Musicology MMus Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Music Year of entry: 2027 Study options Mode of study On campus Full-time MMus | 1 year | Start date: September 2027 Key facts School Edinburgh College of Art College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Study location Central Area Apply now ECA Open Day Join us for our postgraduate taught and research open day on Saturday 7 November from 10 AM - 1 PM Reserve your spot Overview About the degree programme The MMus in Musicology offers you the opportunity to explore a wide range of approaches in music scholarship, and to engage in contemporary debates about what music is, how it works, and why it is such a fundamental and significant part of human culture. You will be taught by world-leading researchers, whose expertise includes areas such as:cultural, material and political histories of musicjazz and popular music studiesmusic analysismusic and audiovisual mediamusic psychology and cognitionmusic instrument researchmusic sociologyphilosophy of musicThe programme will provide you with advanced critical thinking and research skills, and will support you to develop your own musicology research project. Hear more about the programme from our staff. Programme benefits Our Musicology programme is truly interdisciplinary in nature, and takes a broad definition of music, and music scholarship. The programme is designed to give students many opportunities to tailor their learning to their own research interests while also gaining an understanding of current debates, developments and insights across the discipline.In addition to the extensive collections of books, journals and databases held by Edinburgh University Library, the National Library of Scotland – one of the UK’s five legal deposit libraries – is just a short walk away.Students have access to a number of important research collections, including the University's own Music Instrument Collection, which has over 6,000 objects, and the School of Scottish Studies Archives.You will join a large postgraduate community and benefit from a vibrant research culture at the Reid School of Music, which has been a world leader in research into music since 1838. Fees, costs and funding Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Full-time MMus Musicology (1 year) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Deposit You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme. Costs Accommodation and living costs You will need to pay for your accommodation and living costs (such as rent, food and utility bills) for the duration of your programme.For 2026-2027, we estimate that it will cost an average of £18,504 each year (£1,542 each month) to live in Edinburgh as a postgraduate.The exact amount you spend will depend on different factors, especially the accommodation you choose.Living costs: estimates explained Funding opportunities Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Featured fundingEdinburgh College of Art scholarships Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2027-28 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2028-29 academic year will be published in early Oct 2027. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject such as music, musicology or related subjects. We also welcome applicants who do not meet academic entry requirements but demonstrate relevant professional experience. International equivalent qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region - Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Democratic Republic of Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Finland France Gabon The Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Guinea Haiti Honduras Hong Kong-SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kosovo Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau-SAR China Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritius Mexico Moldova Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands, The New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria North Macedonia Norway Oman Pacific Islands Pakistan Palestine Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam West Indies and Caribbean Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe My country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language test (restrictions apply)a degree that was taught and assessed in English (restrictions apply)certain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) before 21 January 2026: total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) from 21 January 2026: total 5.0 with at least 4.5 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component. We do not accept Oxford ELLT Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 8 with at least 7 in each component. We do not accept Oxford ELLT Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Oxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details What you will study The programme has two compulsory courses: Perspectives in Musicology Musicology Research Methods In addition to these, you will select option courses from a range of topics on offer in Music. In recent years, these have included: Music, Philosophy and PoliticsStudies in Popular MusicMedieval Afterlives: Critical Approaches to Music and MedievalismMusic and Human CommunicationVenice, 1690-1740: Critical Approaches to Music and CultureYou can also select one elective from a subject area other than Music. The programme is designed to help you become increasingly independent in your study, and culminates in a 15,000-word dissertation. Find courses for this programme Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed. The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme. Full-time MMus Musicology (1 year) (2026-2027) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Teaching and assessment Teaching Teaching includes a mixture of discussion-based seminars, lectures, and individual supervision. Assessment Courses are assessed through essays, presentations, and other forms of course-work submission.The final assessment is a 15,000-word dissertation. Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need. How we support you Our academic staff Staff on the programme include:Prof Elaine Kelly (Programme Director)Dr Phil AlexanderDr James CookProf Annette Davison Dr Anne DeslerDr Morag GrantDr Marian JagoProf Raymond MacDonaldDr Nikki MoranDr Jenny NexDr Neil SmithProf Benedict Taylor Where you will study Study location ECA are excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston Campus over the next 3 years, due to finish in April 2027.The project aims to maximise the use of existing space, improve accessibility, and create a vibrant campus that fosters collaboration and innovation.The project involves refurbishing and repurposing various spaces across the Lauriston campus, including technical facilities, student and teaching spaces, and the relocation of the Reid School of Music from Alison House to the Lauriston Campus. New social spaces, seminar rooms, and studios are being created to accommodate our growing community.You can find more about the project at the below link:Building work starts at ECA’s Lauriston Campus: Edinburgh College of Art Teaching and supervision is conducted across our central and Lauriston campuses. Students have access to excellent library collections facilities and a number of research collections of international interest, including the University’s own Musical Instrument Collection. Careers and further study Career opportunities The MMus in Musicology provides an excellent foundation for further postgraduate work, and many of our students have gone on to pursue PhDs and ultimately, work in academia. Recent graduates have also established successful careers in journalism, arts administration, music education, and librarianship. You will gain a wide variety of transferable skills, such as the ability to research and analyse music, structure and manage your time, work and communicate effectively. Further study After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service) Graduate profiles Simona Cenci Degree: MMus Musicology Year of graduation: 2020 Current work: Cultural Heritage Sector The programme not only gave me the freedom to explore my main area of interest in music but also allowed me to discover fields of musical studies that were unknown to me before beginning my studies. Alumni Profile: Simona Cenci Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Applying How to apply You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant. When to apply Programme start date Application deadline 13 September 2027 2 August 2027 We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have sufficient time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts. If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete. We aim to issue decisions within 6-8 weeks of receiving your completed application. During peak times it may take us slightly longer to issue your decision but please be assured we will confirm a decision as soon as we can. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.ReferencesYou do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme - MMus Musicology (1 year) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Life at Edinburgh What our students say What is it really like to study here? Our students share their experiences on our social media. You can find out what a day in the life is like for an Edinburgh College of Art student, from late nights in the library to their favourite walks around the city! Instagram: Edinburgh College of Art Our community At Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) we bring together creative practices that shape the world around us. We deliver innovative teaching, research and public engagement in an inclusive and sustainable environment with outstanding services and facilities to support your ambitions. With degrees in Art, History of Art, Music, Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and Design, you will be joining a diverse community of artists, art historians, designers, academics, researchers, architects, landscape architects and musicians. ECA is a rich, textured, and inclusive learning environment. Diverse practices co-exist as the embodiments of an individual and collective pursuit of knowledge, for the betterment of humankind and our planet. Our approach is explicitly inclusive, future facing and interdisciplinary, embracing of bold innovation and continuous enhancement. Find out more about the Edinburgh College of Art community Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Our vibrant capital is a blend of culture, history, nature and modern city life. A fantastic place to live, it is also the perfect location to study musicology.Edinburgh’s dynamic cultural scene boasts the largest collection of historic buildings, museums, art galleries and theatres of any city in Scotland.The University of Edinburgh’s museums and galleries include:the Talbot Rice Gallerythe Centre for Research CollectionsSt Cecilia’s Hall: Concert Room and Music MuseumEdinburgh is home to several major annual festivals, each bringing talent from around the world to our streets and stages, making the celebration of diversity an intrinsic part of the city’s culture. These include the:Festival FringeFilm FestivalArt FestivalBook FestivalJazz and Blues FestivalSome of our students even participate in our annual festivals. Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and active wellbeing facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply. College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office
