Critical and Applied Musicology MA at University of Leeds

This course offers a foundation in musicological thought and practice, opportunities to develop specialised applied, editorial, archival, critical and theoretical skills, and the chance to produce a significant piece of work in a musicological area of your choice, regardless of your musical tastes and preferences.

Through core modules you’ll explore issues in musicology that affect our understanding, reception and interpretation of music in critical and applied contexts. You’ll also have the chance to gain knowledge and skills through the study of aesthetic theory or applied research methods in musicology, enabling you to balance critical and applied forms of musicology to suit your interests.

Your major project will take the form of a dissertation with a specific musicological focus, or a piece of applied or practice-led musicological work such as an editing or transcription project, or an archival or fieldwork study, defining your topic in consultation with one of our expert staff.

You’ll also have the opportunity to study optional modules in other areas of music such as performance, composition, electronic and computer music or music psychology.

The course provides a logical progression from undergraduate music courses and will equip you with a range of skills desired by employers and of value in further research at MPhil/PhD level.

We have a variety of excellent facilities to support your learning, including rehearsal, performance and practice spaces, a lab for studying the psychology of music and studios for sound recording, software development and computer music composition.

The Special Collections housed in our beautiful Brotherton Library contain significant collections of music manuscripts, rare printed music and letters from composers and critics to help inform your work.

We also have good working relationships with a range of prestigious arts organisations: we host BBC Radio 3 concerts, Leeds Lieder and the Leeds International Piano Competition, as well as enjoying a close partnership with Opera North and many others in a city with a thriving music and cultural scene.

Career opportunities

This course will give you in-depth subject knowledge, as well as specialist knowledge and skills in a different aspect of music studies to broaden your understanding. It will also allow you to gain key research, critical and communication skills that are in demand in a wide range of industries and sectors.

Graduates from the course move on to a variety of careers such as arts management, librarianship, recruitment, and freelance teaching and performance. Many graduates also go on to further study at PhD level.

We also offer additional support as you develop your career plans, the School of Music boasts an Alumni Mentoring Network, where students can be supported by past students as they start to plan their next steps.