Advance your musical skills and knowledge
Explore your area of musical interest in more depth and improve your career prospects with an Honours year in Music. This is great option if you excelled in your Bachelor of Music and want to deepen your expertise.
Refine your research, writing, and analytical skills through intensive study, while expanding your music skills and knowledge. An Honours year also prepares you for Master’s study and beyond.
Throughout, you’ll be supported and learn from world-class musicians and scholars at the New Zealand School of Music.
Who can study for the BMus(Hons)
To enrol in the BMus(Hons), you'll need a B average or higher in your Bachelor of Music.
Honours-level study involves independent research and individual focus. To make the most of the year, you should be academically strong and interested in research.
What you’ll learn
Choose from six specialist subject areas, each with its own entry requirements—some require an audition or portfolio. For example:
- Jazz Performance lets you focus on a specific style or explore several musical directions
- Composition might include a focus on film music
- Music Studies offers approaches from ethnomusicology and music ethnography, or a more historical focus
All subjects let you take some Music courses outside your chosen area. And pathways like Musicology and Ethnomusicology within Music Studies let you bring in complementary courses from outside Music too.
Independent study projects
In some circumstances, you can apply to do an Independent Study Project. This gives you the opportunity to do focused individual work with a supervisor.
How you’ll study
The 120-point BMus(Hons) is delivered over two trimesters of full-time study. If you’re a domestic student, you have the option of studying part time over four trimesters. You can start studying in either the first trimester or second trimester of the year.
You will learn through a mixture of coursework and independent research. Your courses will be delivered through daytime lectures that you’ll attend on campus.
To fulfil your specialist subject requirements, you’ll normally take four courses: at least one mandatory ‘core’ course, plus electives chosen from a selection of relevant subjects.
Workload
You can estimate your workload by adding up the number of points you’ll be doing. One point is roughly equal to 10 to 12 hours work.
If you’re studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year. Part-time domestic students will need to do around 20 to 23 hours work a week.
Why Wellington
Make the most of our decades of scholarship and study. Our Department of Music was established in 1946 and became Te Kōkī—New Zealand School of Music in 2006. Our academic staff include top professional musicians and singers, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise.
As the cultural capital, Wellington is home to many of Aotearoa New Zealand's most acclaimed performers, composers, teachers, scholars, and arts organisations.
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.
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.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed university in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
1. Before enrolment, a candidate for the BMus(Hons) degree shall have:
(a) completed a BMus degree;
(b) satisfied the prerequisites as listed in section 3 for the major to be presented, or been exempted from those prerequisites by the director of the New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī; and
(c) been accepted by the Head of School as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.
2. A candidate may be required to attend an audition and/or an interview and/or submit a portfolio of work in support of their application.
3. The subject requirements for the BMus(Hons) and their prerequisites are as follows:
Classical Performance (PERF)
Composition/Sonic Arts (CMSA)
Ethnomusicology (ETHM)
Jazz Performance (JAZZ)
Musicology (MUMU)
Music Studies (MUST).
With the exception of Jazz Performance, the prerequisites for each subject are the BMus requirements for that specialisation as stated in section 4 of the BMus regulations. The prerequisites for Jazz Performance are the BMus requirements for the Jazz major as stated in section 4 of the BMus regulations. Students enrolled in Musicology or Ethnomusicology in the BMus(Hons) will normally have completed the requirements for that subject within the BMus in Music Studies. Students wishing to enrol in the BMus(Hons) in Musicology, who have completed a BMus in Music Studies without specialisation, may do so if they have taken at least one course from MUSC 330–349.
Entry requirements
Your acceptance into this programme is based on your previous qualifications and experience.
Qualification requirements
4. A candidate for the BMus(Hons) shall normally be enrolled for at least two trimesters and shall complete the requirements of the degree within four years of first enrolling. The Associate Dean (Students) of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences may extend the maximum period in special cases.
5. (a) The personal course of study of a candidate for the BMus(Hons) shall satisfy the requirements as specified in section 6 for the major to be presented. The candidate shall complete, to the satisfaction of the Head of School, such practical work as may be prescribed and participate in approved vocal or instrumental work within the School.
(b) The courses of practical training and the practical examinations in Classical Performance and Jazz Performance shall at any time be limited to the options approved for the purpose by the Head of School, and each candidate in Classical Performance and Jazz Performance shall present one of those options.
Major requirements
Majors are the subjects you focus your degree on.
Major subjects and requirements
Explore your major options below.
BMus(Hons) subjects
Classical Performance
Composition/Sonic Arts
Ethnomusicology
Jazz Performance
Music Studies
No matching majors found.
Future careers
Depending on your focus at Honours level, you might find work as a musician, film composer, music teacher, or sound engineer. Music graduates often use their skills in a range of fields, like:
- the music, film, or theatre industries
- arts and culture administration
- communications
- events management
- library, archives, or information management (often with additional postgraduate study)
- social research
- teaching
- finance
- law.
For more information about careers in music, check out the New Zealand School of Music careers page.
More career information
Find out more about careers in music.
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 postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.
We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
Scholarships for Music
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The scholarship is to encourage students who demonstrate outstanding vocal and academic ability.
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Applicants will be current violin, viola or violoncello students, enrolled in the NZSM. A particular of the scholarship is to fund postgraduate study, travel, accommodation and other expenses incurred in the pursuit of such study, both within and outside New Zealand. The scholarship is available to both domestic and international students.
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The Scholarship exists to attract and support cellists of outstanding ability and potential to study cello performance at NZSM, and to engage each recipient with the life, artistry, and legacy of Greta Ostova.
Scholarships for international students
We're currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme.
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 have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.
We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
Scholarships for Music
-
Applicants will be current violin, viola or violoncello students, enrolled in the NZSM. A particular of the scholarship is to fund postgraduate study, travel, accommodation and other expenses incurred in the pursuit of such study, both within and outside New Zealand. The scholarship is available to both domestic and international students.
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The Scholarship exists to attract and support cellists of outstanding ability and potential to study cello performance at NZSM, and to engage each recipient with the life, artistry, and legacy of Greta Ostova.
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This scholarship is available to students intending to do research at postgraduate level at the New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī in the field of Music Education. Master’s or Doctoral research is preferred, though Honours level research and projects may be considered. Research or projects which may lead to qualification or enhanced professional practice of the applicant may...
Join our postgraduate community
The Postgraduate Students’ Association provides a voice for you on campus and information on studying at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Postgraduate Students’ Association
MAI ki Pōneke
MAI ki Pōneke are part of an international network of Māori and Indigenous postgraduate students. They provide advice, support, and information to Indigenous postgraduate students of all levels, as well as those thinking about enrolling.
Further postgraduate study
If you do well in your Honours year and show an aptitude for advanced research, you can apply for Master’s study. We offer several pathways, depending on your goals.
Performance-based research
Keep developing as a performer while adding a research dimension.
Career focus
Earn a practical degree building leadership, collaborative, and business skills for practising artists.
Academic study
Study music as a subject in its own right, without a performance component. Do coursework and independent research in Music Studies, Performance, Composition, or Sonic Arts.
Research areas
Our School of Music academic staff are active across a range of specialist research areas.
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.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.