Follow your passion for jazz
Immerse yourself in the roots and future of contemporary music through the study and performance of jazz.
Participate in jazz traditions from early 20th-century New Orleans jazz to the diverse, global music that is jazz today. Build your creativity as you study with internationally recognised jazz musicians, teachers, and scholars.
You'll hone your performance techniques in one-on-one lessons, workshops, combos, and big band sessions and learn about jazz improvisation, ensemble performance, composition, and musicianship. Learn to record performances, recitals, compositions, and albums to a professional standard.
Why Wellington
There are many opportunities and benefits for Wellington-based Music students. There’s a thriving local music scene, and plenty of opportunities for students to perform around town, such as weekly jams for jazz musicians.
Some of New Zealand's most acclaimed performers, teachers and academics are based here. You’ll benefit from the city’s prominent composers and jazz performers.
Study in Wellington and you’ll be surrounded by other organisations and venues like:
- Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts
- Meow Nui
- Rogue and Vagabond
- Royal New Zealand Air Force Band
- Royal New Zealand Ballet
- SOUNZ (Centre for New Zealand Music)
- Wellington Jazz Festival.
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 Jazz Performance in a Bachelor of Music.
Choose a jazz vocal major, or from a range of instruments including:
- bass, and guitar
- brass
- drums and percussion
- piano and keyboards
- woodwind.
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 Jazz Performance at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Future careers
A major in Jazz Performance aims to develop your musical knowledge and skills for a performance career. A few graduates become becoming full-time performers and even achieve national and international recognition.
You’ll also develop broader transferable skills—critical thinking, listening, research, analysis, and communication—that are important in areas like:
- teaching and the education sector—often with further postgraduate study
- arts leadership
- government and the civil service
- community sector
- corporate sector.
Others have portfolio careers that combine various professional music roles with other work.
FHSS Internship
The FHSS Internship course run by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences helps develop practical workplace experience.
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 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 for students undertaking or intending to undertake an Honours or Masters degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in areas related to Peace Building or Peace Studies, Trust Building, Conflict Resolution, addressing Historical Injustice, Restorative Justice, Social Cohesion, Community building and promoting cross-cultural understanding, Change Making or Ethical Leadership.
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Applicants must be school leavers of Māori and Pasifika descent intending to enrol fulltime in an undergraduate degree within the New Zealand School of Music and experiencing financial hardship.
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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.
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
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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.
Postgraduate study
If you choose to continue postgraduate study with us after finishing your degree, you’ll join a talented team of internationally recognised researchers doing innovative work.
If you get good results in your undergraduate study, you could go on to an Honours degree. And if you want to do independent research, you could also study for a Master’s or a PhD.
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.