Doctor of Musical Arts

Summary

Become an outstanding musician or composer with this specialist doctorate that combines coursework, research, and creative practice.

Become an outstanding musician or composer with a deep knowledge of your art. Graduate with the skills you need to be able to perform, compose or teach at a high professional level.

In this three-year programme you'll combine research with creative practice, each illuminating the other.

Pathway to the DMA

To enter the DMA programme you must have completed a Master of Musical Arts (MMA) or Master of Music (MMus) in either Performance or Composition/Sonic Arts at an equivalent standard to Distinction or Merit.

Performance applicants will need to pass an audition. Composition applicants have to submit a comprehensive portfolio of compositions or sound-based works. You'll also need to be able to show you have advanced research and writing skills. Find out more about what you need to do to apply.

What to expect

In your first year, or Part 1, you'll complete a full year of coursework to prepare you for the creative work and exegesis components of your thesis in Part 2. For composers or sonic artists, Part 1 will culminate in a research proposal and a portfolio of compositions or sound-based works. For performers, Part 1 will culminate in a research proposal and a recital.

In order to continue to Part 2, you'll need to:

• achieve a GPA of 6 (B+ average) or better across all Part 1 courses
• achieve a grade of A- or better in NZSM 640 or NZSM 641
• satisfy a panel that you're ready to proceed, through the public presentation of your research proposal.

In Part 2, the second and third years, you'll complete research that you demonstrate through creative work and an exegesis. This will be a substantive piece of writing of up to 40,000 words that gives a critical perspective on the creative work. For Composition or Sonic Arts students, this will include a portfolio of compositions or sound-based works. For Performance students, this will include recorded presentations of two recitals and two lecture recitals.

Workload and duration

Most candidates finish their DMA in three years but you can take up to five years if studying part time. The dean of the Faculty of Graduate Research may extend the maximum period in special cases. You can expect a workload of approximately 40 hours per week for much of the year.

Scholarships

To help fund your studies, you can apply for one of our postgraduate scholarships—including the Wellington Doctoral Scholarship.

You can also use our Find a scholarship tool to look for other scholarships based on your level of study, subject area, and background.