Master your art with a professional Music doctorate
The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) is a specialist doctorate for performers or composers that combines coursework, research, and creative practice. You’ll become an outstanding musician or composer with deep knowledge of your art.
You’ll carry out creative work and demonstrate it—through either a portfolio of compositions or sound-based works, or recorded recitals and lecture recitals. You’ll also complete an exegesis—a research paper that explains, interprets, and critically analyses your work and approach—of up to 40,000 words.
You’ll graduate with the skills you need to be able to perform, compose or teach at a high professional level.
Who can study for this qualification
To enrol, you must have a Master of Musical Arts (MMA) or Master of Music (MMus) in either Performance or Composition/Sonic Arts, at an equivalent standard to Distinction or Merit.
The DMA helps you become a recognised expert in your area of musical performance or composition. You might choose the DMA if you're a performer or composer seeking the highest professional and academic qualification that clearly relates to your creative work.
If you’re applying for Performance, you also need to pass an audition.
If Composition is your subject, you’ll submit a comprehensive portfolio of compositions or sound-based works.
You'll also need to show you have advanced research and writing skills.
What you’ll learn
The DMA combines coursework, research, and creative practice to both:
- enhance your practical and technical skills in music performance or composition
- develop your academic rigour.
Depending on your speciality area, you’ll build on and demonstrate your:
- technical skills needed to write, produce, perform and/or record music
- creative skills such as composing, arranging, song writing, and music production
- use of sophisticated software to create, record, manipulate, and develop musical
outputs.
Learn from expert staff
You'll learn from accomplished musicians and highly regarded academics who are leaders in their fields. Benefit from the broad knowledge and experience of staff at NZSM, who are professionally active both in New Zealand and internationally.
How you’ll study
This is a 360 point qualification. You’ll learn through coursework and your own research.
Your study falls into two parts.
Part 1
In your first year, you work with your supervisors to prepare for the creative work and exegesis components of your thesis in Part 2.
For composers or sonic artists, you’ll prepare your research proposal and a portfolio of compositions or sound-based works to be worked on a delivered in Part 2. For performers, Part 1 ends with a research proposal and a recital.
To continue to Part 2, you'll need:
- a GPA of 6 (B+ average) or better across all Part 1 courses
- a grade of A- or better in NZSM 640 or NZSM 641
- to satisfy a panel that you're ready to proceed, by publicly presenting your research proposal.
Part 2
In your second and third years, you'll earn the remaining 240 points of your degree by carrying out research and demonstrating it through creative work and an exegesis. This is substantive piece of writing of up to 40,000 words that gives a critical perspective on your creative work.
- For Composition or Sonic Arts students, this includes a portfolio of compositions or sound-based works.
- For Performance students, this includes recorded presentations of two recitals and two lecture recitals.
Part-time study options
If you’re a domestic student you can take up to five years if studying part time. The dean of the Faculty of Graduate Research can may extend this maximum period in special cases.
Professional doctorate or PhD?
If you're aiming for an academic research career, our three-year Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) may suit you better than a professional doctorate.
Both professional doctorates and the PhD are research degrees, but they differ in focus:
- Professional doctorates centre your research on your own professional practice.
- The PhD gives you the freedom to explore an academic perspective, across a much wider range of topics, themes, and subject areas.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed university in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
Before enrolment, a candidate for the DMA degree shall have:
(a) completed a Master of Music with Distinction or Merit or a Master of Musical Arts with Distinction or Merit;
(b) passed an audition, in the case of a candidate in performance, or submitted an acceptable portfolio of compositions in the case of a candidate in composition, or sound-based works in the case of a candidate in sonic arts, and submitted an acceptable sample of extended writing; and
(c) been accepted by the Head of School of the New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī and the relevant Associate Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, as a candidate for the doctorate.
Qualification requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the DMA
The course of study for the DMA shall comprise two parts, worth 120 and 240 points respectively.
Part 1 (Year 1) shall comprise:
(a) 30 points from NZSM 651–652; and
(b) Research Proposal and Presentation (NZSM 650); and (c) either Composition/Sonic Arts (NZSM 640) or Performance (NZSM 641).
Part 2 (Years 2 and 3) shall comprise research demonstrated through creative work and an exegesis, namely: Composition/Sonic Arts Thesis (NZSM 660) or 661.
The creative work will comprise either:
(a) two public recitals and two lecture recitals; or
(b) a portfolio of compositions or sound-based works and public presentation(s).
The repertoire to be performed and the scope of the portfolio must be approved in advance by the Head of School. The exegesis will consist of a substantive piece of writing that offers a critical perspective on the creative work.
In order to proceed to Part 2, a candidate must:
(a) achieve a GPA of 6 or better across all Part 1 courses;
(b) achieve a grade of A– or better in Composition/Sonic Arts (NZSM 640) or Performance (NZSM 641); and
(c) through a public presentation of the research proposal, satisfy a panel, appointed by the Head of School, of their readiness to proceed.
3. Except with the permission of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Research, the minimum and maximum periods of enrolment (excluding any approved period(s) of suspension) shall be as follows:
(a) The minimum period in Part 2 is 24 months full time.
(b) The maximum period for Parts 1 and 2 combined is 48 months full time.
(c) For a candidate permitted to enrol half time for part, or all, of their programme, the minimum and maximum periods shall be calculated on a pro rata basis.
Future careers
Our DMA graduates have the knowledge and tools to perform, compose, and deliver their artistry at the highest level, and often become leaders in their musical field.
The DMA demonstrates that you have both artistic mastery and scholarly ability. Whereas the PhD is a starting point for careers in musical research and higher education, DMA graduates often become:
- performers, composers, or conductors
- university educators
- designer of musical policy at cultural organisations
- arts administrators at a senior level.
They also develop varied portfolio careers that combine performance, composition, and teaching.
More career information
Find out more about careers.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Music
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This scholarship is open to female students of the New Zealand School of Music who are studying or who aspire to study sonic arts. The successful applicant will be chosen on the basis of prior attainment and identified potential, taking into account, where appropriate, financial need.
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This scholarship is available to students intending to do research at postgraduate level at the New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī in the field of Music Education. Master’s or Doctoral research is preferred, though Honours level research and projects may be considered. Research or projects which may lead to qualification or enhanced professional practice of the applicant may...
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The scholarship is offered to students who: have completed the first year of the Master of Music Therapy degree and intend to enrol in the second year of this programme
Scholarships for international students
We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Music
-
This scholarship is open to female students of the New Zealand School of Music who are studying or who aspire to study sonic arts. The successful applicant will be chosen on the basis of prior attainment and identified potential, taking into account, where appropriate, financial need.
-
This scholarship is available to students intending to do research at postgraduate level at the New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī in the field of Music Education. Master’s or Doctoral research is preferred, though Honours level research and projects may be considered. Research or projects which may lead to qualification or enhanced professional practice of the applicant may...
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This scholarship is to assist students in the last year of their first Bachelors degree at Victoria University of Wellington. The scholarship fund will be awarded equally between male and female students.
Join our postgraduate community
The Postgraduate Students’ Association provides a voice for you on campus and information on studying at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Postgraduate Students’ Association
MAI ki Pōneke
MAI ki Pōneke are part of an international network of Māori and Indigenous postgraduate students. They provide advice, support, and information to Indigenous postgraduate students of all levels, as well as those thinking about enrolling.
Academic staff research areas
Our academic staff come from a wide variety of backgrounds to provide Aotearoa New Zealand's most comprehensive tertiary music programme.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you’re facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.