Highlights about course

Program Level

Master's

Duration

Tuition Fees

£25,100

Intake

September

Overview

Develop your creative and professional music skills and shape your future in the music industry.

On our Music MA degree you’ll study with world-class specialists attuned to your individual aspirations and collaborate with a vibrant creative community.

Focus on your personal musical aims by specialising in performance, composition, or a structured mixture of both

Develop the professional skills needed to work within the contemporary musical world and utilise your skills and knowledge to teach the next generation of musicians.

Choose to specialise in:

  • Western Classical Music
  • Contemporary Pop
  • Folk Music of Britain, North America, and Northern Europe
  • Opera
  • Jazz
  • DJ-ing and Turntablism
  • Improvised Music
  • Electroacoustic Music and Sound Art

Studying a Music Master’s in Newcastle

Newcastle is one of the most exciting and diverse places to study music in the UK. We’re home to The Royal Northern Sinfonia, based at The Glasshouse, the renowned international music venue in Newcastle-Gateshead.

Many of the orchestra’s players teach on our classical music strand.

Newcastle is also a national centre for folk music. We have tutors who perform worldwide and one of the most innovative centres for experimental music in the country.

On our programme you’ll specialise in either:

  • Music Performance
  • Music Composition

You’ll develop professional and career skills in the contemporary musical world and understand how your knowledge may teach the next generation of musicians.

There are also many extra-curricular opportunities for performers. These include:

  • the Newcastle University Symphony Orchestra
  • a specialist chamber choir
  • a contemporary jazz big-band
  • musical theatre projects
  • folk music groups

You’ll also have a wide range of popular music opportunities both inside and outside of the university.

This course was formerly titled the MMus Music, course code 5811F. 

Important information

We’ve highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

What you’ll learn

On our programme you’ll:

  • become a skilled musician in your chosen area of specialisation
  • learn the value of collaboration and communication with other musicians
  • build networks extending beyond the classroom and into the wider music community
  • gain a professional level of understanding of contemporary musical life
  • develop your own strategies to support your future artistic development, as a performer, composer, or both

Music Performance Pathway

On the Music Performance pathway, you’ll develop your solo performance skills through expert-led instrumental or vocal lessons tailored to you as an individual musician.

You’ll learn ensemble musicianship, creative collaborations, and career development to prepare you for life as a professional musician.

There’ll also be many opportunities for live music in the city as both a performer and spectator. Major touring professional musicians play every week in the university’s free concerts series, as well as at The Glasshouse, and many other smaller venues.

You’ll develop skills in vocal and instrumental teaching, drawing on a range of professional practice modules including live music events, music, community, and wellbeing.

On this pathway you’ll work towards a major public performance project.

Music Composition Pathway

On the Music Composition pathway, you’ll work with a teacher to develop your technical and creative skills.

Combining what you’ve already learned, you’ll discover and evolve new approaches and techniques to help you to realise your aspirations and potential as a musician.

You’ll collaborate with other musicians on creative music projects, gaining insights into what’s needed to engage with the contemporary musical world.

On this pathway you’ll work towards presenting a portfolio of creative work, either live, or as a recording.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

How you’ll learn

Your future

Further study

This course can provide preparation for PhD level study in music as a creative practice or in artistic research.

Careers

Our programme prepares you for a wide range of careers such as:

  • Professional performing musician
  • Professional composer across a range of genres
  • Producer of music in many different practical applications
  • Instrumental and/or vocal music teaching
  • Music and arts administration
  • Collaborations involving music in many different areas of practice such as film, theatre, games.

Careers support

Dr. Jane Nolan is our employability and enterprise champion for Music in the School of Arts and Cultures.

Contact Jane

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

  • 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
  • 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
  • Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
  • Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
  • Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
  • Top 90 for Arts and Humanities – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

Facilities

Rehearsal spaces

We have numerous rehearsal and practice facilities, reserved for the exclusive use of our Music students and ensembles. You’ll have access to a range of rehearsal spaces, including:

  • 25 acoustically treated practice rooms
  • five instrumental teaching rooms
  • a large, acoustically isolated, ensemble/band practice room
  • two large performance/rehearsal spaces (each seats up to 50 people)
  • the University’s King’s Hall (seats 400 people)

Our eight large teaching spaces are also available after teaching hours for ensemble rehearsals and sectional practices. Larger rooms can be booked in advance on our online booking system and we’ve made sure that each room contains a piano.

Studios

Our professional recording and music production suites cater for a wide range of musical approaches. They provide a space for:

  • full band multi-track recording
  • professional levels of popular music/electronic dance music production
  • electro-acoustic composition
  • multimedia projects involving moving image and/or web-based audio-visual artworks
  • sound art installations.

Our studios are interconnected allowing for cross-disciplinary and collaborative work throughout the building.

We have a very large range of professional portable recording equipment and tools designed for live electronics and live performance using digital and analogue technologies.

Performance spaces

Newcastle University has four main performance spaces.

The King’s Hall is situated at the heart of the Armstrong Building and can seat 400 people. There are regular concerts in here which you can find on the University’s Live in the King’s Hall page, and a new custom-built concert organ installed in 2018 has pride of place.

We have a dedicated Band Room for popular music practice in the custom-built Music Studios building that is configurable for teaching, rehearsing, recording and live public performances. It includes a full lighting rig and comprehensive “backline” technology.

The Recital Room is used for rehearsals, acoustic and chamber music, and various events organised both by the University and by local promoters.

Culture Lab is a more contemporary venue, excellent for performances using digital media, with an excellent Genelec loudspeaker system, and a professional cinema projection space.

In our performance spaces we have several Steinway grand pianos, an excellent harpsichord, a fortepiano, a custom built Aubertin pipe organ , Indian tabla, and a Javanese gamelan.

Read more about out the facilities in our Music department

The University Library provides access to:

  • extensive music collections (including a number of important manuscript and microfilm collections)
  • subscriptions to many specialist music journals
  • a significant body of online resources

See more about the University Library’s special collections

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Academic entry requirements

A 2:1 or above from a UK university, conservatoire, or international equivalent, in music, or a related equivalent degree with a equivalent specialism in either musical performance or composition.

If you did not study performance or composition as part of your degree, but have a high level of skill (portfolio or audition at application) there may be circumstances where professional, or equivalent experience in the field may be considered alongside an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject area.

About University

Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed Malaysia)

Malaysia

Best countries for overseas education

Explore the best countries for overseas education and get the latest updates and insights on studying abroad. From top universities to the admission process and beyond, we’ve curated a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the exciting realm of international education.

Our students love us

Here’s What our students say about us .

Creative Consultancy Blogs

Dive in to stay updated on the latest international education trends and job opportunities

FAQs

What is overseas education?

Overseas education is leaving your home country and going abroad to pursue further education. Through overseas education, you can avail of long-term degree courses as well as short-term certificate courses to learn a language or upskill yourself.

 

If you are aiming to study abroad, identify your career goals, look for relevant courses and universities abroad, know the tuition fees and other expenditures, prepare well for the entrance exams, apply to shortlisted universities, accept the offer letter from the desired university, apply for a student visa and get ready to jet off! 

The best way to study abroad for free is to avail of full-funded scholarships or university grants. The fully-funded scholarships are typically awarded to students who excel in academics or extracurricular activities and cover their tuition fees, travel expenses, accommodation, and other living expenses.  

To get an education loan for studying abroad, you need to have the admission offer letter from the university and fulfill the eligibility criteria for securing the loan. In order to get an education loan at the best rate of interest, seek guidance from a reputed study-abroad consultant. 

Choose to study abroad to leverage better learning opportunities, see the world, meet new people, boost your resume, develop a broader perspective, become culturally competent, and avail yourself of lucrative job opportunities globally. 

Choose to study abroad to leverage better learning opportunities, see the world, meet new people, boost your resume, develop a broader perspective, become culturally competent, and avail yourself of lucrative job opportunities globally. 

The best way to go abroad for studies is to get in touch with reputed study-abroad consultants. They can help you explore courses aligned with your academic interests, guide you in preparing for entrance exams, help you with university and student visa applications, and even provide post-arrival assistance.

Interested in studying abroad?

Share your details & our experts will call to discuss your goals

Contact Form