 (32,57,790) per year
This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please

Start date

January 2025

Venue

University of York

Heslington,

York,

YO10 5DD, NORTHERN ENGLAND, England

Entry requirements

For international students

You should have a 2:1 or above in relevant university degree or approved equivalent qualification, or equivalent professional experience. English language requirements: IELTS 6.0, with no less than 5.5 in each component, TOEFL 79, with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.

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

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About University of York

The University of York is based in the historic city of York, regularly named one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.

  • Awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
  • Part of the Russell Group of 24 leading UK universities
  • York is consistently ranked as one of the top UK universities
  • More than 20,000 students from over 150 countries