MMus Sonic Arts

Course information

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Course overview

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, they offer 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 important collections and artefacts.
You’ll be able to choose from a range of optional modules that encompass experimental approaches to sound, music and technology.
Collaborative and interdisciplinary projects with other departments and/or external organisations and individuals are facilitated and encouraged.
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.

What you'll study

Compulsory modules

You take the following compulsory modules:

Module title	Credits
Sonic Arts Practice	30 credits
Sound Agendas	30 credits

Sonic Arts project

You'll also complete a compulsory Sonic Arts Project:

Module title	Credits
Sonic Arts Project	60 credits

Option modules

You'll choose 60 credits of option modules. These change annually, and recent examples include:

Module title	Credits
Audiovisual Composition	30 credits
Composition and Moving Image Media	30 credits
Compositional Techniques	30 credits
Contemporary Music: Practice and Discourse	30 credits
Ethnographic Film and Music Research	30 credits
Interactive and Generative Music	30 credits
Material, Form and Structure	30 credits
Philosophies of Music	30 credits

Download the programme specification.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

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.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees

These are the 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.

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.

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.

Scholarships

Prospective postgraduate students may be eligible for funding through our departmental awards.

How to apply

Apply now

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.

Staff

Find out about staff in the Department of Music.

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