Master's Programme in Popular Music
Is all you want to immerse yourself in your own artistic project? Do you have a burning desire to further develop the music industry? If so, this master's program in popular music is a perfect match.
Our Master's program in popular music offers five specialisations, four of which are performing specialisations:
- Performing Music
- Electronic Music
- World Music
- Songwriting
The fifth specialisation option is theoretical:
- Music Business og Management.
Choose the specialisation that suits you best, and be encouraged and challenged by fellow students, practitioners and supervisors at the highest level. You can read more about the various specialisations further down the page.
The Department of Popular Music is one of Norway's oldest and largest professional environments for popular music. Here you will find experimental and traditional expressions, practice and theory, exploration and research, side by side and at intertwined. We all share a big pumping heart for creating, playing, understanding and communicating music as an art form.
What will you learn?
- You acquire a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between performance practice and relevant popular musicology.
- You are provided with insight into central concepts and theoretical issues of popular musicology.
- You develop an academic foundation in order to be able to contribute to reflection and innovation inside popular music.
- You achieve comprehensive understanding of how to accomplish research projects in the field of popular music.
- You get an overview of the different participants and organisations in the musicological environment, and and the dynamics operating between them.
- You achieve knowledge of new technologies and the possibilities and challenges they offer.
- You achieve comprehensive understanding of relevant musicological methods within artistic research, and the ability to use them independently.
Entry requirements
The general admission requirement is a bachelor's degree or equivalent education of at least three years (180 credits). At least 20 credits in the specialisation unit must be level 2. Otherwise, admission takes place in accordance with regulations on admission to studies and courses at the University of Agder.
Recommended previous knowledge
The three performance-based master's specialisations require a very high level on the principle instrument, and music science and theory pre-requisites equivalent to completion of Scientific Theory, Aesthetics and Analysis (MUR/MUK 107) from the bachelor programme in music performance at UiA. Documentation of such knowledge is a pre-requisite for admission.
Performance specialisations:
Performing music, World Music and Songwriting
The admission criteria must include a specialisation unit of at least 80 credits in performing music or equivalent.
Applicants must write a proposal for a project description for a master's thesis according to the guidelines laid down for the Faculty of Arts. Proposals for areas of specialisation for the master's thesis must be approved by the university 5 weeks before the entrance exam is held.
Ranking of applicants takes place on the basis of the entrance exam with the following parts:
- Audition. At the audition, a score from 10 to 20 is given for passing the test. Applicants who get less than 10 points have not passed. The audition counts for 50% of the total score.
- Interview. During the interview, a score is given from 10 to 20. The interview counts for 50% of the total score. The audition must be passed in order to be admitted to an interview.
Electronic music
The admission basis must include one of the following criteria:
- Specialisation unit of at least 80 credits in performing or electronic music, bachelor's degree in music technology or equivalent. At least 20 credits in the specialisation unit must be level 2.
- Other relevant bachelor's programs may, after special assessment, be approved as a basis for admission.
Applicants must write an application with a proposal for a project description for a master's thesis according to the guidelines laid down for the Faculty of Arts. Proposals for areas of specialisation for the master's thesis must be approved by the university 5 weeks before the entrance exam is held.
Ranking of applicants takes place on the basis of the entrance exam with the following parts:
- Audition. At the audition, a score from 10 to 20 is given for passing the test. Applicants who get less than 10 points have not passed. The audition counts for 50% of the total score.
- Interview. During the interview, a score is given from 10 to 20. The interview counts for 50% of the total score. The audition must be passed in order to be admitted to an interview.
Music business and management
The admission basis must include one of the following criteria:
- Specialisation unit of at least 80 credits in performing music, music pedagogy or musicology. At least 20 credits in the specialization unit must be level 2.
- Relevant specialisation unit of at least 80 credits within the culture/music/culture studies. At least 20 credits in the specialization unit must be level 2.
- Bachelor's degree in economics or equivalent
- Other relevant bachelor's programs may, after special assessment, be approved as a basis for admission.
A weighted average grade of C or better is required, calculated on the basis of the entire bachelor's degree.
Entry requirements
The general admission requirement is a bachelor's degree or equivalent education of at least three years (180 credits). At least 20 credits in the specialisation unit must be level 2. Otherwise, admission takes place in accordance with regulations on admission to studies and courses at the University of Agder.
Recommended previous knowledge
The three performance-based master's specialisations require a very high level on the principle instrument, and music science and theory pre-requisites equivalent to completion of Scientific Theory, Aesthetics and Analysis (MUR/MUK 107) from the bachelor programme in music performance at UiA. Documentation of such knowledge is a pre-requisite for admission.
Performance specialisations:
Performing music, World Music and Songwriting
The admission criteria must include a specialisation unit of at least 80 credits in performing music or equivalent.
Applicants must write a proposal for a project description for a master's thesis according to the guidelines laid down for the Faculty of Arts. Proposals for areas of specialisation for the master's thesis must be approved by the university 5 weeks before the entrance exam is held.
Ranking of applicants takes place on the basis of the entrance exam with the following parts:
- Audition. At the audition, a score from 10 to 20 is given for passing the test. Applicants who get less than 10 points have not passed. The audition counts for 50% of the total score.
- Interview. During the interview, a score is given from 10 to 20. The interview counts for 50% of the total score. The audition must be passed in order to be admitted to an interview.
Electronic music
The admission basis must include one of the following criteria:
- Specialisation unit of at least 80 credits in performing or electronic music, bachelor's degree in music technology or equivalent. At least 20 credits in the specialisation unit must be level 2.
- Other relevant bachelor's programs may, after special assessment, be approved as a basis for admission.
Applicants must write an application with a proposal for a project description for a master's thesis according to the guidelines laid down for the Faculty of Arts. Proposals for areas of specialisation for the master's thesis must be approved by the university 5 weeks before the entrance exam is held.
Ranking of applicants takes place on the basis of the entrance exam with the following parts:
- Audition. At the audition, a score from 10 to 20 is given for passing the test. Applicants who get less than 10 points have not passed. The audition counts for 50% of the total score.
- Interview. During the interview, a score is given from 10 to 20. The interview counts for 50% of the total score. The audition must be passed in order to be admitted to an interview.
Music business and management
The admission basis must include one of the following criteria:
- Specialisation unit of at least 80 credits in performing music, music pedagogy or musicology. At least 20 credits in the specialization unit must be level 2.
- Relevant specialisation unit of at least 80 credits within the culture/music/culture studies. At least 20 credits in the specialization unit must be level 2.
- Bachelor's degree in economics or equivalent
- Other relevant bachelor's programs may, after special assessment, be approved as a basis for admission.
A weighted average grade of C or better is required, calculated on the basis of the entire bachelor's degree.