Master of Music

What you will study

At UQ, a unit represents the value of individual courses that contribute to the total unit requirements of a program. Most UQ courses have a value of two units, though some may vary depending on the program or course structure.

To earn the Master of Music, you must complete requirements totalling 24 units, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.

The course structure below is based on the 1.5-year pathway, which requires 24 units of study. Students admitted to the one-year pathway complete 16 units of study, with the remaining eight units awarded as recognised prior learning.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Entry requirements vary depending on the course duration. Applicants must meet the academic and professional requirements for their selected pathway.

1.5-year pathway

To be eligible for the 1.5-year pathway, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Hold UQ’s Graduate Certificate in Music or Graduate Diploma in Music.
• Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline and have at least two years of full-time equivalent relevant work experience.
• Have successfully completed three years of study towards an approved qualification at an overseas partner institution with a formal pathway to the 1.5-year Master of Music.

Applicants must also have achieved a GPA of at least 4.0 on UQ’s seven-point scale in the qualification used to meet the entry requirements.

Applicants using UQ’s Graduate Certificate in Music as the basis for admission will not receive credit from that qualification towards the master’s degree.

One-year pathway

To be eligible for the one-year pathway, applicants must:

• Hold a bachelor honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline
• Have completed a substantial research project within the honours qualification equivalent to at least one semester of full-time study or part-time equivalent
• Have achieved a GPA of at least 4.0 on UQ’s seven-point scale in the qualification used to meet the entry requirements

The one-year pathway comprises 16 units of study and eight units of recognised prior learning.

Relevant disciplines

Relevant disciplines include Performance, Composition, Musicology and Music Education.

Previous study must include a major, field of study or approximately 30% of the qualification in the relevant discipline, incorporating both introductory and advanced study.

For Music Education, a qualification that prepares graduates to work as classroom music teachers meets the relevant-discipline requirement.

Relevant work experience

Relevant work experience may include music teaching, arts administration or another profession through which the applicant has established a portfolio demonstrating music expertise.

Applications based on post-secondary study or relevant professional experience are assessed individually. Applicants may also be required to attend an interview or complete a test.

Supporting documents

Applicants relying on relevant work experience must provide a letter from their current or previous employer confirming:

• The organisation in which they were employed
• Their relevant duties and responsibilities
• The length of their employment
• Whether the employment was full-time, part-time or casual
• Their average weekly working hours if employed part-time or casually

English-language requirements

Applicants must meet UQ’s English-language proficiency requirements. Published minimum scores include:

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in each component
• TOEFL iBT: 87 overall, including 19 in listening, 19 in reading, 21 in writing and 19 in speaking
• PTE Academic: 64 overall, with at least 60 in each communicative skill
• Bridging English: an overall grade of at least 4, with at least a grade of C in each macro skill
• Cambridge English Scale: 176 overall, with at least 169 in each skill

OET is not accepted. Other approved qualifications and pathways may also be used to meet UQ’s English-language requirements. Contact the university for further information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

Potential career outcomes include:

• Head of Music
• Composer
• Conductor
• Music Therapist
• Vocal Performer
• Instrumental Performer
• Music School Coordinator
• Music Program Director
• Music Researcher
• Instrument Teacher

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $10,515 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

• The number of units studied.
• Choice of units.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

• Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
• Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
• Reviewed and adjusted each year.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

HECS-HELP loans are available to eligible CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.