Explore what underpins and informs musical practice.
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsDelve beneath the surface of music with this programme, designed for students interested in the academic study of music.
Our Musicology (MA) programme combines music history with critical musicology, allowing you to deepen your knowledge of western art and popular music in a critical and theoretically informed manner. By the time you graduate, you'll have the ability to evaluate complex ideas and to carry out independent research on musicological areas of interest. You will understand how your own work fits into the broader field of musicology, and will have the capacity to contribute to that field.
You're encouraged to attend the weekly Research Seminar series where invited speakers, staff members and PhD students give presentations about their latest work, giving you the opportunity to meet other postgraduate researchers. The School has a broad community of staff and students working in many different areas of music history and critical musicology.
'Learning opportunities', 'Teaching on my course' and 'Assessment and feedback' for Music in the Russell Group, National Student Survey, 2023.
You'll have access to our extensive library facilities including the dedicated John Paynter Music Library, a weekly concert series featuring internationally renowned artists and a twice-yearly postgraduate forum.
Learn more
From choral to orchestral, jazz and folk to improvised electronica, gospel to gamelan, almost every kind of music is performed by the School’s many ensembles.
Over the year, you’ll study a series of core and option modules that will equip you to understand and engage critically to a high level with a range of music, by drawing upon knowledge and experience of music’s histories, its structures and its varied uses.
In addition to these modules, we strongly encourage you to participate in musical ensembles and attend weekly research seminars and contemporary music seminars relevant to your studies.
You will choose one option module from examples including:
Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
You will independently research and write an 8,000-12,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice, chosen in consultation with your supervisor.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
This course has provided me with a secure understanding of many aspects of critical musicology while allowing me to develop my own academic voice. I was able to hone my research, writing, and presenting skills in the areas of musicology that interest me the most. The seminars are engaging and I found my assignments fascinating to research and rewarding to write.Alice, MA Musicology
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£5,600 | £12,950 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Our teaching is research-led and delivered by academic staff who are experts in their fields.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York has been voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Your teaching will largely take the form of weekly programme seminars and regular one-to-one tutorials.
You will have regular meetings with your supervisor, who will advise you and help develop your ideas as you progress through your studies.
We encourage you to get involved with our lively community, from our ensembles to our weekly seminars, performance classes and research seminars.
We have a range of outstanding facilities, including the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall and dozens of teaching rooms and practice facilities. All spaces are designed to be flexible and are used for projects, seminars, ensemble rehearsals and recordings. Discover our facilities.
The John Paynter Music Library is an elegant facility, located within the University's JB Morrell Library, and houses the main music collections. It is also equipped with digital pianos and media replay equipment. Both the physical collection and an extensive range of electronic resources are searchable through the library website (YorSearch).
The University Library houses an extensive collection of CDs and DVDs, which are available for listening and research. There are also archival recordings available for student use in the University of York Sound Archives.
The Document Supply Centre of the British Library is located in Boston Spa, near to York, and a bus provides transportation from the library to there once a week during term-time.
You will be based in the School of Arts & Creative Technologies. Most of your teaching will take place within the School.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You’ll produce a number of assessment submissions which will take the form of written essays and presentations. You will also have the opportunity to undertake in-depth research in an area of your choice for the final dissertation module.
By the end of the programme, you will have gained a deep understanding of representative areas of western art music history. You will have enhanced your writing and critical thinking skills, and will be able to communicate your knowledge effectively; skills that are sought after in a wide range of careers. Your research skills will also leave you well prepared for PhD study and beyond.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in Music or another relevant subject. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
You will need to submit a sample of your creative work with your application. Please see our guidance on submitting creative work.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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