Music — Composition

The MPhil is designed for students wishing to attain a thorough grounding in composition at an advanced level, either as a preparation for doctoral research or an autonomous qualification. In the first year you will follow the MSt in Music (Composition), proceeding in the second year to individual supervision leading to the completion of a portfolio of compositions and written work.

Typical graduate destinations include doctoral research in music and other music-related or broadly cultural professions

The Master of Philosophy in Music (Composition) introduces a broad range of current methodologies and approaches in music scholarship.

The first year of the course is identical to that of the MSt in Music (Composition).

In order to proceed to the second year of the MPhil, you will normally need to obtain an average of 65% for your first year work overall, and a mark of over 70 in your composition portfolio.

The second year is spent producing coursework, comprising a project of 8,000 to 12,000 words (which could be a short dissertation, analysis portfolio, portfolio of essays of ethnomusicological work, or critical edition) and a portfolio of at least two well-contrasted compositions totalling between 35 and 45 minutes in duration.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in music or related fields.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.6 out of 4.0.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.7, a first-class degree or the equivalent.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

Relevant professional experience may be considered as a substitute for academic attainment.

The minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score sought is 163 (Verbal). However, since entrance is very competitive most successful applicants will have a GRE score of 166 (Verbal) or more.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose/personal statement: Up to 1,000 words
• Written work:One essay of up to 3,000 words 
• Portfolio: Two or three compositions with a combined duration of 30 minutes
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• Ertegun Scholarship Programme