University of Oxford
Music (Musicology) MSt
University of Oxford

Course modalities offered

Key Course Facts

Course Description

MSt

The MSt can serve both as a self-contained course for students wishing to pursue more advanced studies in musicology for one year or as an excellent preparation for doctoral research. Students on the MSt courses in musicology, performance and composition follow a common structure, supported by appropriate individual supervision or tuition in their chosen specialism.

Course structure

The Master of Studies in Music (Musicology) introduces a broad range of current methodologies and approaches in music scholarship. The main MSt teaching and coursework is done in the first two terms and the third is reserved for completion of assessed work.

Core seminars (MSt / MPhil)

In the Michaelmas term there are typically six topics:

  • historical musicology
  • current trends in music theory
  • aesthetics
  • the social and cultural study of music
  • performance
  • composition.

You may participate in as many of these seminars as you wish. Your first summative assessment will be an essay written in response to one of the core seminars in musicology.

Elective seminars (MSt / MPhil)

Each year a number of faculty members convene a series of ‘elective’ seminars based on their research interests, to help you prepare for your assessment essays. You are invited to attend as many of these seminars as you wish. Reading lists are sent out before the start of the courses and you are asked to prepare fully and contribute to the seminars. The first of the seminars may well incorporate a lecture given by the faculty member. Most of the electives take place in Hilary term.

Recent seminar series included the following titles:

  • Pitch, Amplitude, Timbre
  • Brazilian Music
  • Distributed Creativity in Composition and Performance
  • Thirteenth-Century Motets
  • Music and (Non) Religion
  • Music and Race
  • Gender and Sexuality in Popular Music Studies
  • Music and Islamic Culture
  • Beethoven between History and Myth.

You may participate in as many of these seminars as you wish. Your second summative assessment will be written in response to an aspect of any one of the courses attended.

Presentation seminars

Presentation seminars are held in Trinity term. Musicologists, performers and composers each prepare a presentation on their own research and are asked to respond to another student’s presentation in another; further feedback on presentation skills is received from the seminar convenor.

MPhil

The MPhil is designed for students wishing to attain a thorough grounding in musicology at an advanced level, either as a preparation for doctoral research or an autonomous qualification. In the first year you follow the MSt in Music (Musicology), proceeding in the second year to individual supervision leading to the completion of a dissertation and written project.

First year

The first year of the course is identical to that of the MSt in Music (Musicology). The main teaching and coursework is done in the first two terms and the third is reserved for completion of assessed work.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 7.0
    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • (no subscore less than 6.0)
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Music (Musicology), MSt, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of University of Oxford in top UK and global rankings.

See all 38 university rankings of University of Oxford

About University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is a prestigious research university located in Oxford, England, and is the oldest English language university in the world. It is made up of 39 partly autonomous constituent colleges, six private halls, and a variety of academic departments which are split into four divisions: Humanities, Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Social Sciences.

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9785
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22210
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Where is this programme taught

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