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Our MA Music framework provides a broad range of personalised learning experiences underpinned by professionally relevant research and enterprise that is strongly aligned to: Songwriting, Production and Music industries. The master's will deepen your expertise in the authorship, production and distribution of popular music. The following pathways exist:
I’ve never felt more supported than I do at UWS. All of our lectures have industry experience."
Katelyn, MA Music (Songwriting/Sound Production/Industries)
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Postgraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
Entry to the MA is open to those with an Honours degree (minimum lower second - 2:2) or equivalent.
Applicants may gain entry to the course where significant professional or other experience is demonstrated and deemed appropriate to the level of study.
Entry is subject to interview and presentation of a satisfactory professional portfolio only.
Those with Ordinary degrees only will be considered on the merit of their portfolio (sent as part of the application process), academic reference and successful interview.
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.
General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see section below for more details).
SOCIAL WORK DEGREES
For our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to, or require professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.
For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:
* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).
For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
Want to learn British Sign Language, French or Spanish in addition to your postgraduate studies? We offer a range of beginners-level modules on our Paisley and Ayr campuses. Go on! Broaden your horizons and enhance your international perspective and CV.
Study languagesThe MA Music framework consists of a common core of three modules that provide the foundation for you to specialise in one of the three named pathways – or design your own bespoke programme (MA Music).
All modules combine theory with practice, and students bring these themes together in an extended piece of creative research in the final MA project.
For the Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) stage, you will study the following core modules:
*Students electing for the Industries pathway may also opt for the dissertation route, in which case Creative Research (Paisley Campus) will be the prerequisite instead of Research: Critical Development.
MUSIC (SONGWRITING) PATHWAY
MUSIC (SOUND PRODUCTION) PATHWAY
MUSIC (INDUSTRIES) PATHWAY
Successful completion of the PgDip allows you to proceed to the master's dissertation module OR Master's Creative Project.
MA MUSIC (SONGWRITING) PATHWAY
MA MUSIC (SOUND PRODUCTION) PATHWAY
MA MUSIC (INDUSTRIES) PATHWAY
LEARNING AND TEACHING
ASSESSMENT
Assessment methods will include:
Collaboration is central to the music industries and the MA Music framework reflects this, allowing you the opportunity to specialise while developing new collaborative professional networks and approaches to interdisciplinary working.
Our graduates have gone on to enjoy fulfilling careers within the arts and the wider creative landscape, often on a sustainable self-employed basis.
I attended the MA Music Industries course at UWS in 2018. I had previously achieved my BA in Commercial Music and had really enjoyed the experience. My professional career as the guitarist in Glasvegas had taken me around the world touring and releasing music; however, many of my preconceived notions of the music industries were challenged during the completion of the course. I walked away with a far broader understanding of the underlying mechanisms which make music a financially viable product from creation to consumption. One of the best elements of the course was the interaction with other like-minded students. There were eight students from various disciplines with a number attending from the USA and Europe which resulted in some great conversations and the sharing of knowledge.
Rab Allan, Graduate, Guitarist - Glasvegas
£7,500 Total cost of tuition
£11,750 Total cost of tuition
£11,750 Total cost of tuition
£15,500 Total cost of tuition
£1,070 per module (20 credits)
£1,680 per module (20 credits)
£1,680 per module (20 credits)
£2,210 per module (20 credits)
£7,500 Total cost of tuition
£12,350 Total cost of tuition
£12,350 Total cost of tuition
£16,275 Total cost of tuition
£1,070 per module (20 credits)
£1,760 per module (20 credits)
£1,760 per module (20 credits)
£2,330 per module (20 credits)
Estimated cost per year of study.
All students should apply directly to the University through our online application system. Before you apply, you should check that you meet our entry requirements and you should have all your supporting documents ready.
The first stage of the process is to complete the initial application form. You will then receive a follow-up email with further instructions relating to your application including documents that you will need to forward to support your application, e.g. degree transcripts and certificates etc.
Most courses don't have a formal closing date, but they will close when they are full; apply early to avoid disappointment. There may also be funding deadlines that apply to you.
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to all international students and researchers (apart from exempt nationalities) who are subject to UK immigration control and are intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects.
Students and researchers who are nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the United States of America do not need an ATAS certificate.
An ATAS certificate may be required for certain taught postgraduate master's degrees for international students at UWS.
For the latest information on ATAS and details of eligibility and how to apply for a certificate check the UK Government's dedicated ATAS web pages.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Our friendly admissions teams are here to help!
International prospective students
Our international team is ready to support you with your application and any questions about joining UWS from abroad.
UK-based prospective students
If you’re applying from within the UK, our applicant enquiry team is here to guide you every step of the way.
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