Postgraduate Diploma in Music

The Postgraduate Diploma in Music (PGDipMus) requires one year of full-time or its equivalent in part-time study. It is intended for students who are composers or performers or both.

Candidates for the Diploma are required to have been admitted to the Bachelor of Music (MusB) degree, or have the status of one who is entitled to proceed to the diploma.

The diploma contains 400-level papers worth at least 120 points including at least one of MUSI 431 (Composition Portfolio) and MUSI 441 (Performance 4).

The Postgraduate Diploma in Music equips graduates for careers in music performance, composition, theatre, music education, technology and the media.

Postgraduate entrance requirements

Entrance requirements for postgraduate study vary by programme with most requiring a minimum bachelor-level qualification in the same field, and some having additional requirements such as relevant work experience and/or professional registration in New Zealand.

A postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma can usually be taken at any time after the completion of your bachelor's degree.

If you hold an honours degree or postgraduate diploma you may be able to eligible for master’s study by thesis only. In some cases if you hold a bachelor’s degree you may apply for a coursework master’s degree or for master’s study by coursework and thesis.

To study a PhD you usually require the completion of a master’s degree, or a first-class or upper second-class honours degree in the same area of study, or a related discipline, as your intended area of research.

Check the postgraduate students pages for specific information on the entrance requirements of the programme you are interested in.

IELTS (Academic module) (including IELTS Online) : Overall score of 6.5, no individual band below 6.0

TOEFL iBT : Overall score of 90 and a writing score of 21 The University of Otago TOEFL institution code is 9483 (Please note we do not accept MyBest TOEFL scores)

Pearson Test of English ( PTE ) Academic : Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50

Duolingo English Test : Overall score of 120 (with no Individual Subscore below 95)