Become a musician
If you love music and want to pursue it as a career, this degree is for you. This three-year Bachelor’s degree lets you follow your interests and talents. You can major in Classical or Jazz Performance, Composition/Sonic Arts, Digital Music and Audio Production, or Music Studies.
You’ll develop your understanding of music while honing your skills in your chosen area. We’ll push you to stretch your abilities so you graduate as a confident, skilled musician. Throughout, you’ll be guided by recognised musicians, researchers, composers, producers, and audio engineers.
You’ll also gain skills in writing, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication. And at the New Zealand School of Music, you’ll be part of a welcoming, inspiring musical community.
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.
What you’ll learn
The Bachelor of Music (BMus) prepares you for a career in music and gives you transferable skills useful in many other professions. All BMus students take courses in Music Studies and music theory.
Music Studies looks at the significance of music in society. You’ll study cultural meanings and histories of musical practices, the relationship between music and politics, and how musical activity builds community.
Music theory is the study of how music works. It explains music’s fundamental elements—such as rhythm, melody, harmony, and form—to help you understand why music sounds the way it does.
Year breakdown
First year
You’ll take at least six core courses according to your major. By the end of your first year you'll have a solid foundation in your major subject.
If you're majoring in Classical or Jazz Performance, Digital Music and Audio Production, or Music Studies, you'll also take one or two electives in your first year. For example, you might elect to take courses outside of your major on key issues in popular music, fundamentals of recording and audio production, jazz, or music in global context.
Second year
In the middle year of your degree you're likely to take at least six more courses. There are fewer core courses and you'll have more choice to follow your interests or career goals. You might:
- take a gamelan performance course
- study the social life of jazz as related to race and gender
- learn more about nineteenth-century European music.
By the end of your second year, you'll be developing your creative and academic skills, and be ready for more advanced music study in your final year.
Third year
In the third year you'll study mainly 300-level courses, but you’re likely to take two or three other electives from courses at 200 or 300 level.
Depending on your major, you might:
- study film music
- orchestrate music for large ensembles
- study the social and historical context of an aspect of classical music. Performance students give a 50-minute recital at the end of the year.
By the end of the year, you'll have an intimate understanding of your major. You will be confident in your skills as a music creator, critical thinker, writer, or performer.
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.
How our degrees work
Flexible, or structured? Learn more about the different types of undergraduate degrees at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed secondary school 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:
University Entrance or alternative admission type.
Auditions
If you’re taking Classical Performance or Jazz Performance, you’ll have to do an audition before starting your studies.
Degree requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the BMus
For this degree you'll need to:
- Complete at least 360 points, of which:
- a maximum of 180 points can be at 100 level, and
- at least 180 points must be at 200 and 300 level.
- Of the 180 points, at least 75 points must be from 300-level courses in CMPO, MUSC, or PERF.
- Complete the requirements for at least one major subject.
Important information
- 300-level courses may only be counted towards one major or minor, with the following exception. You can use courses from Topic in Composition / Sonic Arts: Digital Composition for Film (CMPO 305)–309 and MUSC 320–359 to meet the requirements of both the Instrumental/Vocal Composition and the Digital Music and Audio Production majors, as long as at least 40 points at 300-level are credited solely to each major.
Major requirements
Majors are the subjects you focus your degree on.
Explore more degree options by adding an optional second major or minor. How our flexible degrees work.
Major subjects and requirements
Explore your major options below.
BMus subjects
Classical Performance
Digital Mus & Audio Production
Instrumental/Vocal Composition
Jazz Performance
Music Studies
No matching majors found.
Minor requirements
Add another dimension to your degree by choosing an optional minor. Most major BSc subjects are available as minors.
Some subjects are only available as minors. While most minors require 60 points at 200- and 300-level, there are a few minors with specific requirements.
Minor subjects and requirements
Start planning your study BMUS
Use the tiles to find out how you could include the selected minor in your degree. Not all major and minor combinations are available, so talk to us before you lock down your plan of study.
BMus minor subjects
Accounting
Actuarial Science
Applied Physics
Architecture
Architecture History and Theory
Art History
Artificial Intelligence
Asian Studies
Banking
Biology
Biotechnology
Brain Sciences & Mental Health
Business Ethics and Sustainability Management
Cell and Molecular Bioscience
Chemistry
Chinese
Classical Studies
Commercial Law
Composition
Computer Graphics
Computer Graphics and Games
Computer Science
Creative Writing
Criminology
Cultural Anthropology
Data Science
Design for Social Innovation
Development Studies
Digital Mus & Audio Production
Ecology and Biodiversity
Econometrics
Economics
Education
Educational Psychology
Electronic / Computer Systems
English Literature
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Fashion Design Technology
Film
Finance
French
Game Design
Gender and Sexuality Studies
Geography
Geology
Geophysics (Meteorology)
German
Greek
Health Informatics
Health Policy and Innovation
Health Promotion
Health Psychology
History
Human Resource and Industrial Relations
Information Systems
Interior Architecture
International Business
International Relations
Japanese
Kaitiakitanga
Landscape Architecture
Language Sciences
Latin
Linguistics
Management
Māori Studies
Marine Biology
Marketing
Marketing Communication
Mathematics
Media Design
Media Studies
Modern Language Studies
Music
New Zealand Sign Language
Pacific Studies
Performance
Philosophy
Photographics
Physical Geography
Physics
Political Science
Popular Music Studies
Population Health, Policy and Service Delivery
Psychology
Public Policy
Religious Studies
Renewable Energy Systems
Samoan Studies / Matā‘upu tau Sāmoa
Science in Society
Social Policy
Sociology
Space Science
Spanish
Statistics
Taxation
Te Reo Māori
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Theatre
Tourism Management
Work and Organisational Psychology
21 of 102 minor subjects shown
Change filtersNo matching minors found.
Build your degree
The Bachelor of Music is flexible—there’s more than one way for you to study.
You must do at least one major subject for your BMus. And depending on your degree, you may be able to do:
- a double major—focus on two subjects in your BMus degree
- a minor—specialise in another BMus subject (such as Digital Music and Audio Production, or Popular Music) without doing as many courses as you would for a major.
Electives
Alongside your major, you’ll take several elective courses. The number of electives you can take depends on your major.
Your electives can come from approved courses offered by NZSM or from other schools in the University.
Combining your BMus with another degree
You can also combine your BMus with another degree—a conjoint degree—to complete two undergraduate degrees in a shorter time than if you did one degree and then another.
Popular pairings with a BMus are:
If you’d rather have one broader degree that lets you combine Music with courses in other subjects—rather than two separate degrees—the Bachelor of Arts majoring in Music could suit you better.
You can also take a minor in Classical Performance within other degrees, such as the Bachelor of Commerce. Talk to a student adviser about your options.
Future careers
Depending on your major subject, you’ll graduate with the key skills musicians need to create, perform, produce, or critically interpret music.
Potential career paths
Depending on your majors in your BMus, you might seek work as a musician, film composer, music teacher, or sound engineer. Music graduates often use their skills in a range of fields, like:
- music, film, or theatre
- arts and culture administration
- media communications
- events management
- library, archives, or information management (often with additional postgraduate study)
- social research
- teaching (often with an extra teaching qualification)
- finance
- law.
More career information
Find out more about careers.
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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This scholarship is open to female students of the New Zealand School of Music who are studying or who aspire to study sonic arts. The successful applicant will be chosen on the basis of prior attainment and identified potential, taking into account, where appropriate, financial need.
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The scholarship is to assist in the education and training of undergraduate classical piano students at the New Zealand School of Music at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington.
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The scholarship is to encourage students who demonstrate outstanding vocal and academic ability.
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.
We also have 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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This scholarship is open to female students of the New Zealand School of Music who are studying or who aspire to study sonic arts. The successful applicant will be chosen on the basis of prior attainment and identified potential, taking into account, where appropriate, financial need.
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The Fisher Trumpet Scholarship aims to support undergraduate music students at NZSM, Victoria University of Wellington who demonstrate excellence in trumpet performance.
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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.
Other degree options
If you’d like a broader degree that lets you combine Music with courses in other subjects, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Music could suit you better. For more of a challenge, you could take a conjoint degree, combining a BMus with a BA.
You can also take a minor in Classical Performance within other degrees, such as the Bachelor of Commerce. Talk to a student adviser about your options.
Postgraduate study
After finishing your BMus, you can continue your studies at postgraduate level.
Master of Music
Build on your Honours degree with advanced study and research at Master's level and become an expert in your area of music.
Industry-focused Master’s
Our Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) is a practical, industry-focused degree that helps you refine your skills and make new contacts in Wellington’s creative industries.
Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice)
Doctoral study
If you want to do independent research and hone your creative practice, you could apply to be a candidate for a Doctor of Musical Arts.
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.
Accommodation
Live in accommodation close to campus at one of our:
- catered halls of residence
- self-catered apartments or flats
- self-catered studios.
We provide care and support across our halls and flatting communities.
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.
And if you're ever having trouble with money, talk with us. You could be eligible for government or community support, and we have a hardship fund for financial emergencies.
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.
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.