Skip to main content

Programme structure: Music (MA) - what's running in 2021/22

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Unit code Credit points Status Teaching Block
Medieval Music Pathway - Mandatory units:
Readings In Musicology MUSIM0036 40 Optional TB-4
Introduction to Medieval Latin AFACM0013 20 Optional TB-1
Research Skills for Musicians MUSIM0035 20 Optional TB-1
Dissertation MUSIM1000 60 Optional AYEAR
Musicology Pathway - Mandatory units:
Readings In Musicology MUSIM0036 40 Optional TB-4
Research Skills for Musicians MUSIM0035 20 Optional TB-1
Dissertation MUSIM1000 60 Optional AYEAR
Source Study, Paleography and Editorial Practices MUSIM0014 20 Optional TB-2
Composition Pathway - Mandatory units:
Research Skills for Musicians MUSIM0035 20 Optional TB-1
Introduction to Professional Composing MUSIM0002 20 Optional TB-2
Contemporary Compositional Ideas and Techniques MUSIM0006 40 Optional TB-4
Composition Portfolio MUSIM0011 60 Optional AYEAR,TB-4
Performance Pathway - Mandatory units:
Research Skills for Musicians MUSIM0035 20 Optional TB-1
Performance Studies MUSIM0022 60 Optional AYEAR,TB-4
Source Study, Paleography and Editorial Practices MUSIM0014 20 Optional TB-2
Russian Music Pathway - Mandatory units:
Research Skills for Musicians MUSIM0035 20 Optional TB-1
Readings In Musicology MUSIM0036 40 Optional TB-4
Dissertation MUSIM1000 60 Optional AYEAR
Russian Music Pathway - select from:
Foreign Language Skills for Postgraduate Students (Beginners and Intermediate) MODLM0030 20 Optional TB-4
Foreign Language Skills for Postgraduate Students (Advanced) MODLM0031 20 Optional TB-4
Optional Units List
Contemporary Compositional Ideas and Techniques MUSIM0006 40 Optional TB-4
Source Study, Paleography and Editorial Practices MUSIM0014 20 Optional TB-2
Critical Analysis of Media Music MUSIM0020 20 Optional TB-2
Readings In Musicology MUSIM0036 40 Optional TB-4
Accompaniment in Practice MUSIM0041 20 Optional TB-4
Advanced Orchestration MUSIM0043 20 Optional TB-1
Advanced Technical Studies MUSIM0042 20 Optional TB-2
Personal Option Unit MUSIM0051 20 Optional TB-1,TB-2
Supervised Individual Study MUSIM0050 20 Optional TB-1,TB-2
Subject to availability and subject to approval from the Programme Director, students may take ONE 20-credit module at level 5/I or 6/H. These units have codes beginning MUSI2 or MUSI3. Please see the unit catalogue (http://www.bris.ac.uk/esu/unitprogcat/UnitsForDept.jsa?orgCode=MUSI) for information on available units. Please note that MUSI20058 Performance and MUSI30066 Performance are only available to students studying Music MA and who are on the performance pathway.
MA Music   180    

Progression/award requirements

The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.

For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.

Exit awards

All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.

To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.

To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.

Degree classifications:

An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.

The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:

Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.

Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.

* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.

** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.

Diploma/certificate stages:

All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.

To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.

To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.

Feedback