Programme structure: Music (MA) - what's running in 2024/25

    This section describes which Units you will take in which year of study. It indicates which units are mandatory and where you will be able to choose. The overall pass marks you will need to achieve in order to progress or achieve an award are shown. The full regulations concerning progression and completion are held in the University's Regulations and Code of Practice. Any particular aspects of your programme that are unusual will be highlighted. If any Units are must pass this will be shown below. The linked unit specifications detail any additional requirements.

    What do the Levels represent?

    What do the teaching blocks (TB) mean?

    If you are selecting optional units, ensure that you have a balanced workload through the year.

  • Year 1 (2024/25)
Unit name Unit code Credit points Status Teaching Block
Medieval Music Pathway - Mandatory units:
Readings In Musicology MUSIM0036 40 Optional TB-4
Research Skills for Musicians MUSIM0035 20 Optional TB-1
Dissertation MUSIM1000 60 Optional AYEAR
Musicology Pathway - Mandatory units:
Readings In Musicology MUSIM0036 40 Optional TB-4
Research Skills for Musicians MUSIM0035 20 Optional TB-1
Dissertation MUSIM1000 60 Optional AYEAR
Source Study, Paleography and Editorial Practices MUSIM0014 20 Optional TB-2
Composition Pathway - Mandatory units:
Research Skills for Musicians MUSIM0035 20 Optional TB-1
Introduction to Professional Composing MUSIM0002 20 Optional TB-2
Contemporary Compositional Ideas and Techniques MUSIM0006 40 Optional TB-4
Composition Portfolio MUSIM0011 60 Optional AYEAR
Performance Pathway - Mandatory units:
Research Skills for Musicians MUSIM0035 20 Optional TB-1
Performance Studies MUSIM0022 60 Optional AYEAR
Source Study, Paleography and Editorial Practices MUSIM0014 20 Optional TB-2
Russian Music Pathway - Mandatory units:
Research Skills for Musicians MUSIM0035 20 Optional TB-1
Readings In Musicology MUSIM0036 40 Optional TB-4
Dissertation MUSIM1000 60 Optional AYEAR
Russian Music Pathway - select one from:
Foreign Language Skills for Postgraduate Students (Beginners and Intermediate) MODLM0030 20 Optional TB-4
Foreign Language Skills for Postgraduate Students (Advanced) MODLM0031 20 Optional TB-4
Once you have selected your units from the pathways above, take the remainder of your units from the optional units list, take 180cp in total.
Optional Units List
Contemporary Compositional Ideas and Techniques MUSIM0006 40 Optional TB-4
Source Study, Paleography and Editorial Practices MUSIM0014 20 Optional TB-2
Critical Analysis of Media Music MUSIM0020 20 Optional TB-2
Readings In Musicology MUSIM0036 40 Optional TB-4
Advanced Orchestration MUSIM0043 20 Optional TB-1
Advanced Technical Studies MUSIM0042 20 Optional TB-2
Writing for Orchestra (Postgraduate) MUSIM0053 20 Optional TB-1
Further Technical Studies (Postgraduate) MUSIM0054 20 Optional TB-1
Supervised Individual Study MUSIM0050 20 Optional TB-1,TB-2
Chamber Music Duos in Practice MUSIM0052 20 Optional TB-4
Introduction to Professional Composing MUSIM0002 20 Optional TB-2
Subject to availability and subject to approval from the Programme Director, students may take ONE 20-credit module at level 5/I or 6/H. These units have codes beginning MUSI2 or MUSI3. Please see the unit catalogue (http://www.bris.ac.uk/esu/unitprogcat/UnitsForDept.jsa?orgCode=MUSI) for information on available units. Please note that MUSI20058 Performance and MUSI30066 Performance are not available to students on the MA Music programme.
MA Music   180    

Award requirements

The pass mark set by the University for any level 7 unit is 50 out of 100.

For detailed rules on the award of credit, reassessment and award of a qualification please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.

Degree classifications:

A classification will be awarded in the following qualifications:

  • Taught postgraduate Masters degree, including a Master of Research (MRes)
  • Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications
  • Exit awards of Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates in designated programmes (as described in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.

A classification is not awarded for exit awards where students are required to withdraw from the programme on academic grounds.

The overall final programme mark is calculated as the average of all unit marks in the programme, weighted by credit point value.

The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:

  • Distinction = final programme mark of 70+
  • Merit = final programme mark of 60-69
  • Pass = final programme mark of 50-59
  • Fail = final programme mark of 49 or less

* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.

Diploma/certificate stages:

To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 100 must be at level 7.

To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level 7.

Related links