Create new music
If you love writing music and want to develop your compositional voice in a creative, diverse, and musically ambitious environment, study Instrumental/Vocal Composition with us.
You’ll learn to write effectively for acoustic instruments and voices, notate your music professionally, and write extended-form works that display your creative artistry. Choose to write for orchestral or jazz musicians, and study related disciplines like orchestration and film scoring.
You’ll also expand your broader musical understanding, and gain valuable skills in critical thinking, writing, and communication. Join a welcoming, collaborative community of students. You’ll also work with creative music technologists and study with some of New Zealand’s leading composers.
Composition at the New Zealand School of Music
Gain the skills to compose fully notated works for live performance that move and excite audiences. You’ll learn from renowned lecturers whose music regularly appears in concerts, festivals and films worldwide. You’ll have the opportunity to hear your works performed and recorded by professional musicians in Wellington, including from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the New Zealand String Quartet.
National Music Centre
Opening in 2027, the National Music Centre will be a vibrant and innovative hub celebrating music, creativity, and connection in the heart of our city.
Bringing together Te Kōkī students, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra musicians, and industry leaders, the Centre will enable some of the best music education and performance experiences in the world.
Choose your study path
You can study Instrumental/Vocal Composition as your major subject in the Bachelor of Music (BMus).
The BMus is a three-year undergraduate degree that prepares you for a career in music or a variety of related professions. Your studies develop your understanding of music and your skills in composition. Throughout, you’ll be supported by active composers, performers, and academics.
The BMus is a flexible degree that allows you to:
- combine Instrumental/Vocal Composition with another major (as part of a double major)
- study another minor subject (such as Popular Music) alongside your Instrumental/Vocal Composition major.
You can also study the BMus as part of a conjoint degree—for example, by pairing the BMus with a Bachelor of Arts (BA).
See the Bachelor of Music page for all your options and more information.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
Study options
Find out how you can study Instrumental/Vocal Composition at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Future careers
Through your studies, you develop skills in oral presentation, project management, creative interpretation, and audience communication. These skills are valuable across a range of roles and industries.
You may, of course, forge a career as a composer. Several NZSM graduates have achieved national and international recognition as full-time composers and teachers of composition. Others have portfolio careers that combine professional music roles with other work.
More career information
Find out more about careers in music composition.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Music
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The Clare Galambos-Winter Scholarships were established to support students in the New Zealand School of Music who demonstrate exceptional talent in violin performance.
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The Clare Galambos-Winter Scholarships were established to support students in the New Zealand School of Music who demonstrate exceptional talent in violin performance.
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The fund, which was established at the time of the renovation of the C3 lecture theatre, is to assist a second-year student from any faculty in their studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also offer specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Music
There could be a scholarship for your qualification, subject area, background, or situation.
Postgraduate study
If you get good results in your undergraduate study, you could go on to an Honours degree. If you want to do independent research, you could also study a Master’s or PhD.
You can continue your studies in Instrumental/Vocal Composition at postgraduate level by specialising in Composition and Sonic Arts. You can study in this area through several qualifications.
Other postgraduate paths
If you want to broaden your musical education at postgraduate level, you can also undertake postgraduate study in music history, ethnomusicology, music therapy or other areas of music research.
See the postgraduate Music page for more information.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you're facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.