Bachelor of Music with Honours

Explore your area of musical interest in more detail and improve your career prospects with a BMus(Hons). Refine your research, writing and analytical skills while expanding your music skills and knowledge. An Honours year will also prepare you for Master's study and beyond.

Study at New Zealand's most prestigious music school and learn from world-class musicians and academics who are leaders in their fields.

If you have a B average or higher in your BMus and want to continue your music studies, then the BMus(Hons) is a good choice for you.

Choose from a range of specialist subject areas according to your academic background, interests and abilities—Classical Performance, Composition/Sonic Arts, Ethnomusicology, Jazz Performance, Musicology or Music Studies. Each subject has its own entry requirements you'll need to have met before enrolling, and some require an audition or portfolio.

Select from a wide range of courses—you might focus on composing film music, solo jazz performance or accompanying, or choose to study music ethnography or history. Music Studies, Musicology, and Ethnomusicology pathways allow you to take a cross-disciplinary approach to your studies and choose complementary courses from outside Music. All subjects allow you to take some Music courses outside your specialist area.

Subject requirements

For this subject you'll need to:

Have previously completed the Bachelor of Music major requirements for Classical Performance

Pass an audition

Complete courses worth 120 points:

- PERF 401

- PERF 402

- One course from NZSM 430-469

- Further courses worth 30 points from:

Subject requirements

For this subject you'll need to:

Have previously completed the Bachelor of Music major requirements for Composition/Sonic Arts

Submit a portfolio of compositions and sound-based works

Complete courses worth 120 points:

- NZSM 401

- One course from NZSM 402-409 or NZSM 480-489

- One course from NZSM 430-469

- Further courses worth 30 points from:

Subject requirements

For this subject you'll need to:

Have previously completed the Bachelor of Music major requirements for Music Studies

Complete courses worth 120 points:

- NZSM 451

- NZSM 453

- Further courses worth 30 points from NZSM 401-499

- Further courses worth 30 points from any 400-level approved course

Subject requirements

For this subject you'll need to:

Have previously completed the Bachelor of Music major requirements for Jazz

Pass an audition

Complete courses worth 120 points:

- PERF 403

- PERF 404

- 30 points from NZSM 430-469

- Further courses worth 30 points from:

Subject requirements

For this subject you'll need to:

Have previously completed the Bachelor of Music major requirements for Music Studies

Complete courses worth 120 points:

- NZSM 431

- Further courses worth 60 points from:

- Further courses worth 30 points from NZSM 401-499

Subject requirements

For this subject you'll need to:

Have previously completed the Bachelor of Music major requirements for this subject

Complete courses worth 120 points:

- NZSM 431 or NZSM 451

- Courses worth 30 points from NZSM 430-469

- Further courses worth 30 points from NZSM 401-499

- Further 400-level courses worth 30 points

IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5 with no sub-score below 6.0

TOEFL: minimum score of 90 for the internet-based test with a minimum of 20 in writing

Pearson Test of English: minimum score of 58 (with a ‘Communicative’ score of not less than 50)

Victoria University of Wellington English for Academic Purpose (EAP) programme: minimum final scores of 4,4,5,5

Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176 or higher, with each skill score no less than 169

New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL): Level 5 (Academic)

NZAPA: English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2)