Bachelor of Music (Honours)
Overview
A creative career as a professional musician. Graduate with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to forge a successful career composing, playing, researching or teaching music.
UQ's School of Music is one of Australia’s leading music institutions. The Bachelor of Music (Honours) is designed for students wishing to pursue a professional career in music. Our courses are practice-led with students undertaking private lessons, ensemble performances, lecturers and tutorials. The school’s long tradition of excellence in musicianship, aural and music history ensures that graduates have a broad knowledge of musical discourses.
Enhance your practical skills through masterclasses, student performances and concerts. Activities in the program may also encompass solo performances, choral performances, chamber music, world music, early music and contemporary ensembles.
Students have the opportunity to participate in internships with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Musica Viva, Queensland Music Festival, 4MBS Classic FM and other industry partners. By developing broad range of skills, students are equipped with highly transferable abilities, making them well positioned to adapt to a changing professional world.
Program highlights
- Work with nationally and internationally-acclaimed performers, teachers, composers and researchers.
- Learn from visiting ensembles and musicians in residence.
- Receive numerous opportunities to perform in real-world settings through master classes, performances at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), overseas venues and internship programs with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
- Perform at prestigious venues and tour overseas to showcase their talents internationally.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Overseas study
- Seminars
- Studios
- Workshops
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Performance Studies
- Introduction to Music Psychology
- Introduction to Music Technology
- Introduction to Popular Music Studies
Dual programs
Double your skills and your opportunities with a dual degree. You can study the Bachelor of Music (Honours) as a part of these dual programs:
Career possibilities
Our programs prepare you for your first job and beyond. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Performer
- Conductor
- Composer
- Instrumental music tutor
- Classroom music teacher
- Record label administrator
- Recording engineer
- Music producer
- Music journalist
- Instrumental teacher
“As French is a part of my degree, I would love to play in francophone countries to use both skills simultaneously. I also hope to do a lot of teaching and mentoring to instil a love of classical music in future generations.”
Elena JamesCurrent student, Bachelor of Music (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts
“The number of things I have learnt about piano technique in such a short time has been amazing and it is really helping me to improve... my previous piano teacher specifically recommended UQ to me because of the teachers here.”
Celine ChongCurrent student, Bachelor of Music (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts
“The world class lecturers, coupled with small class sizes, created an ideal environment for learning, and really allowed me to grow both academically and professionally, all the while creating life-long friendships and professional relationships with my classmates.”
Eloise McIntyreCurrent student, Bachelor of Music (Honours)
“As French is a part of my degree, I would love to play in francophone countries to use both skills simultaneously. I also hope to do a lot of teaching and mentoring to instil a love of classical music in future generations.”
Elena JamesCurrent student, Bachelor of Music (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts
“The number of things I have learnt about piano technique in such a short time has been amazing and it is really helping me to improve... my previous piano teacher specifically recommended UQ to me because of the teachers here.”
Celine ChongCurrent student, Bachelor of Music (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts
“The world class lecturers, coupled with small class sizes, created an ideal environment for learning, and really allowed me to grow both academically and professionally, all the while creating life-long friendships and professional relationships with my classmates.”
Eloise McIntyreCurrent student, Bachelor of Music (Honours)
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Entry requirements
Prerequisites
Applicants must arrange an audition with the School of Music, to take place between 1 September and 30 November of the year preceding admission. A program of no longer than 15 minutes must be prepared. Details must be provided to the School of Music when the applicant arranges the audition. For an audition to be at a competitive standard, the repertoireperformed should be comparable to Grade 7 AMEB.
* Note: Selection is based on audition, interview and academic results. OP/Entry Rank cut-offs do not apply.
For more information about the audition process (including closing dates and the application form) please visit the School of Music website
Prerequisites
Applicants must arrange an audition with the School of Music, to take place between 1 September and 30 November of the year preceding admission. A program of no longer than 15 minutes must be prepared. Details must be provided to the School of Music when the applicant arranges the audition. For an audition to be at a competitive standard, the repertoireperformed should be comparable to Grade 7 AMEB.
* Note: Selection is based on audition, interview and academic results. OP/Entry Rank cut-offs do not apply.
For more information about the audition process (including closing dates and the application form) please visit the School of Music website
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
TOEFL PB - Overall 570, listening 54, reading 54, writing 59/5.
Pearsons - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Additional application information
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Bachelor of Music (Honours) are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Who you'll study with
Here's a snapshot of our student intake for this program in Semester 1, 2020:
| Applicant background | Number of students | Percentage of all students |
|---|---|---|
(A) Higher education study | <5 | <5 |
(B) Vocational Education and Training (VET) study | 0 | 0% |
(C) Work and life experience | <5 | <5 |
| (D) Recent secondary education | ||
| 0 | 0% |
| 0 | 0% |
| 14 | 73.68% |
International students | <5 | <5 |
Total | 19 | 100% |
"<5" — The number of students is less than 5.
N/A — Students not accepted in this category.
N/P — Not published. The number is hidden to protect the privacy of students in other cells.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
AUD $34,800
Indicative annual fee 2021
This indicative annual fee is the cost of enrolling in the Bachelor of Music (Honours) for the 2021 academic year. It is calculated based on a standard full-time study load (16 units per academic year).
If you enrol in a larger or smaller study load, your fees will be calculated on a proportionate basis. All fees are reviewed annually.
Indicative annual fee
AUD $7,955
Indicative annual fee 2021 Commonwealth supported place
This indicative annual fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) in the Bachelor of Music (Honours) for one academic year. It is calculated based on a standard full-time study load (16 units over two semesters).
Actual fees will vary according to your choice of courses and their unit value. The Australian Government indexes fees each year.
Additional costs
- Some courses may incur additional costs such as piano accompaniment.
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Bachelor of Music (Honours) are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.
Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
How to apply
Applying online
How you apply depends on what type of applicant you are.
Your senior schooling is from Australia or New Zealand
Submit your application to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre if you are an international student who is currently:
- completing Australian Year 12 (either in Australia or offshore) or
- studying the International Baccalaureate in Australia.
The QTAC code for the Bachelor of Music (Honours) is 723002.
Find out more about applying for undergraduate study
All other international applicants
Submit your application to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Bachelor of Music (Honours) is 2355.
Applying through QTAC
All domestic applications should be submitted to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
The QTAC code for the Bachelor of Music (Honours) is 723002.
Important dates
If you’re studying Year 12 in Australia, go to the QTAC website to check the closing date for this program.
If you’re applying to UQ, the closing date for this program is:
- Audition application closing dates are listed on the "Application for Audition" form at www.music.uq.edu.au.
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
To check the closing date for this program, go to the QTAC website.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Admissions schemes
Applying to university can be both exciting and daunting, which is why we’ve tried to make the process as simple as we can.
We have several schemes in place to improve your chances of getting a place at UQ.
Pathway options
A rank or score doesn’t determine your potential.
If you're not offered a place in your first-choice program – or if you don't meet the entry requirements – you still have a number of options.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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