Take your musical skills and knowledge to the next level
Become an expert in your field of music. Carry out advanced study and research to prepare for your career.
This one-year Master's degree increases your abilities in Composition (including Sonic Arts), Performance, or Musicology. Whichever area you choose, you’ll research, write, and present a comprehensive thesis in your area of study to develop your professional skills.
You’ll also develop the advanced research skills that are essential for doctorate-level study.
Who can study for this qualification
You need to have completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours to get into the MMus.
Each subject in the MMus has its own additional entry requirements—such as an audition for Performance students.
What you’ll learn
What you learn depends upon the subject your choose to focus on. But whichever path you choose, you will:
- develop your practical skills in your chosen discipline, and the ability to critically analyse theories and practices that influence it
- advance your skills in research, writing, and critical thinking.
- be prepared for further study at doctoral level.
How you’ll study
Each study subject in the MMus gives you a choice between:
- a 120-point research thesis and a separate explanation of your research, such as a written exegesis (your critical explanation or interpretation)
- a 90-point thesis and a written report, and 30 points of approved 400- or 500-level courses.
What you’ll do to complete a MMus differs slightly between subjects.
- Performance students deliver a significant performance or a series of performances.
- Composition students present an original composition (or more than one composition) as their thesis, accompanied by a report or supplementary research.
- Musicology students write a thesis that may include some creative work that helps explain their research.
You’ll normally complete your MMus within three trimesters (one year), although you can take up to a year and six months from when you first enrolled. You can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year.
Part-time study options
If you’re a domestic student, you can also complete the degree part time over six trimesters, over a maximum of four years.
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. (a) Before enrolment, a candidate for the MMus degree shall have:
(i) completed a BMus(Hons) degree from a New Zealand university with either First Class Honours or Second Class Honours Division 1, or equivalent; and
(ii) satisfied the prerequisites as specified in section 2 for the subject to be presented, or been exempted from those prerequisites by the director of the New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī; and
(iii) been accepted by the Head of School as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.
(b) Requirement (a)(i) may be waived by the Associate Dean (Students) of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences for a candidate who has produced evidence of extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind and ability to proceed with the proposed course of study.
2. The subjects of examination are:
Composition
Musicology
Performance.
The prerequisites for each subject are the corresponding requirements set out in the BMus(Hons) regulations.
Entry requirements
Your acceptance into this programme is based on your previous qualifications and experience.
Qualification requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the MMus
3. The course of study for the MMus shall consist of either (a) a 120-point thesis in a 100 percent written form or comprising an approved combination of written and creative work, or (b) a thesis worth 90 points in a 100 percent written form or comprising an approved combination of written and creative work, and an approved 400- or 500-level course worth 30 points. The course of study shall satisfy the requirements for a subject as listed in section 5.
4. A candidate shall complete the degree within one year and six months of first enrolling in it (or up to four years for students who are part time). For thesis students, refer to the Master’s Thesis Regulations. The associate dean may extend the maximum period in special cases.
Major requirements
Majors are the subjects you focus your degree on.
Major subjects and requirements
Explore your major options below.
MMus subjects
Composition Music
No matching majors found.
Choose your study path
Performance
The MMus brings scholarly depth to your performance skills. You’ll work with your supervisor to develop not only your technical performance expertise, but also complementary skills that enhance your performance. For example:
- jazz performers work on collective music-making skills, deepen their listening practices, and develop their distinct musical voice
- classical performers deepen their knowledge of a range of repertoires and develop their artistry in interpreting musical works.
When studying Performance, you choose between:
- a 120-point thesis made up of a significant performance or series of performances, and a written exegesis (your critical explanation or interpretation) of up to 25,000 words
- a 90-point thesis comprising a performance or performance series, and a written report of between 10,000 and 20,000 words. Add 30 points from approved 400- or 500-level courses that cultivate more advanced skills in research and performance.
Composition
You’ll expand your compositional skills to a professional level in a direction you choose. For example, you could develop your skills in notated composition, film scoring, music technology, or sonic arts.
Composition students can choose between:
- a 120-point thesis made up of an original composition or compositions, and either a research report that explains your composition(s), or or a supplementary research component relevant to the thesis topic
- a 90-point thesis comprising an original composition/creative work and a written report, and 30 points from approved 400- or 500-level courses that help you explore your compositional practice to a more advanced level.
Musicology
Follow your area of interest and carry our research-based study explore music and sound from cultural, historical, technical, creative, and performance perspectives. Learn and employ research methods in musicology, like archival research, ethnography, musical analysis, and critical listening.
Musicology students can choose between:
- a written 120-point thesis of up to 40,000 words, which may include some creative work that helps explain your research
- a 90-point written thesis of up to 30,000 words, which may also include some creative work, and 30 points from approved 400- or 500-level courses focused on developing advanced research skills.
Research an area that interests you
As part of your Master’s study at NZSM, you’ll research an area of your choice and produce a written thesis. You’ll need to find a supervisor who can support your chosen area of research, and help guide your work.
- If you’re a Performance or Composition student, your research combines two components: a written exegesis, and a public performance or portfolio. Your supervisor oversees the entire project.
- If you’re studying Musicology, you’ll typically complete a written thesis only. You can also choose to combine a shorter thesis with some extra coursework.
Join our collaborative research community
You'll join a community of research students at Master's and doctoral levels, including international students—a research environment that encourages collaboration and creativity.
Recent postgraduate research topics are enormously diverse. They include:
- inventing new mechatronic instruments
- re-interpreting core string-quartet repertoire
- composing large-scale works for jazz big band
- analysing and performing New Zealand compositions.
Postgraduate research students at NZSM get their own workspace in the School.
Future careers
The MMus is uniquely suited to developing your research skills. It prepares you for: for a career as a music performer, teacher, researcher, or industry leader.
- professional music careers where research depth and scholarship are valuable—such as composing, conducting, music production, and sound engineering
- research positions that require capabilities in music studies
- academic careers in music—the degree is a step towards the doctorate-level study you need for teaching and research roles in tertiary institutions.
And if you’re a performer, the MMus adds interpretative depth to your technical expertise—making it a useful degree for a professional performance career.
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 the MMus
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Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who have applied for the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Practice (MFA(CP)) within NZSM, will reside in Wellington during their studies, and have either completed an undergraduate performance degree on an orchestral instrument with a GPA of at least 7.0 at a New Zealand university or demonstrated equivalent professional experience.
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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 MMus
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This scholarship was established in 1997 from a bequest from the estate of Arnold Woodford Izard. The scholarship is offered to students enrolled in a Master's by thesis degree in any faculty at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington, with the exception of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. NZSM students are still eligible to apply. This scholarship is...
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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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These scholarships are open to full-time or transferring students enrolling in a Master’s programme in Chemistry at the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences or in a Master’s programme at the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington.
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 research or study
Once you’ve completed your MMus, we offer a range of options at advanced postgraduate level, depending on your career goals.
Artist Diploma
Our two-year Artist Diploma (ArtDip) gives you the performance skills you need to become a concert artist of international standard.
Doctor of Musical Arts
Our three-year specialist doctorate combines coursework, research, and creative practice. You’ll graduate being able to perform, compose, or teach at a high professional level.
Academic staff research areas
Gillian Ansell
Associate Professor
Kimberly Cannady
Associate Dean, Learning, Teaching and Equity
Ewan Clark
Lecturer (Teaching) in Composition
Brian Diettrich
Associate Professor in Ethnomusicology
Andrew Faleatua
Lecturer
Daniel Hayles
Lecturer (Teaching)
Sarah Hoskyns
Associate Professor
Jian Liu
Associate Professor
David Long
Lecturer in Composition
Dugal McKinnon
Associate Professor
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.