Bachelor of Music

If you love music—whether it be listening to it, playing an instrument, singing or composing—and want to study the subject in depth at the leading music school in New Zealand, then a Bachelor of Music is right for you.

Immerse yourself in music

The Bachelor of Music (BMus) is a three-year [undergraduate] degree designed to prepare you for a career in the creative and challenging world of music or in a variety of other professions.

Develop your understanding of music while working on your skills in performance or composition under the supportive guidance of internationally recognised musicians and academics. You'll be encouraged to push the limits of your creative abilities, so you graduate as a confident and skilled musician. You'll also take an academic approach to studying music and gain skills in writing, critical thinking, teamwork and communication that are valuable in many different careers.

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Follow your interests

Choose to [major] in either Classical Performance, Jazz Performance, Instrumental/Vocal Composition, Digital Music and Audio Production, or Music Studies. You'll study music theory and, depending on your chosen focus, you might learn in one-to-one lessons or as part of an ensemble, or focus on music in cultural and historical contexts.

If you're passionate and creative with a drive to succeed in music then this degree is ideal for you. Get prepared for a professional career in music or in a related industry, or to continue on to postgraduate studies.

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

First year

In your first year you're likely to take at least six courses. Most or all of these will be [core] courses you'll need for your major. If you're majoring in Classical Performance, Digital Music and Audio Production, or Music Studies, you'll also be able to choose one or two [electives].

You might study the development of popular music, western art music, jazz history, or music in global context, and receive basic training in harmony and counterpoint, aural perception and keyboard skills. You could also play in the big band or orchestra as part of a large ensemble course. Performance students will give a 15–20-minute recital at the end of the year.

By the end of your first year you'll have a solid foundation in your major subject.

Second year

In the middle year of your degree you're likely to take a minimum of six courses. In this year there are fewer core courses and you'll have more choice to follow your particular interests or career aspirations. You might take a gamelan performance course, learn about recording, mixing, and audio production, be part of a fusion jazz ensemble, study 19th century European music, and more.

Performance students will give a recital at the end of the year of approximately 30 minutes.

At the end of your second year you'll be developing your creative and academic skills and be ready for more advanced music study in your final year.

Third year

In the third year you'll study primarily 300-level courses but are likely to take two or three other electives from courses at 200 or 300 level.

Depending on your major you might study film music, orchestrate music for large ensembles or do an in-depth study of the social and historical context of an aspect of jazz.

Performance students will give a recital of around 50 minutes at the end of the year.

By this stage you'll have developed an intimate understanding of your major and will be confident in your music skills as a creator, critical thinker, writer, and performer.

Get a Master's degree

At the end of your three-year BMus you can choose to continue your learning with postgraduate studies. Give your career options a boost and choose from a range of postgraduate programmes offered.

Flexibility in your degree

Take advantage of the flexibility offered by Victoria University of Wellington. Depending on your degree, you may be able to do a:

• Double major—specialise in two subjects in your degree.
• Minor—specialise in another BMus subject (Digital Music and Audio Production, Popular Music) without doing as many courses as for a major.

Combine your BMus with another degree

You can combine your Bachelor of Music (BMus) with another degree, which means you can complete two undergraduate degrees in a shorter time than if you’d do one degree and then another. This is called a conjoint degree, and an example is a Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Arts (BMus/BA).

Popular pairings with a BMus include:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Law
• Bachelor of Popular Music

Having a conjoint degree can help you find specialised jobs and prepare for changes in your career by giving you a broader range of knowledge and connecting you with a wider professional network. These degrees involve a more intense study schedule, so it’s a good idea to talk to a student adviser to create a plan that suits you.

International scholarships

Many scholarships are available for international students at Victoria University of Wellington. They can help with tuition fees and with accommodation costs.

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded to hundreds of first-year students each year. They help with living costs and accommodation costs at the University's halls of residence.

Our Tangiwai, Totoweka, and Kahotea scholarships are available to school leavers, and there are several other first-year scholarships on offer in our scholarships database.

You can also apply for a TeachNZ Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded based on specific areas where teachers are needed.

We strongly recommend applying for our scholarships, as they often don’t receive enough applications.