Master of Music

The Master of Music at The Australian Institute of Music is a two-year postgraduate degree for musicians who want to take their practice further. It's built around what you actually do as a musician, performing, writing, arranging, producing, teaching, rather than around exams about music. You'll spend your time in studios, rehearsal rooms and performance spaces, working on your own projects and with other musicians.

How the degree is structured

Like most Australian master's degrees, this one runs over two years of full-time study, usually split into semesters. You accumulate credit points by completing units of study, core units that everyone takes, plus electives and specialisation units where you go deeper into your area. The final stage is typically a capstone project: a major performance, a portfolio of original work, a recording, or a research thesis, depending on your focus. That capstone is where you pull together everything you've learned and present it at a professional standard.

What you'll study

The coursework covers performance practice, music theory and analysis, composition and arranging, music technology and production, and the business side of being a musician, how to manage a career, understand contracts, and work with venues, labels and arts organisations. You'll also look at music research methods, which prepares you for the capstone. Teaching and community music units are available if you want to work in schools or community settings. Assessment is mostly practical: performances, recordings, written work, and presentations.

Work-integrated learning

Placements and industry projects are part of the degree. Students often work with professional ensembles, recording studios, festivals, or community music organisations. The institute has links across the Australian music industry, so you may find yourself assisting on a live tour, engineering a session, or running workshops. These experiences count toward your credit points and give you something concrete for your CV.

Who it suits

This degree suits musicians who already have a bachelor's degree in music or equivalent experience and want to specialise, teach at a higher level, or move into a leadership role in the industry. It's also for performers who want time and resources to develop a major project with expert supervision. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and after you graduate you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English proficiency is required, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common coursework-postgraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institute's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register; check the official page for current fees and intake dates.

• Professional musician, performing with orchestras, bands, ensembles, or as a solo artist across Australia's live music scene.
• Composer or arranger, writing for film, television, advertising, games, or concert performance.
• Music producer or recording engineer, working in studios, for labels, or independently.
• Music teacher, in schools, private studios, or community music programmes (further teaching qualifications may be required for school registration).
• Arts administrator or music manager, running festivals, venues, or managing artists.
• Session musician, recording and touring with other artists.
• Community music facilitator, leading music programmes in health, aged care, or community settings.

Australian industries that hire music graduates include live performance and touring, recording and production, broadcasting, film and screen, education, arts management, and community services.