Overview
Your Music MLitt can focus on classical, popular, world, contemporary, early, folk and traditional music. You’ll apply approaches of interest to you, such as:
- historiographical
- theoretical
- cultural
- critical
This programme is primarily aimed at students who want to pursue independent musicological research. You’ll work on shorter research assignments (which can be on related or separate topics), before embarking on an extended final dissertation.
The MLitt provides an excellent foundation for continuing on to doctoral study. It is also a valuable qualification in its own right and can add a further dimension to your undergraduate degree, in a 3+1 model.
Hear from our graduates about their Newcastle experience
Important information
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Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you’ll learn
The MLitt is a modular research programme. Taught modules aim to extend your knowledge and skills beyond undergraduate level and help to develop your research skills
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.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Music Masters Research Training | 20 |
| Dissertation | 80 |
| Music MLitt Research Assignments (FT) | 80 |
How you’ll learn
The course is delivered remotely or in the Armstrong Building. All students are required to complete the Music Masters Research Training module during their first semester of study. Your study is then based on one-to-one tutorials with supervisors appropriate to your Research Assignments or dissertation.
The MLitt is designed primarily with scholarly types of research in mind. It can also accommodate some practical components where appropriate, for example performance in the context of performance practice research.
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Oral presentation
- Research proposal
- Written exercise
Additional assessment information
The research assignments are one of the programme’s distinctive features. They allow you to propose and research two or three separate projects (weighted at 40+40, or 20+20+40 credits). These projects may be connected or on discrete topics, and which lay the ground for your final dissertation. These are completed during semesters 1 and 2 (or semesters 1–3 for part-time students) leaving the rest of the programme devoted to your dissertation.
Your Research Assignments and final dissertation require a formal proposal and approval. Provided these are practicable and within our areas of expertise, they can be on a topic of your own choosing.
Our mission is to help you:
- stay healthy, positive and feeling well
- overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
- get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
- carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
- understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules
We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.
You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:
- research and professional skills
- careers support
- wellbeing
- health and safety
- public engagement
- academic development
Your development
Your future
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.
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 2024Â
- Top 90 for Arts and Humanities – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
We have outstanding specialist music facilities. Our £4.5m purpose-built Music Studios were designed with performance, multimedia and studio-based work in mind.
Additional facilities include:
- two professional-grade recording studios
- a large student common room, including a work area with PCs featuring specialist music software
- a range of recently refurbished rehearsal spaces
- a full range of recently refurbished teaching facilities, including a 100-seat lecture theatre, two 50 seat lecture theatres and three 25-seater seminar rooms
- 12 practice rooms with integrated recording facilities
- a dedicated postgraduate workspace
- a project room equipped with 5.1 mixing system
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
The library is widely recognised for the supportive service it offers students and staff.
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in music or a related subject.
If you have a 2:1 honours degree in an unrelated subject we will consider your application if you can demonstrate appropriate evidence of music and general critical knowledge and ability.
