Why do postgraduate study?
- Postgraduate study better enables you to identify problems, analyse them, place them in a broader intellectual framework or discourse, and generate possible solutions to them. These are the skills employers are looking for.
- For creative practitioners, postgraduate study enables you to further develop and to reflect critically upon your creative practice. Being able to develop and share your ideas and insights with others, and to have them recognise your contribution to public knowledge, is a real privilege.
- In the Department of Music, Theatre and the Performing Arts, we aim to help you get the most out of your postgraduate experience.
Music to Honours level
Both the MusB and the BA in Music can be studied to Honours Level.
Go to more about the Honours year
Music postgraduate programmes
Postgraduate Diploma in Music (PGDipMus)
The Postgraduate Diploma in Music (PGDipMus) is intended for students who are composers or performers or both.
Go to further information about Postgraduate Diploma in Music (PGDipMus)
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (PGDipArts)
Students who are interested in studying music as historians, analysts, musicologists or ethnomusicologists take a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (PGDipArts).
Go to further information about Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (PGDipArts)
Master of Arts (MA)
If you already have an Honours degree you can complete the MA in twelve months; if you have a Bachelor's degree without Honours you may be admitted to the MA as a two-year programme in which the first year consists of the papers required for the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts.
The MA degree programme is for students working in Musicology, Ethnomusicology, Popular Music Studies and Cultural Studies in music. You will work with your supervisor towards the presentation of a thesis on your research topic by the end of your study period. Following MA study you may proceed to study for a PhD.
Go to further information about the Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Coursework) programme for Humanities students
The Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA (Coursework)) programme is designed to give students the balance of specific subject knowledge plus broad-based skills employers are looking for.
The programme will take either 12 months or three semesters of full-time study to complete. The programme can also be studied part-time.
More about the new Master of Arts (Coursework) programme.
Master of Music (MMus)
If you already have an Honours degree you can complete the MMus in Performance, Composition or Studio Production in twelve months; if you have a Bachelor's degree you will first take the Postgraduate Diploma in Music programmes.
- For performance you will work with your supervisors towards the presentation of performances, an oral test, and a written component
- For composition you will work on a portfolio of compositions plus a written component
- For studio production you will work on the presentation of a portfolio of recorded music plus a written component, by the end of your study period (usually twelve months).
If you already have an Honours degree there are no additional papers. Following MMus study you may proceed to study for a DMA degree.
Go to further information about the Master of Music
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The PhD programme is for students working in Musicology, Ethnomusicology, Popular Music Studies and Cultural Studies in music. You will work with your supervisor towards the presentation of a thesis on your research topic by the end of your study period. For a full-time student this is normally at least two and a half years, and for a part-time student it is normally at least four years.
Go to further information about the PhD
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
The DMA programme is for students working in Musical Performance, Composition and Studio Composition.
You will work with your supervisor towards the presentation of a performance programme, a portfolio of compositions, or a studio production by the end of your study period. For a full-time student this is normally at least two and a half years, and for a part-time student it is normally at least four years.
The degree of Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) is awarded on the basis of the presentation of either:
- a performance programme; or
- a portfolio of compositions; or
- a studio production.
Go to further information about the Doctor of Musical Arts
Doctor of Music (MusD)
The degree shall be awarded for special excellence in musical composition.
Go to further information about the Doctor of Music (MusD)
Postgraduate Co-ordinator
Dr Michael Holland
Tel +64 479 5969
Email michael.holland@otago.ac.nz
Please send all Postgraduate enquiries to:
Postgraduate Administrator
Email spa@otago.ac.nz
How to Apply
For full information on how to apply, please contact the School's Postgraduate Team at spa@otago.ac.nz
Further information about postgraduate study at Otago
- Doctoral and Scholarships Office maintains information about scholarships for study at Otago and around the world.
- Visit the postgraduate section on the main Otago website for more information about postgraduate study.
- Go to the Humanities postgraduate pages for more information.
- Otago University Postgraduate Society promotes social events for postgraduates across the University.
Postgraduate student research
Postgraduate student research in music and theatre