The School of Music offers degrees in Performance, Composition, Contemporary Music Production, and Music Studies, across Bachelor Degrees, Honours, and Postgraduate Research programs.

All students have the opportunity to combine their study in music with other disciplines across ANU in our Flexible Double Degree program. Single degree students have the opportunity to take a double major, for example combining Composition with Performance.

We celebrate the ANU ethos as reflected in its Graduate Attributes, that School of Music students should be critical thinkers, able to actively challenge the nature of things, engage in cutting edge debate, and ask judicious questions.

The School of Music embraces this ethos in its innovative teaching pedagogies across its creative practice courses, blending dynamic and collaborative debate with one-to-one tutorial sessions, and a rich range of offerings including workshops, performances, and recording opportunities.

Contemporary Music Production equips students with skills and knowledge in blended recording, performance, and composition practice. It fosters practical experience in diverse production environments, from Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) to world-class large recording studio facilities in the School of Music. A bespoke music theory approach embraces the breadth of genres involved in contemporary music making, facilitating a deep understanding of the recording, compositional and performance techniques used. This also supports students in following their passion for their chosen contemporary genres which may include popular music, in its myriad of forms, jazz, classical and global music. Through blending solo and collaborative practice, it emphasizes developing interpersonal and ethical practices to prepare students for professional work in music communities.

Performance focusses on the elemental power of music as it is heard in society, comprising creativity, collaboration, communication and innovation. Students are guided to find their individual voice, with graduates equipped to engage with the world of professional music-making both here and abroad. Please note that audition is required for all Performance courses.

Students in Composition work in a collaborative and flexible studio environment, with teachers who understand the changing nature of music in today’s world. The focus on the creation of music aligns with the evolving sphere of technological innovation, developing a fully rounded composer equipped to work across diverse genres and styles.

The Music Studies program is situated in the Bachelor of Arts, providing students the opportunity to study a personalised combination of topics from Musicology, Music Technology, Composition, and Performance, as well as other disciplines.

Students are also able to create specialisations in a number of Minors, including Musicology, Composition for Film and Video Games, Music Technology, Music Theory and Aural Skills, along with Composition and Performance.

Undergraduate programs

• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Arts (Music Major and Minors)

Honours

• Bachelor of Music (Honours)
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Postgraduate research

• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

For more information about our Postgraduate Research Degrees and the admissions processes, please see the ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences website.

Not sure which study option is right for you?