Admissions
Masters Students Admissions Criteria
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR DEGREES in MUSIC
For entry in 2012-13
TAUGHT MASTERS' COURSES
1. Criteria
Within equal opportunities principles and legislation, applications will be assessed in the light of a candidate's ability to meet the following criteria:
2. Academic ability
Proven and potential academic excellence.
Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or to have achieved a first-class or an upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualifications[1]) in Music or related fields.
For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA we seek is 3.6 out of 4.0. The minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score we seek is 650 (verbal). However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.7 or more, and a GRE (verbal) score of 700 or more. Relevant professional experience may be considered as a substitute.
Academic references/letters of recommendation, which support intellectual, performance and compositional ability as relevant, academic achievement, motivation, and research promise.
Written work and/or portfolio produced by the student, which will vary according to the programme of study selected. Those applying for taught courses should supply, for musicology, two pieces of written work of no more than 5,000 words in total (extracts of dissertations or other extended pieces of writing should be edited accordingly). For composition, students should send three compositions accompanied by scores, as appropriate, and two pieces of written work of no more than 5,000 words. For performance, students should send a CD or DVD indicating their own performance skills, and two pieces of written work of no more than 5,000 words. Writing samples will be assessed for understanding of the subject area; ability to construct and defend an argument; powers of analysis; powers of expression. Compositions will be assessed for their demonstration of invention, critical awareness of the field of contemporary classical composition, musicality, technical assurance and for their clarity of presentation. Performances will be assessed for their interpretative maturity, persuasive powers of communication and technical proficiency. All written work should be in English.
Personal statement for taught courses in Music should be no more than 1,000 words, and should be in English. It will be assessed for the evidence it supplies of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English; feasibility and coherence of proposed dissertation, performance or composition projects to be pursued during the course.
Performance at interview(s) Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process.
3. Other qualifications and experience
4. Availability of supervision, teaching, facilities and places
The following factors will govern whether candidates can be offered places:
- The ability of the Faculty of Music to provide the appropriate supervision, research opportunities, teaching and facilities for your chosen area of work.
- There are minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted onto Oxford's research and taught programmes.
The provision of supervision is subject to the following points.
- The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Faculty of Music and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff.
- Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Faculty of Music.
5. English language requirement
Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University. Here
6. Deadlines and required full set of application materials
Please refer to the Graduate Admissions website for information on the deadlines which must be met, and the full set of supporting materials required, in order for applications to be guaranteed to be considered.
7. Whether you have yet secured funding is not taken into consideration in the decision to make an initial offer a place, but please note that the initial offer of a place will not be confirmed until the college which gives you an initial offer of a place is satisfied that you have sufficient funding to cover your fees and living costs for the standard period of fee liability for your course.
8. Disability, health conditions and specific learning difficulties.
Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background. Decisions on admission are based solely on the individual academic merits of each candidate and the application of the selection criteria appropriate to the programme of study. Further information on how these matters are supported during the admissions process is available here.
9. Other information
The Master of Studies in Music is a stand-alone degree, but can usefully be thought of as a one-year introduction to a doctoral programme in music or in composition. Both MSt and MPhil students may apply, during their courses, for admission onto the DPhil programme immediately afterwards.
10. Assessors
All applications will be assessed by more than one member of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise.
11. Course webpage
[1] If you hold non-British qualifications, you are advised to check with the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC) www.naric.org.uk how your qualifications match these requirements.