External summary

This programme offers an intense introduction to methodologies, research techniques and current debates in musicology???understood in a broad sense to mean academic research into all forms of music. As well as the core courses' focus on Western art music and modern popular music, the programme offers opportunities to pursue interests in film and video game music, traditional/folk musics, and other genres. 

You???ll learn methodologies and research techniques necessary to analyse and interpret a range of different types of source material: this includes music criticism and analysis, archive studies, historiography, organology, and social science approaches to music. You will think critically about the links between music, philosophy, ideology and politics, the media of music, and the roles of music and musical communication in human societies.

Educational aims of programme

Graduates of this programme will be able to devise and apply innovative research methods, critically evaluate arguments and discourses, and display a variety of transferable skills. Providing students with the skills necessary to pursue higher research degrees is a core aim of this course.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

By engaging with and completing this degree, graduates will be able to demonstrate:

• A critical understanding of the principal theories, concepts, and current debates in musicology
• A critical understanding of a range of specialised theories, concepts and principles.
• Extensive, detailed and critical knowledge and understanding in one or more research specialisms

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Applied knowledge, skills and understanding

By engaging with and completing this degree, graduates will be able to apply knowledge, skills and understanding:

• In using a range of specialised research skills, techniques and practices
• In applying a range of standard and specialised research and/or equivalent instruments and techniques of enquiry.
• In planning and executing a significant research project.
• In demonstrating originality and/or creativity in their thinking.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Generic Cognitive Skills

By engaging with and completing this degree, graduates will be able to:

• Apply critical analysis and evaluation skills to a range of materials and data.
• Identify, conceptualise and define new issues and topics in the area of musicological research.
• Develop original and creative responses to problems and issues.
• Critically review, consolidate and extend knowledge, skills, practices and thinking in the field of music, musicology, and related areas.
• Deal with complex issues and make informed judgements in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Communication and ICT skills

By engaging with and completing this degree, graduates will be able to:

• Communicate, using appropriate methods, to a range of audiences with different levels of knowledge/expertise.
• Communicate with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists.
• Use ICT applications effectively to support their research, and to present their findings.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others

By engaging with and completing this degree, graduates will be able to:

• Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in developing and implementing research projects and related activities and delivering these as stipulated
• Contribute in an effective and inclusive way to peers discussions and collaborative projects.
  
• Manage complex ethical and professional issues and make informed judgements on issues not addressed by current professional and/or ethical codes.

Programme structure and features

Entrance requirements:

Normally a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in music.

We may consider your application if you have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in another subject and display evidence of genuine interest in, and ability to engage with, research into music.

For international applicants we follow the proficiency in English language criteria laid out by Edinburgh College of Art for admissions to taught postgraduate programmes.

Programme Structure:

In accordance with the University???s Curriculum Framework, the programme is of 12 months duration. It consists of 180 SQCF credit points, of which 120 constitutes the taught portion of the programme with the remaining 60 devoted to the dissertation component of the degree. The programme has three fundamental components:

• 100 points at SCQF level 11 for compulsory courses
• 20 points at SCQF levels 7-11 for optional courses
• 60 points at SCQF level 11 for the dissertation/final project element of the programme

Degree Programme Table and Modes of Study:

Assessment:

The programme uses the University???s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme CMS4. The programme outcomes are articulated as a series of learning outcomes for each course hosted by the programme. These are then tested through a series of assignments that have a series of assessment criteria that reflect the learning outcomes for each course. Each assignment is given a percentage mark, the aggregate of all the assignment marks for a course forming the final mark for the course. The quantitative weighting for each assignment in relation to course as a whole is set out in the course handbook.

Progression and Awards:

The programme conforms to the University???s taught Assessment Regulations.

Progression Requirements:

Students must pass the assessment requirements of the taught stage at an appropriate level at the first attempt before progression to the dissertation.

For MSc programmes, progression to final project will be considered following completion of the first two semesters of the programme. In order to progress students must:

a) Pass at least 80 credits with a mark of at least 50% in each of the courses which make up these credits; and;

b) Attain a weighted average of at least 50% for the 120 credits of study examined at the point of decision for progression.

If not permitted to continue to final project they will be considered for a postgraduate diploma.

Award: Musicology (MMus) (pass)

Students must average at least 50% over their course marks for the first 120 credits of the programme. In addition they must secure a mark of 50% or higher in the final project.

Award: Musicology (MMus) with Merit

The student must be awarded at least 60% on the University???s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation/final project and must pass all other courses with an average of at least 60%.

When a student does not qualify for a merit as of right, they may be considered for the award of merit if (a) their final research project mark and (b) their credit-weighted average mark across all the taught courses are both 58.00% or higher.  The decision whether or not to award the merit in such cases is at the discretion of the Board of examiners.  In exercising its discretion, the Board will take into account the following factors: (a) the student???s credit-weighted average across the degree as a whole; (b) the number of courses (including the dissertation/final project) in which the student received a mark of 60% or above, and the credit weighting of those courses; (c) any special circumstances, such as illness or other adverse personal circumstances, which have been brought to the Board???s attention.

Award: Musicology (MMus) with Distinction

The student must be awarded at least 70% on the University???s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation/final project and must pass all other courses with an average of at least 70%.

When a student does not qualify for a distinction as of right, they may be considered for the award of distinction if (a) their final research project mark and (b) their credit-weighted average mark across all the taught courses are both 68.00% or higher.  The decision whether or not to award the distinction in such cases is at the discretion of the Board of examiners.  In exercising its discretion, the Board will take into account the following factors: (a) the student???s credit-weighted average across the degree as a whole; (b) the number of courses (including the dissertation/final project) in which the student received a mark of 70% or above, and the credit weighting of those courses; (c) any special circumstances, such as illness or other adverse personal circumstances, which have been brought to the Board???s attention.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) in Musicology

Students who have not fulfilled the criteria to be presented for the award of an MMus degree can be awarded a Diploma in Musicology. In order to be awarded the Diploma, students must pass at least 80 credits at SCQF level 11; and attain an average of at least 40% for the 120 credits of study examined for the Diploma in semester 1 and 2.

Students who have fulfilled the criteria to proceed to dissertation/final project but do not wish to progress are eligible for the award of the Diploma in Musicology. 

Students who achieve a mark below 50% in their dissertation/final project may be awarded a Diploma in Musicology for attainment in the taught component only.

Exit award: Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) in Musicology

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

Our teaching combines small-group seminars and individual supervision.

The weekly Research Seminar Series, at which local, national and international academics discuss their work, is an integral part of the programme. Students are also encouraged to participate in a number of other research seminar series hosted by the Reid School of Music, in line with their particular research interests.

You will be taught by leading academics with diverse research interests, including fifteenth-century music in England and Scotland, nineteenth century music theory, music and politics in the Cold War, opera, music and audiovisual media, jazz, popular music, historical anthropology, and organology. Teaching is by a combination of staff- and student-led seminars and student presentations.

The programme is designed to help students become increasingly independent in their study while providing the necessary supervisory support.

You will also develop your independent research skills: working under the supervision of a member of staff on an individual research project over the first two semesters; and writing a dissertation on a second topic of your choosing at the end of the programme.

The dissertation is written over the summer months on a supervised topic of your choice.

Facilities

Situated in the heart of the old city of Edinburgh, Music enjoys the resources of two extraordinary historic concert halls, unique collections of historic musical instruments and a world-class music library, as well as well-equipped audio studios and IT facilities.

Festival of Creative Learning

Assessment methods and strategies

For the majority of their studies students will not encounter prescriptive assessment where the absolute answers are known in advance of setting the assessed task. Assessment however is rigorous and robust and depends upon significant involvement of whole programme teams to ensure objectivity, accuracy, consistency and fairness to the students concerned.

Students receive regular formative feedback on their progress which is related directly to the published learning outcomes in their Course Descriptors and in their coursework material, such as project briefs and individual study plans;

The grading of student work is undertaken with close reference to the published learning outcomes and assessment criteria, for the Course Descriptor and for the particular piece(s) of work being assessed;

The method of assessment used is appropriate to the learning outcome(s) being assessed and the student???s performance for each individual learning outcome can be effectively examined and graded where a single method of assessment is used to examine more than one learning outcome;

Students are made fully aware of how they are being assessed and what is being assessed, against the published criteria.

Mode of study

Part-Time (21 months)

How the programme maps onto the University???s strategic plan

Leadership in Learning: The MMus in Musicology is committed to excellence in teaching. particularly through preparation for a research career. Regular discussions among associated faculty ensure that the programme's content is streamlined and that teaching provision consistently reaches high standards. Faculty are encouraged to continuously optimise the programme and their own skills, particularly in the area of inclusive teaching practices.

Career opportunities

On graduating, you will be equipped with the skills necessary to pursue a higher research degree, or take your knowledge into areas such asmusic criticism and journalism, arts administration and curatorship, music librarianship etc.

Other items

• Each student will be assigned a supervisor for each of the independent research modules, and a Personal Tutor; the Personal Tutor monitors the overall academic progress.
• Students will have at their disposal a range of relevant university computer services, with network access.
• Students will be entitled to use excellent library facilities including the University Library, the copyright and the National Library of Scotland.
• Edinburgh has a strong research community in the arts and humanities and students will be encouraged to participate in research activities that are relevant to their studies, such as seminars, colloquia and conferences.