Program Overview

Master of Arts (MA) in Music by Research

The Master of Arts (MA) in Music degree is a postgraduate degree in research that can be undertaken full-time or part-time. The research can be in musicology or ethnomusicology, but can also include another subdiscipline of academic music studies as long as the research undertaken is of a scholarly nature.

Overview

The MA consists of a written research dissertation. Before research and writing commences for the dissertation, the student will be required to submit a proposal within six months after their first registration (part-time students have twelve months in which to submit this document). The length of the proposal should be between 6,000 and 7,000 words. Once the proposal is accepted by Faculty, work should begin on the dissertation.

Curriculum

The MA is a research degree that is undertaken through supervision, rather than formal taught courses. Notwithstanding this, and depending on the nature of the work and the intake of candidates, there may from time to time be seminar-type classes, attendance at and participation in which will be compulsory.

• Supervision: Depending on the nature of the envisioned research project, some candidates may need more than one supervisor. The School will only accept candidates for whom a suitable supervisor(s) are available and will attempt to involve expertise from other divisions within the School where necessary. In the case of co-supervision, one of the supervisors will be appointed as primary supervisor.
• Expectations of the dissertation: For masters level research, the work should demonstrate competencies in a number of areas. These include the presentation of a clearly stated research question or problem, a detailed literature review incorporating a critical approach to the literature surrounding the topic, an overview of the methodology used to obtain and process the data, a precise approach to data collection as well as an intellectual and thoughtful approach to analysis and interpretation of this data. The study also needs to contain a conclusion in which the results of the study are analysed in relation to the research question as well as the field more generally.
• Scope of the dissertation: The length of the dissertation should be between 40,000 and 45,000 words.
• Submission of dissertation: The deadline date for dissertation submissions is mid-February. Students will need to complete the required forms and obtain written permission and approval from the supervisor before submitting the work.
• Annual report: It is important to meet regularly with your supervisor and draw up a schedule that suits your particular study. You will also be expected to submit an annual report to your supervisor which outlines the progress you have made and your plans for the next registration period.

Entry Requirements

Applicants for the MA must typically have graduated with a BMus, BMus Honours, or other undergraduate music degree. Evidence of research previously conducted (such as a long essay or article) (with a mark of at least 65%) should be submitted as part of the application.

• Requirements: Applicants who have not recently completed an undergraduate or postgraduate course or degree that involves written research, such as a long essay or mini-dissertation, may be required to present a sample of writing and/or successfully complete, as a co-requisite, a research methodology course within the University; a co-requisite course is not part of the MA itself, but in addition to it.
• Application process: Applicants should, in the first instance, initiate discussion of their proposed plans for the creative work and research with relevant Wits Music staff. Once it has been established that there is supervisory expertise within the area of creative work the applicant wishes to pursue, the applicant should complete a Faculty of Humanities Application for Postgraduate Study form. In addition, as an attachment to the form, applicants should include a one-page statement outlining their intended creative work and research.

University Application Process

Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre. Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment.

• Application submission: Applications may be submitted at any time during the year. If a candidate is accepted to the degree, they may register either at the start of the academic year, in January/February, or mid-year, in July.
• Selection criteria: Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle. Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results, and other entry requirements where applicable.

University Fees and Funding

The Fees site provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied, you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

• Fees: The current average tuition fees can be found on the Universitys website.
• Funding opportunities: For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, please refer to the University's Postgraduate Funding portal. This portal is a database of scholarships, bursaries, and other funding opportunities available to Wits postgraduate students. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities.

Programme Details

• Programme Code: ARA00
• Faculty: Humanities
• School: Wits School of Arts
• Qualification: MA
• Duration: 2 years full-time or 3 years part-time
• Study Mode: Full-time; Part-time