MA in Music (By Research) in York United Kingdom | University of York

Our Master of Arts in Music (research-based) is perfect for self-directed learners who want to pursue independent study through a research initiative, supported by expert supervision in their selected area of investigation. This program caters to both advanced creative practitioners focused on composition, production, and musical analysis, as well as those seeking to develop methodologies for various applications, including performers, composers, and analysts.
Under your supervisor's guidance, you'll progress through a series of organized components, culminating in one of the following final submissions:
a 30,000 to 40,000-word thesis on your chosen subject, accompanied by an extensive reference list (encompassing scores, analyses, publications, texts, concert materials, digital resources, and audiovisual materials). While typically pursued by students in musicology, ethnomusicology, or analysis, this option isn't restricted to these disciplines, or
a collection of original compositions for any musical format - instrumental, vocal, ensemble, electronic media, or multimedia - supplemented by an analytical critique. This commentary will highlight the research underlying the creative work, examining compositional techniques and positioning the output within a scholarly framework, or
a series of performance projects, thoroughly documented through audio/video recordings and submitted with a critical evaluation. This analysis will articulate the research aspects of the performances, exploring interpretative approaches and contextualizing the work within academic research.