MSc Music, Mind & Brain
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Why study MSc Music, Mind & Brain at Goldsmiths
This distinctive programme combines psychology and neuroscience to understand how music shapes the human mind and society. You’ll learn how biological, cognitive, and cultural mechanisms influence music perception, creation, and experience, while developing the skills required to apply this knowledge in research, industry, and creative practice.
- Music plays a central role in emotion, identity, communication, learning, health, technology, and society. You’ll develop the theoretical foundations and research skills needed to study these processes scientifically.
- This specialist MSc offers more focused career and research pathways than a general psychology degree. Graduates normally progress into PhD and research pathways, as well as careers in the creative and media industries, education, technology, and health and wellbeing.
- The programme is highly interdisciplinary, drawing on expertise in music cognition, cognitive neuroscience, empirical aesthetics, big data, computational modelling, music education, and music therapy.
- With a small, selective cohort, you'll benefit from close contact with academic staff, individualised dissertation supervision, strong mentoring for PhD applications and careers, and a collaborative, intellectually engaged learning environment.
- The programme is enriched by close collaborations with world-class institutions and research groups, including the University of Cambridge, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics and the Royal College of Music.
- Beyond academia, we also collaborate with non-academic partners in education (for example, Curious Minds) and marketing and audio branding (for example, amp sound branding), supporting real-world applications of music and psychological science.
- You'll benefit from the expertise across Goldsmiths, including Psychology and Neuroscience, the School of Computing, and experts in Music.
- You'll have access to a wide range of specialist facilities and equipment, including EEG, TMS, eye-tracking, motion capture, and virtual reality.
Contact
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Manuel Anglada-Tort.
Length
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Fees
Home - full-time: £12800
Home - part-time: £6400
International - full-time: £23000
School
Subject
What you'll study
The MSc Music, Mind & Brain is structured around two core taught modules: Music Perception and Cognitive Neuroscience of Music.
Music Perception
This module introduces the psychological foundations of how we perceive music, examining how acoustic properties relate to perception and exploring key building blocks of music such as pitch, melody, rhythm, timbre, and key, alongside major theories and experimental methods.
Cognitive Neuroscience of Music
This module focuses on the neural bases of music cognition and behaviour, including how the brain processes musical structure, emotion, and reward, as well as key applied areas of music psychology such as music therapy and audio branding.
Alongside these modules, students receive core training in psychological and scientific methods, including statistics, research design and analysis, research skills, and foundations of neuroscience, providing a strong methodological basis for independent research.
The Research Project
The Research Project (dissertation) is the culmination of the MSc and allows you to conduct an original, supervised research study in music psychology, cognitive neuroscience, or a related field. Read more about the research project.
Modules you can audit
While all modules are compulsory, we encourage our students to audit other highly relevant modules such as Advanced Quantitative Methods, Coding in R and Matlab, and Psychology of the Arts, Creativity and Aesthetics.
How you'll be assessed
You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods. These will include written examinations, written coursework (essays), oral presentations, and a research dissertation.
Combining music and science
Goldsmiths is uniquely placed to offer this programme, with an internationally renowned reputation in cognitive science, computing, music, and the creative arts.
Many programmes that combine music and psychology focus primarily on therapeutic practice, while others emphasise performance, composition, or music theory with limited engagement in science. In contrast, technical courses in computer science often engage with sound and music without providing scientific training in experimental psychology, cognitive science, or neuroscience.
The MSc in Music, Mind & Brain is grounded in experimental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and scientific methods, while engaging deeply with music as a cultural, creative, and socially embedded human behaviour.
This foundation allows students to develop robust research skills alongside a critical understanding of how music operates in real-world and applied contexts, including research, technology, education, health, and creative industries.
Read our blog post on Why Music Science Matters Today: New Frontiers in Music, Mind & Brain at Goldsmiths.
Watch videos about your course
What kind of research project can I do?
Research projects are supervised by internationally recognised researchers and often provide a strong foundation for conference presentations, publications, PhD applications, or job interviews in applied careers.
We offer a range of research projects, drawing on a variety of approaches: behavioural, computational, neuroscientific. Students are also invited to propose a project of their own choice, providing appropriate supervision can be offered.
Examples include:
- Exploring the neural correlates of music-induced emotions using EEG and Virtual Reality
- Does human-AI collaboration spark music creativity?
- Studying rhythm and executive function in toddlers
- Are abilities for music and maths really related?
- Can imagery-based interventions reduce music performance anxiety?
- Studying cross-cultural similarities and differences in popular music using music discovery data from Shazam
- Atypical processing of pitch: a behavioural and electrophysiological exploration of the effects of autism traits and musical training
- Exploring absolute pitch in children and young people with visual impairment
- An fMRI study investigating how music impacts on the perception of emotion
- Modelling the Effectiveness of Musical Features in Sonic Logos
Explore a list of publications arising from Music, Mind, and Brain theses and collaborations.
Research by the Music, Mind, and Brain (MMB) Group
As a student on the MSc in Music, Mind, and Brain programme, you will play a central role in the research carried out by the Music, Mind, and Brain (MMB) Group. The MMB Group at Goldsmiths studies the biological and cognitive foundations of musical experience and behaviour, as well as their impact on society and culture.
Careers
Prepare yourself for a career in music science
Music plays an increasingly important role across society, from education, health, and wellbeing to media, technology, and creative industries. Understanding how music works psychologically and neurologically is now central to addressing challenges in areas such as human–technology interaction, creativity, learning, mental health, and cultural innovation.
The MSc Music, Mind & Brain equips students with strong scientific training and transferable research skills that are highly valued across both academic and applied settings. Through training in experimental design, data analysis, and critical thinking, students learn how to investigate complex human behaviours and translate research insights into real-world contexts.
Academic and research pathways
The programme is particularly well suited for students considering doctoral research or research-focused careers. Graduates have progressed to:
- PhD programmes in psychology, neuroscience, music cognition, cognitive science, and related fields
- Research assistant and associate roles in universities and research organisations
- Teaching and academic careers following further doctoral training
Industry and applied careers
Graduates also pursue careers in industry and applied research, where understanding human perception, emotion, and behaviour is essential. Typical pathways include roles in:
- Music consulting and sonic branding
- User experience (UX) research and design
- Data science and behavioural analysis
- Music and audio technology
- Creative and media industries
- Music education and pedagogy
- Music health and wellbeing
The programme’s emphasis on human-centred research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and data-driven thinking equips graduates with skills that transfer across sectors.
Professional experience and opportunities
MMB students are well positioned to apply for highly relevant professional and doctoral opportunities, including:
- A 6-month paid internship with the sonic branding agency AMP
- SENSS student-led doctoral studentships, offering fully funded PhD opportunities in psychology and the social sciences
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £12800
- Home - part-time: £6400
- International - full-time: £23000
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
Explore the Goldsmiths scholarships finder to find out what funding you may be eligible for.
If you are a UK student you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan.
Meanwhile our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies.
Paying your fees
Find out about paying your tuition fees.
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.
Entry requirements
The MSc Music, Mind and Brain is a truly interdisciplinary programme that attracts students from diverse backgrounds who want to complement their knowledge on music research, neuroscience or cognitive psychology. As a general rule, you should have a good background in at least one of these areas and preferably have already carried out a piece of empirical research.
You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) the following qualifications:
- An undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in Psychology OR a background in music plus demonstrable knowledge and/or experience of empirical research
Pre-sessional courses will be offered to those who lack the necessary background or need a refresher in statistics or neuroscience.
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.
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 study.
Do I need psychology and statistics knowledge to join this course?
You do not need an extensive technical background in psychology or statistics to join the MSc in Music, Mind & Brain. What matters most is a strong interest in understanding music and human behaviour, and a willingness to engage with scientific approaches.
We actively welcome students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Previous cohorts have included graduates and professionals from psychology, music, computer science, education, creative industries, content creation, health, and marketing.
When students join the programme, we assess their prior experience in order to provide a supportive yet appropriately challenging learning environment. Students with limited background in psychology or statistics are encouraged to take pre-sessional courses and are offered additional academic support throughout the programme.
We feel that this diversity of skills and backgrounds contributes to the course’s great success over the years.
How to apply
You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.
To complete your application, you will 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
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 consider applications on a rolling basis.
If you are applying for external funding from one of the Research Councils, make sure you submit your application by the deadline they've specified.
Selection process
Because the programme is highly interdisciplinary, we appreciate that some candidates may not have a strong background in all the key areas (psychology, neuroscience, research methods). However, we expect all applicants to be familiar with some of the music psychology literature and concepts in empirical research.
Further guidance
Read our guide to applying for a postgraduate degree at Goldsmiths.
You will be taught by an expert teaching team with international research profiles in music psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and related fields.
Dr Manuel Anglada-Tort and Dr Diana Omigie are the programme directors.
Staff also include:
- Dr Sinead Rocha, Lecturer in Psychology and Director of the InfantLab
- Dr Maria Herrojo Ruiz, Reader in Psychology and Co-director of the MSc in Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
Beyond the core MMB team, modules are also taught by other academic experts in Psychology, with contributions from guest lecturers from academia and industry, giving students exposure to a wide range of perspectives and career pathways.
Learn more about the staff
- Watch Diana provide an introduction to music perception research
- Watch Diana introduce music and emotion research
- Read about Manuel’s research profile at Oxford University Press
- Listen to Manuel discuss his research on music evolution and empirical aesthetics on the Multiverses podcast
- Learn about Sinead Rocha’s work on baby dancing
- See Lauren, Sinead and Diana talking about their research at the Science Museum’s 'Turn it up: the power of Music'
Keep up to date with MSc Music, Mind & Brain
We are happy to arrange informal conversations, show prospective students around relevant facilities, discuss the course in more detail, or offer a taster of a class where possible. If you are interested in this, please contact the programme director, Dr Manuel Anglada-Tort.
If you’d like to learn more about the programme, visit us at an Open Day. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions about the MSc Music, Mind & Brain, learn more about the programme structure and modules, meet academic staff, and hear about student experience and life at Goldsmiths.
Visit our Open Day and virtual event page for more information.
You can also explore examples of research projects and dissertations completed by previous Music, Mind & Brain students and research staff in the MMB Group website.
For updates on the programme, research activities, and events, you may wish to follow the programme on LinkedIn or Instagram.
