Program Overview

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Sacred Music (MLitt) 2025 entry

Overview

Gain a deeper understanding of the theological and artistic foundations of sacred music making, and develop practical skills for sacred music performance and leadership.

Application Deadline

Thursday 7 August 2025

Duration

One year full time

School

School of Divinity

Fees

• UK: £12,030
• Rest of the world: £25,900

Why Study This Course?

The MLitt in Sacred Music offers a unique interdisciplinary formation in Sacred Music for musicians, scholars, and leaders in artistic ministry. It is taught jointly by the School of Divinity's Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts and the University of St Andrews Music Centre.

Highlights

• Develop skills relevant to your area of specialism in music making (e.g. composition, choral directing, organ, instrumental music in worship) or in music journalism and lecturing
• Gain insights into the theological and philosophical underpinnings of music in worship, both in the past and in the present day
• Study at the School of Divinity, based in the ancient St Mary’s College Quad, and at the University of St Andrews Laidlaw Music Centre
• Receive expert tuition from musicians and scholars working actively in the field of sacred music, including Sir James MacMillan, composer and professor of Theology, Imagination and the Arts
• Benefit from excellent music resources, including cutting-edge electronic music studios, a purpose-built recital hall, four pipe organs, and the acclaimed St Salvator’s Chapel Choir

Teaching

Delivered through lectures, seminars, practical workshops and one-to-one supervision or teaching.

Dissertation

A 12,000-word or practical project with regular support.

Assessment

A mix of practical and theoretical methods including the musical performance of sacred music repertoire, a performance of originally composed sacred music, and a live lecture presentation on a topic researched during the course.

Modules

The St Andrews degree structure is designed to be flexible. You study compulsory modules delivering core learning together with optional modules you choose from the list available that year.

• Compulsory
  • Music and the Sacred in Theory and Practice: introduces students to the wide diversity of music in its relation to the sacred, in and outside different denominational church contexts.
• Making Music in a Church Context: enables students to develop their skills in such roles as choir director, organist, composer, worship ensemble leader, and music journalism, through specialist small-group teaching.
• Sacred Music in the West: History and Context: invites students to explore when, where, and why Christians have made music in their worship, focusing on the history and development of sacred music-making in a variety of confessional traditions informed by Western musical practice.
• Optional
  • In Semester 2, students must pick an optional module. This optional module can either be from the Theology and the Arts MLitt or from another Divinity MLitt.
  • An example of a Theology and the Arts option:
    • Christian Doctrine and the Arts

What It Will Lead To

Careers

The MLitt in Sacred Music will benefit those wishing to pursue a career as a church musician, or who are already active as church music makers.

Theology and Music, and Sacred Music, are growing fields of interdisciplinary scholarship, and this programme will also benefit those wishing to pursue doctoral study in the area.

Previous graduates of the MLitt in Sacred Music have gone on to church music leadership and performing roles, active ministry, doctoral research at St Andrews and elsewhere, and positions in the wider field of music and the arts.

Further Study

In addition to the MLitt, the School of Divinity offers a two-year residential Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree option in Theology and the Arts.

Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.

Why St Andrews?

Alumni

As a graduate of St Andrews, you become part of a prestigious and globally connected alumni community. This lifelong membership offers access to career services, networking opportunities, and exclusive resources. Engaging with the University's worldwide alumni network ensures you remain connected to St Andrews, no matter where your career takes you.

Events

The Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts (ITIA) is a vibrant community of established scholars, post-docs, and graduate students.

The weekly research seminar, at which internal and guest speakers discuss their ongoing work, is at the heart of the Institute’s day-to-day life.

The ITIA research forum allows postgraduate students to discuss ongoing research and also provides professional and practical training.

Entry Requirements

• A 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree and relevant experience in theology or music. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
• English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application Requirements

• CV
• Personal statement (300 to 500 words)
• Sample of your own, single-authored academic work in English (2000 words)
• Two original signed academic references
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

English Language Proficiency

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Scholarships and Funding

We are committed to supporting you through your studies, regardless of your financial circumstances. You may be eligible for scholarships, discounts or other support:

• GREAT Scholarship
• St Andrews Sanctuary Scholarship
• St Leonard's funding opportunities
• Graduate discount (15% off tuition fees)

Divinity and music scholarships