Explore new ideas in music and build the confidence to shape original work at a higher level.
Why study postgraduate Music?
At the University of Otago, the Music programme covers a unique combination of classical music, contemporary rock music, music production, and world music. This breadth allows you to engage with diverse styles and approaches, enriching your understanding and creative possibilities.
Postgraduate study in Music at Otago enables you to refine your creative or scholarly practice within a research-led environment that values depth, originality, and professional relevance. Whether your focus is composition, performance, musicology, or interdisciplinary work, you will develop a distinctive voice and advanced expertise supported by staff with strong international and artistic standing.
This study positions you for advanced professional pathways in performance, composition, teaching, research, arts leadership, and cultural industries, while providing the intellectual authority and creative independence required to shape musical practice in local and global contexts.
Career opportunities
Postgraduate Music builds strong creative, analytical, and organisational skills that apply across many fields. You learn to communicate ideas clearly, manage complex projects, and develop work that shows originality and rigour. Possible roles include:
- Performer or ensemble musician
- Composer or arranger
- Music educator
- Arts administrator or producer
- Cultural researcher or analyst
What it’s like to study at this level
Postgraduate Music at Otago gives you a structured yet flexible environment that supports both creative exploration and academic inquiry.
You work closely with supervisors who guide your individual project, whether it involves performance, composition, or written research. Workshops, seminars, rehearsals, and independent studio or practice time allow you to test ideas, refine methods, and receive detailed feedback.
You learn within a community of peers who share a commitment to thoughtful, engaged music-making. This mix of reflective study and hands-on activity helps you build confidence in your direction and produce work that represents your evolving expertise.
This is for you if ...
Applicants need to have been awarded an acceptable degree before advancing to a specialised qualification.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Music as an undergraduate at Otago.
Elevate your sound in Otago’s creative hub
Postgraduate Music at Otago is shaped by staff actively engaged in performance, composition and research, bringing current professional practice into teaching and supervision. You will work in well-resourced rehearsal and performance environments with specialist guidance that supports ambitious creative and scholarly work.
Otago’s collaborative culture encourages connections across disciplines, while Dunedin’s vibrant arts community offers opportunities to perform, create and contribute. Together, these strengths create a stimulating environment for advanced music study and artistic development.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
A four-year degree focusing on advanced study and culminating in a research project in the final year
Bachelor of Music with Honours (MusB(Hons))
A one-year (full time), restricted-entry postgraduate programme, enabling specialisation into a particular field of music
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
A two-semester programme of structured coursework, and in some cases supervised research, extending the knowledge and skills gained from the bachelor’s degree
Postgraduate Diploma in Music (PGDipMus)
A one-year full-time (or longer part-time) diploma that includes both coursework and a creative project
Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework))
A coursework degree with an optional research dissertation component, usually completed in 12 to 18 months of full-time study, or part-time over a longer period
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
A one- or two-year degree entailing a major research project, culminating in a thesis
Master of Music (Coursework) (MMus(Coursework))
A degree which requires 12 to 18 months of full-time study, or equivalent in part-time study. An opportunity to achieve a higher level of musical proficiency.
Doctor of Music (MusD)
A higher doctorate for individuals who have achieved special excellence in their original contributions in musical composition, performance or scholarship
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
A three-year full-time programme in Music with three areas of specialisation: Performance, Composition or Studio Production
Graduate qualifications
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
| Papers |
|---|
|
MUSI 443 Creative Project or MUSI 490 Dissertation Two of:
|
The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Music is the same as the programmee for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).
| Papers |
|---|
MUSI 443 Creative Project And two of: |
| Dissertation / Studio Project Requirements |
|---|
| MUSI 590 Research Dissertation |
| Two of: |
| HUMS 501 Writing and Revision for Graduate Research |
| HUMS 502 Research Methods in the Humanities |
| HUMS 503 Key Debates in the Humanities |
| And: |
| Approved 400-level MUSI papers worth 60 points |
| Papers-Only Requirements |
| At least two of: |
| HUMS 501 Writing and Revision for Graduate Research |
| HUMS 502 Research Methods in the Humanities |
| HUMS 503 Key Debates in the Humanities |
| And further: |
| Approved 400-level MUSI papers worth 120 points |
| Note: Students are able to take one of HUMS 501-503 not already taken as an optional paper in this pathway. |
| Thesis |
|---|
Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Music or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Music must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Music prior to undertaking the thesis. |
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) |
Contacts
School of Performing Arts
Music Programme
Email spa@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/performing-arts
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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