Postgraduate Diploma in Music

Take your music skills to the next level and focus entirely on creative coursework with the PGDipMus. The one-year Diploma programme will build on your abilities in Composition, Digital Music and Audio Production, or Performance, and is also designed to prepare you for the Master of Musical Arts and Doctor of Musical Arts.

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 Bachelor of Music majoring in Performance, Composition, or Digital Music and Audio Production, and want to continue your studies, then the PGDipMus is a good choice for you. If you have a different degree but can show you have the required skill level in these subjects, you may also be considered. Each subject has its own entry requirements you'll need to have met before enrolling, and you'll need to do an audition or submit a portfolio.

Select from a wide range of courses. If you are studying Performance you might focus on solo jazz or classical performance, ensemble or orchestral performance, or study opera. You can also choose to do a supervised practical project on an approved performance topic of your choice.

Or if you are a Composition student you could work on orchestration, composing music for film and advanced recording and post-production techniques, study jazz arranging, or explore software development for sonic arts. You'll complete a supervised project and produce a portfolio of compositions and/or sound-based works.

Independent Study Projects

Entry requirements

To be accepted into this degree you need:

A Bachelor of Music

To pass an audition

To be accepted by the director of NZSM as being capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study

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)