Course

Bachelor of Music

Approved Abbreviation: BMus

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1659.4

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 065052F

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2017 or later.

Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.

Commencement Year 2015 and 2016 - 1659.3 - Bachelor of Music

Commencement Year 2011 and 2014 - 1659.2 - Bachelor of Music

Commencement Year 2009 and 2010 - 1659.1 - Bachelor of Music

The Bachelor of Music develops innovative, articulate musicians who contribute to the music community and the culture it serves. It offers high-level training in music, music performance, composition, sound technologies, music theory, musicology, arranging music and music analysis. It does this in well-equipped studios, and in a lecture/workshop/tutorial environment. Skills in music performance, composition and sound technologies are augmented by intellectual, theoretical and contextual studies. An active staff of music-academics supports students to develop their individual goals.

  • Director of Academic Program - Dr Clare MacLean

Study Mode
Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Admission

Applicants will be selected by one of three methods

1. Attain an HSC Music result in band 4 or above. No audition is required.

2. Hold the following AMEB or equivalent (e.g. Trinity College) qualification:

a. PASS standard (minimum) of 6th Grade Performance (instrument or voice) And

b. PASS standard (minimum) of 4th Grade musicianship and/or theory.

No audition is required.

3. Attend an audition in person as a performer and/or composer. Applicants applying as a composer will need to bring recordings and/or scores of original compositions to the audition. After applying to UAC or Directly to Western applicants are required to book an audition online.

Online audition booking system

If not auditioning, applicants will need to upload their supporting documentation (e.g. AMEB certificates demonstrating level of achievement in performance and musicianship and/or music theory).

All applicants:

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

International applicants must apply directly to the Western Sydney University via the International Office.

International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Alternate Entry Pathway

The exceptional merit pathway (EMP) will offer those students who demonstrate an aptitude and ability in the creative industries area that is assessed as meeting the Course Learning Outcomes, to receive either a direct or conditional offer. Students will be required to complete an audition or submit a recording of original compositions, take part in at least one workshop and/or submit a written assessment, in addition to participating in an interview, during one of a series of on-campus Young Creatives events. Successful completion of the EMP requirements will result in either a direct or conditional entry offer for the following year. Though the direct offer is a non-ATAR pathway, eligibility to accept the direct offer will remain contingent on the successful completion of the HSC or TAFE Diploma.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

102546Western Art Music History
102564Music Theory Fundamentals
102553Music Performance 1
102558Music Production

Spring session

102547Popular Music Histories
102770Music Theory and Songwriting
102554Music Performance 2
102759Sound Design and New Electronic Media

Year 2

Autumn session

102762World Music
102548Composition and Creativity

One sub-major unit

And one elective

Spring session

102551Music, Culture and Discourse
102566Arranging Music

One sub-major unit

And one elective

Year 3

Autumn session

102429Music Careers Research
101152Music and Analysis

One sub-major unit

And one elective

Spring session

102573Music and Critical Thought
102767Applied Professional Music Contexts

One sub-major unit

And one sub-major unit or elective

Sub-majors

Note: The sub-majors listed below are only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music.

All students must complete one of the following sub-majors.

One of the other sub-majors may also be completed using elective places.

SM1015Composition
SM1017Music Performance
SM1126Music Production

Please note: SM1126 Music Production replaces SM1016 Sound Technologies from 2018. Students who choose to remain in SM1016 Sound Technologies will need to take their remaining units from the replaced equivalent units.

Note: The sub-majors listed below are only available to non-Bachelor of Music students but restrictions apply

SM1047Music Performance Studies
SM1065Musicology
SM1133Sound Production

Please note: SM1133 Sound Production replaces SM1127 Music Production Studies from 2020. Students who choose to remain in SM1127 Music Production Studies will need to take their remaining units from the replaced equivalent units.

Equivalent Core Units

The core units listed below count towards completion of this course for students who passed these units in 2017 or earlier.

101120 - Arranging Musics

101520 - Basic Composition, Craft and Theory

101522 - Composition, Craft and Theory

101523 - Cultural Paradigms and Music

101524 - Free and Notated Music Performance

101525 - Introduction to Music Performance

101526 - Introduction to Sound Technologies

101528 - Modes and Codes in Music Production

101742 - Music and Philosophy

101530 - Music Composition: concepts and Creativity

101538 - Sound Synthesis and the Sound Environment

102427 - Western Art Music 1

102428 - Western Art Music 2

The core units listed below count towards completion of this course for students who passed these units in 2019 or earlier.

102430 - Professional Music Project

102565 - Songwriting and Music Theory

102559 - Sound Design

102552 - The Politics of Australian Music

Sub-major Elective Spaces

Elective units may be used toward obtaining an additional approved sub-major (40 credit points).

Search for sub-majors

Western Sydney University offers sub-majors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major

Business Sustainability Sub-major

Students can apply for an elective major or sub-major via MySR.

MyStudentRecords (MySR)



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