Supplementary regulations for the Degree of Master of Musical Arts (AMusM)

1.   A candidate for the degree of Master of Musical Arts must:

(a)   Be a graduate of this or any other approved university holding (i) a higher degree or (ii) a Bachelor's degree with first or second class Honours; or  

(b)   Be a graduate holding a degree awarded by the Council for National Academic Awards with first or second class Honours; or  

(c)   Hold such other qualifications as may be deemed by the University to be the equivalent of any qualification referred to in (a) above.

In exceptional circumstances, the following may with the approval of the University be deemed to qualify under the above Regulation:

(i)   A full-time candidate who is a graduate with third class Honours;

(ii)   A candidate who has no qualification appropriate to (a)-(c) above but whose general educational qualifications and ability in musical composition are deemed sufficient for admission to a course whose minimum period of directed study shall for full-time students be one year longer and for part time students be two years longer than that prescribed under paragraph 2(a) and (b) below.

2.   A candidate for the degree of Master of Musical Arts must have pursued in this University a course of directed study approved by the University, which is either:

(a)   Full-time for a period of not less than 12 months, normally 24 months: or,

(b)   Part-time for a period of not less than 24 months, normally 48 months.

3.   A candidate for the degree of Master of Musical Arts shall be required after the conclusion of the period of directed study:

(a)   To submit a composition or compositions displaying originality of imagination, creative ability, technical understanding in usage of instrumental and/or vocal and/or electro-acoustic resources, structural control and, where appropriate, calligraphic skill and accuracy with regard to notation and presentation. Submitted compositions should be worthy of public performance, and

(b)   To be present at a viva voce examination on this submission and to satisfy the Examiners therein.

4.   The composition or compositions submitted for the degree of Master of Musical Arts should normally be the result of work done mainly while the student is registered as a candidate for that degree in this University. A certificate to this effect, countersigned by the candidate's Supervisor, shall be attached to the submission. If a substantial part of the submission was completed before registration for that degree, the certificate should declare this fact and identify the part of the work so completed.

5.   For the Master of Musical Arts degree the Examiners should submit independent reports on the composition portfolio to Student Services Development (Academic Processes) or equivalent or Head of School before the viva voce examination takes place. The reports should contain a full and frank assessment of the merits and weaknesses of the composition portfolio.

For more information about the role and appointment of examiners, please consult the following:

Assessment

6.   For the Master of Musical Arts degree the viva will test the candidate's acquaintance with the general compositional literature of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, knowledge of the relation of the submitted composition portfolio to the wider field of which it is a part, and the respects in which the portfolio advances, modifies, or otherwise affects this wider field of compositional scholarship .

7.   The Examiners may recommend to the University the following outcomes of examination:

• Award of degree of Master of Musical Arts, or
• Minor corrections to the satisfaction of the internal examiner, or
• Resubmit the same composition portfolio and attend a second viva voce examination, or
• Resubmit the compositional portfolio in a revised form with/without attending a second viva voce examination, or
• That no degree be awarded and that the candidate is not allowed to present him/herself again for examination for the degree of Master of Musical Arts.

8.   Where a Master of Musical Arts composition portfolio has been resubmitted and/or a second viva voce examination has occurred, the Examiners may recommend to the University the following outcomes of examination:

• Award of degree of Master of Musical Arts, or
• Minor corrections to the satisfaction of the internal examiner, or
• No degree awarded and no further examination opportunity.

9.   The joint report form is forwarded by the Examiners to the Head of School and s/he shall forward the independent and joint report forms to Student Services Development (Academic Processes) or equivalent for approval by the University. Student Services Development (Academic Processes) or equivalent will inform the student of the University's decision.

10.   Successful candidates will be eligible to graduate once their thesis has been uploaded to the University's etheses service and approved by the Internal Examiner or, in cases where there are two external examiners, the lead External Examiner.

11.   A candidate shall not be permitted to count the period of time spent registered for the degree of Master of Musical Arts towards a separate and subsequent period of time spent registered for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts. However, a candidate for a Master of Musical Arts degree may, after a period of not less than nine months' study for the Master's degree and before notification of intention to submit a composition or compositions has been given, with the approval of the supervisor and of the Head of the School concerned, and on the recommendation of the University, submit an application to the University for permission to be registered as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts instead of that of Master of Musical Arts. If permission is thus granted then the period of time already spent registered for the Master of Musical Arts degree will be counted as part of the registration time-period required for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. A candidate who does not hold a degree or a qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a degree will be permitted to transfer under this regulation only in exceptional circumstances.

12.   A candidate may submit an application to the University for leave of absence to study elsewhere in order to use equipment or take advantage of facilities not available to them within the University for a period of not more than one academic year in lieu of a course of study in the University, provided that the period so spent elsewhere shall not amount to more than half of the candidate's total period of study. During periods of absence supervision requirements still apply.