MFA
Creative Practice
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Why study MFA Creative Practice at Goldsmiths
Develop a distinctive, original and trans-disciplinary creative practice in (or related to) music through this programme.
- This unique programme comprises an inclusive, forward-thinking ‘making', composition and creative practice approach. It embraces broad conceptions of composition and performance and encourages multi-disciplinary and collaborative approaches to creative practice
- The programme is designed for creative practitioners and music artists who are seeking to deepen, challenge and uniquely blend practices in contemporary composition, songwriting and song-based music, sound art and electronic music, music production, performance, ethnographic film and multi-media or audio-visual work
- You will get to explore and develop your creative and research skills, which may span various disciplines, and may introduce you to London's world-leading music collections and institutions
- You can tailor your studies to your personal interests by developing your own coherent programme of study. You will select modules from an extensive list of taught options, and propose a significant body of work for your 180-credit creative project, which can also be proposed collaboratively. The outcomes of this work have the possibility of being professionally released by the Department’s record label, NX Records
- This programme also offers the opportunity for direct entry to the one-year Creative Project stage, providing you meet the necessary entry requirements
- The Department of Music houses state-of-the-art studios, which you will have access to. The Electronic Music Studios offers advanced facilities for electro-acoustic composition, multichannel work, and live and interactive performance. The Goldsmiths Music Studios offers a HD Pro-tools recording system and a large format analogue desk.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Simon Deacon.
Length
Full-time (2 years) or part-time (4 years), or in combination (3 years)
Fees
Home - full-time: £10350
Home - part-time: £5175
International - full-time: £19520
Department
What you'll study
In the first year, you will be able to devise your own bespoke programme of study from an extensive list of taught module options.
During term one, you will take two modules, chosen from the list below:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Popular Music Composition | 30 credits |
| Practice Research in Music | 30 credits |
| Advanced Strategies in Creative Music Production | 30 credits |
| Sonic Arts Practice | 30 credits |
During term two, you can choose two modules from the following list:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Audiovisual Composition | 30 credits |
| Contemporary Music: Practice and Discourse | 30 credits |
| Ethnographic Film and Music Research | 30 credits |
| Interactive and Generative Music | 30 credits |
| Mental Health and the Music Industry | 30 credits |
| Music Management | 30 credits |
Teaching style
The programme is taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, individual tutorials, and practical projects. You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.
How you'll be assessed
You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods depending on your module section. These may include coursework assignments such as essays, presentations or practical projects.
Facilities
Students benefit from a suite of practice rooms, fully equipped PA rehearsal rooms, and performance spaces with Steinway pianos, as well as access to other performance spaces internally and externally.
The Music Technical Office is open six days per week, with an equipment store stocked with instruments, keyboards, frontline & backline gear. Technical staff are available to assist and support students with technical needs and project.
The Goldsmiths Music Studios (GMS) was established by Grammy-nominated record producer, Mikko Gordon, featuring three large recording spaces with natural light and variable acoustics, a main control room based around a 48-channel vintage Calrec console, and an MTA 980 Console that previously belonged to Radiohead.
The Electronic Music Studio (EMS) features a collection of vintage and historic instruments, amplifiers, tape machines, synthesizers and microphones in the setting of a state-of-the art contemporary digital facility.
Goldsmiths Music Studio
Electronic Music Studio
Entry Requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class in a relevant/related subject.
If you don't have a related undergraduate degree we also welcome those who have completed equivalent professional experience, ideally in a music or arts-based discipline.
Uniquely, the programme is offered standalone or as an ‘upgrade’ option from the Department of Music’s MA/MMus pathways after completing 120 credits of taught modules and a successful Creative Project proposal application.
Students transferring into the MFA Creative Practice from external institutions should evidence PGDip (120 taught credits) or a relevant MA/MMus degree (180 credits) in addition to a successful Creative Project proposal application.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £10350
- Home - part-time: £5175
- International - full-time: £19520
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
Skills and Careers
Careers
Completion of this degree could lead to a career in the following areas:
- Music-focused careers, including: instrumental tutor, composer, singer, music producer, music teacher
- Music- and arts-related careers, such as: royalties assistant, co-editor, learning support assistant, SEN teacher, digital marketing creative, learning designer
- Careers involving transferable skills, including: project co-ordinator, administrator, business development, mentor
Some students may also decide to progress their research via a PhD application.
The department aims to support this breadth of career paths through our module offer, careers events and advice for students. We understand that there is no one ‘music industry’ and no one model of success for music students and musicians, but rather many pathways available on graduation.
Skills
Through this degree, some of the skills you will develop are:
- Understanding current theories and contexts that inspire and inform musical practice, in areas such as analysis, aesthetics, interpretation, cultural theory, literature and computer science
- Employing originality and expertise in creative strategies in the production of creative work, through experiment, speculation and rigorous investigation
- Identifying and solve complex technical and interpretative problems with flexibility and resourcefulness to a professional level of practice
- Appling and critically evaluating contemporary techniques in the creation of new work, which may reference pitch/rhythmic organisation, instrumentation, computer-based sound manipulation, popular music production, performance interaction and algorithmic process
- Independently designing and carrying out original and creative projects, imaginatively and expertly
- The ability to work cooperatively, effectively and creatively in a team and with other professionals
