Study Music at Otago

A world of Music.

At the University of Otago Music programme we cover a unique combination of classical music, contemporary rock music, music production and world music. Our focus is on developing and growing each student’s creativity as a musician. Otago’s School of Performing Arts has an international reputation and ranking: students learn from leading practitioners and educators.

If you want to develop as a performer, a composer or a songwriter we have papers to suit. We also offer papers that help you discover what makes music work as a language, how it communicates to people today and in the past, and what it means to people in various world cultures including our own.

Ready to enrol?

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Dunedin, 2025
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Dunedin, 2025
Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Dunedin, 2025
Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc), Dunedin, 2025
Bachelor of Music (MusB), Dunedin, 2025
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)), Dunedin, 2025
Bachelor of Music with Honours (MusB(Hons)), Dunedin, 2025
Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad), Dunedin, 2025
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts), Dunedin, 2025
Postgraduate Diploma in Music (PGDipMus), Dunedin, 2025
Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework)), Dunedin, 2025
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)), Dunedin, 2024
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)), Dunedin, 2025
Master of Music (MMus), Dunedin, 2024
Master of Music (MMus), Dunedin, 2025
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), Dunedin, 2024
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), Dunedin, 2025

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Why study Music?

Music is a very important part of our lives: the study of music enriches any student's university course and opens the door to lifelong enjoyment. There are many types of music from different parts of the world, and from different times in the world's history. At Otago we make Music, we know about Music, and we are passionate about Music and our role in educating a new generation of musicians and music lovers.

Requirements

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Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Music

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	MUSI 101 Materials of Music 1	18
100-level	One of: MUSI 103 Popular Music MUSI 104 World Music MUSI 105 Music Matters in Human Life	18
Above 100-level	126 further MUSI points of which at least 72 must be above 200-level	126
Above 100-level	PERF 205 or PERF 305 may be substituted for 18 MUSI points
Plus	198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above	198
Plus	Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts
Total		360

Bachelor of Music (MusB)

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	MUSI 101 Materials of Music 1	18
100-level	One of MUSI 103 Popular Music MUSI 104 World Music MUSI 105 Music Matters in Human Life	18
200-level and above	MUSI 201 Materials of Music 2 or MUSI 310 Materials of Music 3	18
	36 further 200- or 300-level MUSI points	36
	72 300-level MUSI points	72
Plus	198 further points, including at least 54 above 100-level, comprising:
	108 further MUSI points (for 18 of which MAOR 108, PERF 205 or PERF 305 may be substituted), and	108
	90 further points (any subject)	90
	This programme does not have provision for major subjects. A programme may be completed without endorsement, or may be endorsed in one of the following areas of specialisation if it includes the papers specified below. Composition MUSI 331 Composition Projects Performance MUSI 343 Instrumental or Vocal Performance 3 Music Production MUSI 332 Music Production 3 MUSI 334 Music Production Projects and one of MUSI 233 Electronic Music Production MUSI 266 Film Music MUSI 269 Popular Music 2 MUSI 333 Electronic Music Production (Advanced) MUSI 366 Film Music MUSI 369 Popular Music 3
Total		360

Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Music

Papers
MUSI 490 Dissertation
60 further points from: MUSI 440 Performance Studies 4 MUSI 471 Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced) MUSI 475 Music Performance Pedagogy (Advanced) MUSI 479 Performance, Health and Well-being (Advanced) MUSI 486 Community Project (Advanced) MUSI 487 Creative Practice
Prerequisites: One of MUSI 207, MUSI 266, MUSI 268, MUSI 269, MUSI 307, MUSI 332, MUSI 333, MUSI 334 , MUSI 368, MUSI 369, MUSI 371, MUSI 375, MUSI 379, MUSI 386 ,

Bachelor of Music with Honours (MusB(Hons))

Papers
MUSI 443 Creative Project or MUSI 490 Dissertation Two of: MUSI 440 Performance Studies 4 MUSI 471 Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced) MUSI 475 Music Performance Pedagogy (Advanced) MUSI 479 Performance, Health and Well-being (Advanced) MUSI 486 Community Project (Advanced) MUSI 487 Creative Practice HUMS 401 Internship Practicum Prerequisites: 72 300-level MUSI points

Postgraduate Diploma in Music (PGDipMus)

Papers
MUSI 443 Creative Project And two of: MUSI 440 Performance Studies 4 MUSI 471 Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced) MUSI 475 Music Performance Pedagogy (Advanced) MUSI 479 Performance, Health and Well-being (Advanced) MUSI 486 Community Project (Advanced) MUSI 487 Creative Practice HUMS 401 Internship Practicum

Papers

MUSI 443 Creative Project

And two of:

MUSI 440 Performance Studies 4
MUSI 471 Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced)
MUSI 475 Music Performance Pedagogy (Advanced)
MUSI 479 Performance, Health and Well-being (Advanced)
MUSI 486 Community Project (Advanced)
MUSI 487 Creative Practice
HUMS 401 Internship Practicum

Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework)) in Music

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.

Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Music

Thesis
Thesis: MUSI 5 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.

Thesis

Thesis: MUSI 5

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.

Music as a minor subject for a BA, BTheol, BSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	Two MUSI papers, one of which may be replaced with MAOR 108 Waiata: Te Timatanga	36
200-level	36 MUSI points at 200-level or above	36
300-level	18 300-level MUSI points	18
	PERF 205 or PERF305 may be substituted for one MUSI paper
Total		90

Note: This minor subject is not available for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music (MusB) or Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA).

MUSI papers

Paper Code	Year	Title	Points	Teaching period
MUSI101	2024, 2025	Materials of Music 1	18 points	Semester 2
MUSI103	2024, 2025	Popular Music	18 points	Semester 1
MUSI104	2024, 2025	World Music	18 points	Not offered in 2024, Semester 1
MUSI105	2024, 2025	Music Matters in Human Life	18 points	Semester 1, Not offered in 2025
MUSI131	2024, 2025	Composition 1	18 points	Semester 2
MUSI132	2024, 2025	Music Production 1	18 points	Semester 1, Semester 2
MUSI135	2024, 2025	Songwriting	18 points	Semester 1
MUSI140	2024, 2025	Performance Studies 1	18 points	Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year
MUSI141	2024	Performance 1	36 points	Full Year
MUSI143	2025	Instrumental or Vocal Performance 1	18 points	Full Year
MUSI144	2025	Music Ensemble 1	18 points	Semester 2
MUSI146	2024	Contemporary Music Performance 1	36 points	Full Year
MUSI191	2024, 2025	Introduction to Music	18 points	Semester 1
MUSI201	2024, 2025	Materials of Music 2	18 points	Semester 1
MUSI207	2025	Radical Works	18 points	Semester 1
MUSI223	2024	Classical Music	18 points	Not offered in 2024
MUSI232	2024, 2025	Music Production 2	18 points	Semester 2
MUSI233	2024, 2025	Electronic Music Production	18 points	Semester 1
MUSI234	2024, 2025	Contemporary Composition	18 points	Semester 2
MUSI240	2024, 2025	Performance Studies 2	18 points	Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year
MUSI241	2024	Performance 2	36 points	Full Year
MUSI243	2025	Instrumental or Vocal Performance 2	18 points	Full Year
MUSI244	2025	Music Ensemble 2	18 points	Semester 2
MUSI246	2024	Contemporary Music Performance 2	36 points	Full Year
MUSI249	2024, 2025	Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice	18 points	Summer School, Not offered in 2025
MUSI259	2024, 2025	Special Topic	18 points	Summer School, Not offered in 2025
MUSI260	2024, 2025	Special Topic	18 points	Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
MUSI261	2024	Music and Visual Culture	18 points	Not offered in 2024
MUSI265	2024	Music and Theatre	18 points	Not offered in 2024
MUSI266	2024, 2025	Film Music	18 points	Semester 1, Not offered in 2025
MUSI267	2024, 2025	Music in Aotearoa	18 points	Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
MUSI268	2024, 2025	Performance in Asia and the Pacific	18 points	Not offered in 2024, Semester 2
MUSI269	2024, 2025	Popular Music 2	18 points	Semester 2, Not offered in 2025
MUSI270	2024	David Bowie	18 points	Not offered in 2024
MUSI301	2024	Materials of Music	18 points	Not offered in 2024
MUSI307	2025	Radical Works (Advanced)	18 points	Semester 1
MUSI310	2025	Materials of Music 3	18 points	Semester 1
MUSI323	2024	Classical Music	18 points	Not offered in 2024
MUSI331	2024, 2025	Composition Projects	36 points	Full Year
MUSI332	2024, 2025	Music Production 3	18 points	Semester 1
MUSI333	2024, 2025	Electronic Music Production (Advanced)	18 points	Semester 1
MUSI334	2024, 2025	Music Production Projects	18 points	Semester 2
MUSI340	2024, 2025	Performance Studies 3	18 points	Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year
MUSI341	2024	Performance 3	36 points	Full Year
MUSI343	2025	Instrumental or Vocal Performance 3	36 points	Full Year
MUSI344	2025	Music Ensemble 3	18 points	Semester 2
MUSI346	2024	Contemporary Music Performance 3	36 points	Full Year
MUSI349	2024, 2025	Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice	18 points	Summer School, Not offered in 2025
MUSI361	2024	Music and Visual Culture	18 points	Not offered in 2024
MUSI365	2024	Music and Theatre	18 points	Not offered in 2024
MUSI366	2024, 2025	Film Music	18 points	Semester 1, Not offered in 2025
MUSI367	2024, 2025	Music in Aotearoa (Advanced)	18 points	Not offered in 2024, Not offered in 2025
MUSI368	2024, 2025	Performance in Asia and the Pacific	18 points	Not offered in 2024, Semester 2
MUSI369	2024, 2025	Popular Music 3	18 points	Semester 2, Not offered in 2025
MUSI371	2024, 2025	Research Methods and Approaches	18 points	Semester 2
MUSI375	2024, 2025	Music Performance Pedagogy	18 points	Semester 2, Not offered in 2025
MUSI379	2025	Performance, Health and Well-being	18 points	Semester 2
MUSI386	2024, 2025	Community Project	18 points	Not offered in 2024, Semester 1
MUSI401	2024	Materials of Music (Advanced)	20 points	Not offered in 2024
MUSI407	2024	Radical Works	20 points	Not offered in 2024
MUSI431	2024	Composition Portfolio	60 points	Full Year
MUSI432	2024	Studio Production	60 points	Full Year
MUSI440	2025	Performance Studies 4	30 points	Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year
MUSI441	2024	Performance 4	60 points	Full Year
MUSI442	2024	Repertoire Studies	20 points	Full Year
MUSI443	2025	Creative Project	60 points	Full Year
MUSI446	2024	Contemporary Music Practice 4	60 points	Full Year
MUSI471	2024, 2025	Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced)	20 points, 30 points	Semester 2
MUSI475	2024, 2025	Music Performance Pedagogy (Advanced)	20 points, 30 points	Semester 2, Not offered in 2025
MUSI479	2025	Performance, Health and Well-being (Advanced)	30 points	Semester 2
MUSI486	2024, 2025	Community Project (Advanced)	20 points, 30 points	Not offered in 2024, Semester 1
MUSI487	2025	Creative Practice	30 points	Semester 2
MUSI490	2024, 2025	Dissertation	40 points, 60 points	Full Year
MUSI590	2024, 2025	Research Dissertation	60 points	1st Non standard period (1 March 2024 - 21 February 2025), 2nd Non standard period (12 July 2024 - 4 July 2025), 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 21 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2025 - 3 July 2026)

Qualifications

Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.

More information

Contact us

School of Performing Arts
Music Programme
Email spa@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/performing-arts

Studying at Otago

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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

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Ready to enrol?

Why study Music?

Requirements

Composition

Performance

Music Production

MUSI papers

Qualifications

More information

Contact us

Studying at Otago

Study Music at Otago

Ready to enrol?

Why study Music?

Requirements

Composition

Performance

Music Production

Minor subject requirements

Papers

MUSI papers

Qualifications

More information

Contact us

Studying at Otago