Course summary
If you want to take your musical knowledge to the highest level then our MMus is the place to start. The course will develop your technical, conceptual and critical skills, allowing you to specialise in performance, composition, production and/or critical writing. You will guided by internationally-renowned staff and supported by stunning facilities. With the MMus under your belt you'll be perfectly placed to pursue PhD study if you wish, or to enter the world of professional music making. What's more the MMus course is designed to fit within our MA Creative and Cultural Industries Suite, meaning you can share modules with our student sound designers, photographers, dancers, journalists, game designers and learn collaboratively from them as well as specialising in your chosen musical discipline. The curriculum is designed to take your specialisms to an advanced level, including undertaking an extensive independent practical project or dissertation of your choosing, while developing a keen sense of context for those fields. Situated halfway between London and mainland France, Canterbury is a UNESCO World Heritage City with a tradition of innovation in music. The choral tradition stretches back 1400 years; in the 1960s and 70s, the city became famous for the progressive rock of the Canterbury Scene, and trailblazing electronic composer Daphne Oram taught at Canterbury Christ Church University in the 1980s. Music at Canterbury Christ Church University boasts a dynamic, internationally-active staff, who have performed all over the world, including The Sydney Opera House, The Hollywood Bowl, Abbey Road Studios, Tate Modern, The National Theatre and for the FA Cup Final. Our staff and students have gone onto work with Sam Smith, have won a BAFTA for innovative game sound, and won BASCA Composer of the Year for Sonic Art. In addition to the dynamic music community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside students specialising in Game Design, Radio, Film and TV, Dance, Drama and Technical Theatre, amongst others. Canterbury is a small city with a huge potential for you to make your mark. In short: we are starting a new Canterbury Scene full of creative musicians and we’d like you to be part of it.
Assessment method
You will be assessed through a wide range of assignments throughout the programme. These include musical performance, composition portfolios, written work, research posters, presentations and learning journals, and will be specific to the disciplines and modules that you choose to study. The Final Project module will be assessed through a major project, with performance assessed through a recital or portfolio, composition or production through a portfolio, and critical writing through a dissertation or collection of critical essays. Within modules, you will undertake coursework assignments that assess skills and techniques that are central to research and professional work in music. There is an element of peer learning and support throughout the course, not just with fellow music students, but from the whole postgraduate community, including games designers, dancers, journalists and photographers. The range of assessment tasks in the modules further reflects the range of subjects that you might study and assessment tasks may include learning journals, essays, portfolios, workshop presentations, compositions and performances.
Entry requirements
A good honours degree (2:2 or higher) in music, or equivalent academic or professional experience. Applicants must be able to show that their background in their chosen independent study is sufficient for development at postgraduate level. The selection of entrants is normally based on audition or interview in the School of Creative Arts and Industries. Performance audition programmes should be approximately 20 minutes long, and demonstrate the breadth of your command of style and technique. Portfolios of creative or academic work should be of comparable scope and submitted in advance of interview.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you require an IELTS overall score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5 for most standard undergraduate and postgraduate courses. There are some exceptions and if the IELTS requirement differs it will be specified on the course page. For more information on the IELTS (International English language Testing System) requirements for this course, visit our dedicated IELTS web page.
English language requirements
https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/international/english-language-requirements
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Please see course webpage for up to date fee information.
Provider information
Canterbury Christ Church University
North Holmes Road
Canterbury
CT1 1QU