Program Overview

Musicology MA

The Musicology MA program at the University of Sheffield offers students a comprehensive introduction to advanced musicological study. The program is designed to provide students with a wide-ranging understanding of musicology, covering various methodologies and disciplines.

Course Description

This course gives students a wide-ranging introduction to advanced musicological study. Our breadth of expertise in the Department of Music means that you can engage with a range of specialist areas, including:

• Mozart
• music of the classical period
• Renaissance music
• music and visual culture
• eighteenth and nineteenth-century style
• the concerto genre
• the Broadway and Hollywood musical.

Modules

A selection of modules is available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. As you progress through your course, we'll confirm additional details for the core and optional modules available to you.

Core Modules:

• Critical Musicology: This unit acts as an introduction to key trends and figures in musicology from the mid-twentieth century to the present day.
• Research and Communication Skills A: Research and Communication Skills A and B together comprise linked modules delivered in collaboration with the English Language Teaching Centre, directed at all students who wish to work on research and English communication skills.
• Topics in Musicology: This unit gives students the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge in a focused area of musicology.
• Research and Communication Skills B: Research and Communication Skills A and B together comprise linked modules delivered in collaboration with the English Language Teaching Centre, directed at all students who wish to work on research and English communication skills.
• Dissertation in Musicology: This unit gives students the opportunity to design and complete an extended piece of independent research in musicology.

Optional Modules:

• Principles of Music Industry Leadership: The module consists of weekly lectures and seminars, each of which is devoted to exploring key principles underpinning successful music management practice.
• Applied Music Psychology: Education, Community and Health: This module explores the psychology of music in a variety of settings, from the everyday uses of music to music in education and in therapeutic settings.
• Performing South Asian Rhythm: The unit provides an opportunity to integrate practice in an unfamiliar musical genre.
• Critical Listening and the Musical Work: Students will consider recordings across a range of genres from European and American music to develop their critical listening skills and understanding of musical works.
• Strategies for Funding Music and The Arts: This module provides a practical exploration of funding within the music and arts sectors, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to identify funding opportunities, create compelling grant applications, and understand the nuances of monitoring and evaluation.

Duration

• 1 year full-time
• 2 years part-time

Teaching

Teaching is through seminars, reading group, graduate study days and individual tutorials. These are combined with departmental study days and extracurricular performance opportunities, all of which makes for a stimulating and supportive study environment.

Assessment

Assessment is through essays, short presentations and a dissertation. Written essays will assess your knowledge of a broad range of current research practices along with your skills in evaluation, analysis, criticism, information organisation and writing.

Your Career

Many of our graduates have found success in the music industry, while a large number have gone onto teach or work in creative arts organisations. Others have stayed to continue their studies at PhD level, or taken up offers to study further at leading music conservatoires.

School

The School of Languages, Arts and Societies has a distinguished heritage of musical scholarship and creative practice. Established in 1927, it has evolved into one of the UK's most diverse music departments, balancing traditional musicological study with cutting-edge research and performance.

Entry Requirements

• Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject.
• We accept degrees where Music is a named component.
• We may also consider other degree subjects if you can evidence engagement with music, e.g. through modules studied, professional or amateur music performance etc.
• IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent

Fees and Funding

• Home (2026 annual fee): £11,905
• Overseas (2026 annual fee): £29,190

Save on Your Course Fees

• £3,000 scholarships for international students
• Save up to £2,500 on your course fees if you are a Sheffield graduate.