MMus
Sonic Arts
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Why study MMus Sonic Arts at Goldsmiths
The MMus Sonic Arts offers you a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of a wide range of creative and experimental approaches to technology-based sound and music practice, including spatial sound, field recording, live electronics, interactive performance, improvisation systems, sound art installation and audiovisual composition.
- You have full access to the pioneering Electronic Music Studios. Founded in 1968, it offers advanced facilities for sonic art composition, surround sound formats, editing and mixing, location sound, live/interactive performance, and a collection of unique vintage synthesisers such as the VCS4, the only one in existence.
- Critical creative practice: you’ll develop a rigorous conceptual framework for your creative practice and engage critically with contemporary ideas and debates in sound art and sound studies. You’ll also explore historical models of practice and have access to.
- You’ll be able to choose from optional modules that encompass experimental approaches to sound, music and technology.
- We encourage and facilitate collaborative and interdisciplinary projects with other departments and/or external organisations and individuals.
- You’ll be taught be practising artists and scholars, working at the cutting edge of their fields internationally across live electronics, performance, sound art and acoustic ecology.
- You’ll benefit from being part of a vibrant community in the Department of Music, with our internationally respected community of sonic artists including many PhD doctoral researchers. You’ll be encouraged to attend our lively events programme including our international research seminar series and various related research units. You’ll also be supported in performing your work in our concert series as well as other occasional opportunities.
- You’ll prepare yourself for a career in a variety of related areas as the programme has nurtured generations of students, helping develop innovative and celebrated careers in sound art installation, electronic music performance, audio for AR and VR, dance, film sound design and composition, radio and podcasting, soundscapes, and computer music research and beyond.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Professor John Drever.
Length
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to have) an undergraduate degree of at least 2:1 standard in Music or related subject. Your qualification should comprise a substantial relevant practical/creative element. You might also be considered if you can show you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.
Fees
Home - full-time: £10350
Home - part-time: £5175
International - full-time: £19520
Department
What you'll study
Full-time students take the following modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Sonic Arts Practice | 30 credits |
| Sound Agendas | 30 credits |
| Sonic Arts Project | 60 credits |
They then take optional modules worth 60 credits.
Part-time students
Part-time students take the Sonic Arts Practice module and complete the Sonic Arts Project. They then choose optional modules worth 90 credits.
Note about optional modules (if available): The above is indicative of the typical modules offered, but is not intended to be construed or relied on as a definitive list of what might be available in any given year. The module content and availability is subject to change.
Teaching style
The programme is taught through a mixture of lectures and seminar sessions, tutorials, and where relevant, workshops. You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.
Support for learning and wellbeing is provided in a number of ways by the Department of Music and College support services, who work collaboratively to ensure you get the right help to reach your best potential both academically and personally.
You will be allocated a Personal Tutor, who has overall responsibility for your individual progress and welfare.
Facilities
As a Goldsmiths music student you will have access to:
You can also use a range of mac labs, rehearsal studios, commercial cinema spaces, and performance spaces.
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 standard in Music or a relevant/related subject. Your qualification should comprise a substantial practical/creative element relevant to the selected MMus pathway and option choices. A detailed transcript of your degree is preferred.
You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.
Students who have completed up to 90 credits (not including final 60-credit projects or dissertations) of a comparable degree at another university can apply for recognition of prior learning status as part of their application for a place on the programme, where such credits are carried forward into your study at Goldsmiths.
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.
How to apply
Apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system
You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.
Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:
- Details of your academic qualifications
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
- Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
- A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
- A short portfolio that provides selected examples of your recent creative work, these should be provided as links to streamable content (on English Language sites). Examples should be relevant to the focus of the pathway.
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
When to apply
We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September.
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.
Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.
If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an earlier application deadline.
Selection process
Selection is by portfolio assessment and interview.
Find out more about applying.
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
BAME Music Scholar's Fee Waiver
This full-tuition fee-waiver scholarship aims to support a BAME student who intends to progress through postgraduate study and into an academic research position.
Sarah Caple Award
Funding to enable students to further their studies or musical development.
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.
Careers
Where your degree can take you
The programme is designed with careful consideration of the opportunities, challenges and intellectual demands presented by music-related careers in journalism, teaching, broadcasting, librarianship and arts administration. It also supports the practice-based professions, for example research through performance and sound recording production.
A high proportion of graduates have progressed to MPhil/PhD at either Goldsmiths or other prestigious universities in the UK or overseas.
Alumni
Graduates specialising in composition and creative practice have achieved performances of their work at internationally established venues, events and festivals, as well as broadcasts on BBC Radio. A number have received prestigious prizes and honourable mentions for their work in competitions including the PRSF New Music Award, the International Competition de Musique et d'Art Sonore Electroacoustiques de Bourges and the International Electroacoustic Competition Musica Viva.
Graduates in performance have successfully pursued international careers in professional performance, taking up positions with established ensembles such as The Australian String Quartet, Tasman String Quartet, Piano Circus, as well as various European orchestras, and undertaking related artist-in-residency and teaching roles.
