Career opportunities
Composition at Otago is designed to develop skills that translate beyond writing music: you’ll think creatively, collaborate confidently, and manage projects from idea through to performance or production.
Career pathways include:
- Composer for ensembles, film, theatre or digital media
- Songwriter or music producer in popular music contexts
- Media, broadcasting or game-audio creator
- Music educator or workshop leader
- Creative freelancer or arts-industry practitioner
How you will learn
You’ll join small-group workshops, get feedback on your work, write pieces across styles, and collaborate with performers and peers. On-campus facilities include recording studios, rehearsal rooms and performance spaces. Early papers allow you to mix music interests, like classical and popular music, and later you’ll have options to specialise in music for other media such as film, dance, television or theatre.
You’ll be part of a creative community, sharing ideas and making music together, not just isolated at your desk.
Recommended high school subjects for undergraduate study
There are no minimum entry requirements for first-year Composition papers, so anyone with a passion for creating music can start. If you have little or no music reading ability, we strongly encourage you to take MUSI 191 (Introduction to Music) in your first semester to build your confidence and skills.
Choose a study option
Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Undergraduate qualifications
For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.
Ready to apply?
Take the first step towards your future in this subject.
Shape your sound, share your voice
As a Music student at Otago, you’ll be supported by friendly, expert staff in our School of Performing Arts, and benefit from world-class campus facilities. Our purpose-built Performing Arts building, Te Korokoro o te Tūi, is a modern space offering nine studios (including a two-storey recording studio) that support everything from contemporary songwriting to full-orchestra recording.
Dunedin at its heart is a creative city alive with artists, performers and makers. From the Fringe Festival to Writers & Readers, the Symphony Orchestra and Arts Festival, the city buzzes year-round with theatre, music, literature and visual art – celebrating creativity in all its forms.
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
MUSI papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSI101 | 2026 | Materials of Music 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI103 | 2026 | Popular Music | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI104 | 2026 | World Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, expected to be offered in 2027 |
| MUSI105 | 2026 | Music Matters in Human Life | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI131 | 2026 | Composition 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI132 | 2026 | Music Production 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| MUSI135 | 2026 | Songwriting | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI140 | 2026 | Performance Studies 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI143 | 2026 | Instrumental or Vocal Performance 1 | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI144 | 2026 | Music Ensemble 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI191 | 2026 | Introduction to Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI201 | 2026 | Materials of Music 2 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI207 | 2026 | Radical Works | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI232 | 2026 | Music Production 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI233 | 2026 | Electronic Music Production | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI234 | 2026 | Contemporary Composition | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI240 | 2026 | Performance Studies 2 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI243 | 2026 | Instrumental or Vocal Performance 2 | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI244 | 2026 | Music Ensemble 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI249 | 2026 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI259 | 2026 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI260 | 2026 | Special Topic | 18 points | Summer School |
| MUSI266 | 2026 | Film Music | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI267 | 2026 | Music in Aotearoa | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI268 | 2026 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI269 | 2026 | Popular Music 2 | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI307 | 2026 | Radical Works (Advanced) | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI310 | 2026 | Materials of Music 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI331 | 2026 | Composition Projects | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI332 | 2026 | Music Production 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI333 | 2026 | Electronic Music Production (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI334 | 2026 | Music Production Projects | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI340 | 2026 | Performance Studies 3 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI343 | 2026 | Instrumental or Vocal Performance 3 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI344 | 2026 | Music Ensemble 3 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI349 | 2026 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI366 | 2026 | Film Music | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI367 | 2026 | Music in Aotearoa (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI368 | 2026 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI369 | 2026 | Popular Music 3 | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI371 | 2026 | Research Methods and Approaches | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI375 | 2026 | Music Performance Pedagogy | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI379 | 2026 | Performance, Health and Well-being | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI386 | 2026 | Community Project | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI440 | 2026 | Performance Studies 4 | 30 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI443 | 2026 | Creative Project 1 | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 15 February 2027) |
| MUSI471 | 2026 | Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced) | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI475 | 2026 | Music Performance Pedagogy (Advanced) | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI479 | 2026 | Performance, Health and Well-being (Advanced) | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MUSI486 | 2026 | Community Project (Advanced) | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI487 | 2026 | Creative Practice | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI490 | 2026 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 15 February 2027) |
| MUSI543 | 2026 | Creative Project 2 | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (1 March 2026 - 28 February 2027), 2nd Non standard period (1 July 2026 - 30 June 2027) |
| MUSI590 | 2026 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (27 February 2026 - 19 February 2027), 2nd Non standard period (17 July 2026 - 9 July 2027) |
More information
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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