School of Music

Master of Music Thesis Course

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The Master of Music includes a #8 Thesis course as a program elective. The course takes two semesters and you enrol in #4 each semester.

  • MUSC7000 commences in Sem 1 and completes in Sem 2
  • MUSC7001 commences in Sem 2 and completes in Sem 1

Students must apply for permission to enrol in the Thesis course. Approval is granted only to students who

  1. submit an expression of interest
  2. complete a satisfactory interview
  3. have an approved research project
  4. have a cumulative GPA of 5.5 or higher

Students who are approved to enrol in the Thesis course may also be approved to enrol in a Research Design course.

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Your EOI must be submitted using the online webform. 

Current students must apply by the Census Date of the current semester to request permission to enrol in the Thesis course in the next semester.

  • You must apply by 31 March to request permission to enrol in MUSC7001 in Sem 2
  • You must apply by 31 August to request permission to enrol in MUSC7000 in Sem 1

Commencing students in the 1-year Master of Music must apply by the Monday of Orientation Week of their commencing semester to request permission to enrol in the Thesis course in their commencing semester. You will go through the same steps as current students, but in a much smaller timeframe.

Interview

If your EOI is accepted, the course coordinator will schedule an interview with you. During the interview you will be asked questions about your reasons for applying, what research project you want to do, and what previous research projects and training courses you have completed. You will also be asked if you want to request permission to enrol in a Research Design course during your Thesis.

Research Project and Supervisor

If your interview is satisfactory, you must complete the research proposal form (DOCX, 36.1 KB). The completed form must be signed by you and by your proposed thesis supervisor and sent to the course coordinator for assessment.

  • MUSC7001 research proposals are due by 31 May
  • MUSC7000 research proposals are due by 31 October

Cumulative GPA

If your research proposal is approved by the course coordinator, the School will check your cumulative GPA after grades are released at the end of semester. If your GPA is 5.5 or higher, you will be added to the class permission list in mySI-net for the Thesis course. This allows you to enrol in the Thesis course. 

Reseach Design Course

Students who are approved for the Thesis course can also request permission to enrol in a #4 Research Design course. There are three courses:

  • HHSS6020 Research Design in the Social Sciences - appropriate for music education and psychology of music projects
  • HHSS6030 Research Design in the Humanities - may be appropriate for some music history projects
  • HHSS6040 Research Design in Arts and Culture - appropriate for music performance, music composition, and musicology projects

Research Design courses are only available in Sem 1 and are restricted to students who are enrolled in a Thesis course in that semester. You cannot enrol in a Research Design course if you are not enrolled in a Thesis course.

The interview process will clarify if a Research Design course is appropriate for you, taking into account both your research training needs and your study plan. If your study plan does not allow you to enrol in both the #4 Thesis and #4 Research Design course in Sem 1 (for example, because you have #4 of core courses to complete in that semester), you will not receive permission to enrol in a Research Design course.