Choose a study option
Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Undergraduate qualifications
For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.
Bachelor of Music (MusB)
A three-year degree that may be completed without specialisation or may be endorsed in Composition, Performance, or Music Production
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
A three-year degree offering flexibility to explore a major in Arts along with other subjects
Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Commerce, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Science, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr)
A three-year degree that equips you to change the world as you create new products, services and ideas
Ready to apply?
Take the first step towards your future in this subject.
Further study opportunities
Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.
Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
The Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad), requiring study of at least seven papers (at least four of which are at 300-level o...
Postgraduate Study in Music
Explore postgraduate study in Music at Otago. Gain advanced knowledge, skills, and research opportunities in a supportiv...
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject as a major and minor (where available).
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | MUSI 101 Materials of Music 1 | 18 |
|
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 |
| 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 |
| Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | ||
| Total | 360 |
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | MUSI 101 Materials of Music 1 | 18 |
|
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.
CompositionMUSI 331 Composition Projects PerformanceMUSI 343 Instrumental or Vocal Performance 3 Music ProductionMUSI 332 Music Production 3 and one of | ||
| Total | 360 |
A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.
Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.
You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.
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).
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
MUSI papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSI101 | 2025 | Materials of Music 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI103 | 2025 | Popular Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI104 | 2025 | World Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI105 | 2025 | Music Matters in Human Life | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI131 | 2025 | Composition 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI132 | 2025 | Music Production 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| MUSI135 | 2025 | Songwriting | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI140 | 2025 | Performance Studies 1 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI143 | 2025 | Instrumental or Vocal Performance 1 | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI144 | 2025 | Music Ensemble 1 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI191 | 2025 | Introduction to Music | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI201 | 2025 | Materials of Music 2 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI207 | 2025 | Radical Works | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI232 | 2025 | Music Production 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI233 | 2025 | Electronic Music Production | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI234 | 2025 | Contemporary Composition | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI240 | 2025 | Performance Studies 2 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI243 | 2025 | Instrumental or Vocal Performance 2 | 18 points | Full Year |
| MUSI244 | 2025 | Music Ensemble 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI249 | 2025 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI259 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI260 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI266 | 2025 | Film Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI267 | 2025 | Music in Aotearoa | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI268 | 2025 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI269 | 2025 | Popular Music 2 | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI307 | 2025 | Radical Works (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI310 | 2025 | Materials of Music 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI331 | 2025 | Composition Projects | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI332 | 2025 | Music Production 3 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI333 | 2025 | Electronic Music Production (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI334 | 2025 | Music Production Projects | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI340 | 2025 | Performance Studies 3 | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI343 | 2025 | Instrumental or Vocal Performance 3 | 36 points | Full Year |
| MUSI344 | 2025 | Music Ensemble 3 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI349 | 2025 | Contemporary Vocal Pedagogy: How to Teach Contemporary Voice | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI366 | 2025 | Film Music | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI367 | 2025 | Music in Aotearoa (Advanced) | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI368 | 2025 | Performance in Asia and the Pacific | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI369 | 2025 | Popular Music 3 | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI371 | 2025 | Research Methods and Approaches | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI375 | 2025 | Music Performance Pedagogy | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI379 | 2025 | Performance, Health and Well-being | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI386 | 2025 | Community Project | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI440 | 2025 | Performance Studies 4 | 30 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| MUSI443 | 2025 | Creative Project | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI471 | 2025 | Research Methods and Approaches (Advanced) | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI475 | 2025 | Music Performance Pedagogy (Advanced) | 30 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| MUSI479 | 2025 | Performance, Health and Well-being (Advanced) | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI486 | 2025 | Community Project (Advanced) | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| MUSI487 | 2025 | Creative Practice | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| MUSI490 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year |
| MUSI590 | 2025 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 21 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2025 - 3 July 2026) |
More information
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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