Postgraduate Taught

Music

What's the difference?

A music student tunes a violin while other musicians set up on a stage behind her
A male music student sat on a desk in a studio
A music student sat playing the piano
performance on stage in middleton hall
You'll get the chance to work at live events in and around Hull, and tap into our partnerships with the BBC, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North and more.
Access industry-standard recording studios and performance spaces, including our flagship Duality Recording Studio and 3D sound (ambisonic) studio.
Open up a range of careers within the music industry: performer, producer, studio manager, sound engineer, freelance composer, teacher, journalist ...
Our flexible programme will provide the platform to develop advanced skills in your specialist area of music and collaborate with like-minded musicians in world-class facilities.
A music student tunes a violin while other musicians set up on a stage behind her
A male music student sat on a desk in a studio
A music student sat playing the piano
performance on stage in middleton hall

Develop advanced skills in your specialist area of music and collaborate with like-minded musicians in world-class facilities.

Pursue your interests through ambitious projects while receiving robust training in the skills and techniques you need. You’ll tackle the concepts at the forefront of how we think about and make music today.

Specialise in the areas that light your fire and use our top-notch facilities to experiment with fresh ideas and ways of working.

You’ll leave alight with ideas, holding an extensive and refined portfolio of work, and with renewed confidence in your abilities.

  • £9.5m investment

    in world-class performance & recording spaces

  • Learn from academics

    at the forefront of their fields

  • Practical experience

    with the likes of RPO & Opera North

  • Join a vibrant scene

    & collaborate with others

  • Follow your interests

    on a course custom-made for you

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Course overview
Module options

About this course

Ready to follow your passion on a course tailored just for you? Our MMus Music allows you to do just that.

Blend your interests across a wide variety of areas. From performance to composition, your studies could hone in on any of the spectrum of musical fields.

Into game audio? No worries. Is film music more your thing? We cover that too. If you’re more about historical and critical musicology, jazz studies, global music or even music psychology, theory, or analysis, you’ll also find like-minded musicians and academics here at Hull.

Your studies culminate in a large-scale project representing your best work. We’ll build your portfolio through a series of smaller projects using our world-class facilities. Did we mention our music studios rival the industry’s best, including one of the finest ambisonics studios in the UK?

We’ll introduce you to new and different ways of thinking about music and its significance. You can collaborate with students across the School of Arts – from drama, theatre, film, TV, digital design, and games. And you’ll have opportunities for practical experience with the likes of Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC, Opera North, and Absolutely Cultured.

Choose your modules

For a full Masters degree, you'll study 180 credits over the duration of your course. Some programmes offer a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification or a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification. For a PGDip, you'll study 120 credits, and for a PGCert, you'll study 60 credits.

Concepts in Music 1

This module fosters deep intellectual engagement with critical ideas that characterise current thinking in the field of music. The starting point for this engagement is listening. Listening most obviously relates to music’s fundamental status as sound, but it also provides a lens through which you will interrogate ideas about what music is, how it functions, why it is important and how we can understand it from critical, conceptual, and philosophical perspectives. You will be guided through ideas that will help you situate your own work as a researcher and/or practitioner. You will also receive training in some essential skills that will underpin your studies. 

Core•30 credits

Specialist Study in Music 1

This module provides you with the opportunity to embark on a project relating to your chosen area of specialisation. For practitioners, such projects may include performance (e.g., classical, jazz, pop, choral practices, live electronics), composition (e.g., instrumental/vocal, electronic, acousmatic, songwriting, film music), or production (e.g., recording practices, mixing/mastering, spatial/immersive work). For researchers, projects may relate to musicology, music psychology, music education, or music analysis. You will be taught through a series of workshops and tutorials.

Core•30 credits

Concepts in Music 2

Concepts in Music 2 further deepens your understanding of key ideas and thinking in the field of music by exploring concepts of process. Examining music through the lens of process offers a way to understand long-term historical trajectories, patterns of influence, stylistic development, and the socio-political and cultural contexts that contributed to and emerged from such shifts in music. Understanding process also provides insights into music’s meaning and significance for individuals, groups, and communities at local and global scales. Processes in music can also be explored through acts of resistance, disruption, and critique.

Core•30 credits

Specialist Study in Music 2

Embark on an advanced project or placement relating to your chosen area of specialisation. This original work is supported by the development of advanced practical skills structured through a series of specific tasks and challenges designed to deepen your skills and experience of applied work alongside workshops and tutorials. You will be encouraged to engage in collaborative work where possible as you build your skills and professionalism in an applied and sustainable way.

Core•30 credits

Major Project in Music

Major Project in Music is the culmination of your developmental trajectory throughout the MMus programme. This module gives you the opportunity to embark on your most substantial and ambitious project to date, which will be a springboard into the next stage of your career. Your project will be an authentic reflection of your area of specialisation and you will be able to take full advantage of being part of the wider School of the Arts. You may even opt to spend some time on a placement in industry or modelling a freelance career as part of this module.

Core•60 credits
5 Modules

Our academics

Our team of academics have a wide range of interests and backgrounds, so you can expect challenges, expertise, and variety from your tutors.

We count composers, producers, performers, conductors, a music psychologist, and even Goldfrapp’s drummer as members of the department.

See more academics for this subject
Dr Mark Slater
Featured academic

Dr Mark Slater

Mark is a composer, producer and musicologist with an interest in the processes of how music is made, usually including uses of technology and improvisation in some way. His work is fuelled by an exploration of spontaneity and collaboration.
Elaine King
Featured academic

Dr Elaine King

Elaine is a cellist, pianist and conductor. She directs the University of Hull Camerata and is involved in other regional chamber ensembles and orchestras, including Hull Philharmonic Orchestra.

Entry requirements

What do I need?

Typical offer
2:1 in relevant subject area

Typically a 2:1 Honours degree (or international equivalent) in Music, Music Production or a music-related subject. 

Additional entry requirements for this course

Professional experience may also be considered as part of the application process.

You should also submit a sample of work relevant to your intended area of specialism. For example:

  • Performance: a video recording of a recent performance including two contrasting pieces up to 10 minutes duration in total.
  • Composition: two recent pieces as scores and/or recordings with a total duration of around 10 minutes.
  • Technology & production: two recent projects (e.g., studio production, sound design, installation work) totalling around 10 minutes.
  • Musicology: a sample of written work, including one or two items totalling approximately 3,000 words.

In your application, you can provide a link to your work hosted externally or you can upload files.

If you’re an undergraduate student at Hull, you’re guaranteed a fast-track route to this postgraduate degree, as long as you meet the entry requirements.

In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved.

What do I need?

Typical offer
2:1 in relevant subject area

Typically a 2:1 Honours degree (or international equivalent) in Music, Music Production or a music-related subject. 

Additional entry requirements for this course

Professional experience may also be considered as part of the application process.

You should also submit a sample of work relevant to your intended area of specialism. For example:

  • Performance: a video recording of a recent performance including two contrasting pieces up to 10 minutes duration in total.
  • Composition: two recent pieces as scores and/or recordings with a total duration of around 10 minutes.
  • Technology & production: two recent projects (e.g., studio production, sound design, installation work) totalling around 10 minutes.
  • Musicology: a sample of written work, including one or two items totalling approximately 3,000 words.

In your application, you can provide a link to your work hosted externally or you can upload files.

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Our scholarships

We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They’re awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those on lower incomes.

Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don’t pay a penny back.

Find out more about our scholarships

Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship

University of Hull undergraduates progressing to a taught masters course may receive a 20% discount on the cost of their tuition fees.

Find out if you’re eligible by visiting the University of Hull Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship page.

International Scholarships and Bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries for international students.

To find out more and see if you're eligible, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Take a look at our facilities

Middleton Hall

Our £9.5m investment transformed Middleton Hall into a world-class venue and 400-seater concert hall. It’s also home to our flagship Duality Recording Studio featuring professional kit and software.

Duality Recording Studio

Use professional kits from Akai, AKG, Sennheiser, Neumann and Sound Devices. As well as software including Pro Tools, Sibelius, Adobe Creative Suite, Ableton Live and Reaper.

Ambisonic Studio

This 3D 360o surround-sound studio boats a 4-8-4 array, additional Barefoot stereo monitoring and a fully adjustable lift and desk for an ideal monitoring position.

Rehearsal, composition, and performance spaces

Take advantage of a range of industry-standard fully-equipped recording studios, creative spaces for developing composition ideas, and a variety of performance spaces including the university chapel.

See more in our virtual tour

Look around

Look around

Look around

Look around

Middleton Hall Auditorium
Middleton Hall Studios Recording and Performance Room
Larkin Ambisonic Music Studio
Middleton Hall Rehearsal Room
music studio

Future prospects

Our graduates go on to successful careers in the industry, becoming music producers, label heads, studio managers, sound engineers, teachers, freelance performers, producers and composers.

We’ve also had students go on to events management and promotions, music therapy, and, of course, head into academia as researchers and doctoral candidates.

You’ll leave with an in-depth academic understanding of your craft and deeply honed skills, teamed with practical industry experience and connections. Oh, and an impressive, professionally produced portfolio to help you take your next steps. Your future is yours to create.

University of Hull Open Day

Your next steps

Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.

Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.

How to apply

Not ready to apply?

We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.

Discover more

All modules presented on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

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