Explore this course:
Applications for 2024 entry are now open. Register your interest to hear about postgraduate study and events at the University of Sheffield.
Psychology of Music
Department of Music,
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Course description
Cover the key areas and debates in music psychology, become proficient in psychological research techniques and explore the implications of psychology of music in everyday life.
You'll receive a rich grounding in areas relevant to the understanding of music cognition, the neuroscience of music; music education; music therapy and wellbeing; music in everyday and exceptional situations; and psychological approaches to performance.
You'll specialise within an area of your choice and pursue original research leading to a dissertation. The course is taught by widely-published and leading experts in the field who will guide and support you in your work.
This MA offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop your insight into music and musical experience, which will help to shape your career, whether you go on to be a researcher, teacher or practitioner.
Our department is vibrant community of academics and students and, between us, we cover an extraordinary range of specialisms and interests. We currently have large projects on music, dementia and technology; innovation in audience experiences of classical music; and supporting socio-musical dynamics in group singing.
We have internationally recognised research centres such as SPARC (Sheffield Performer and Audience Research Centre) and Music, Mind and Machine which enable collaborative and interdisciplinary work and links with international collaborators and organisations.
These form a vibrant context for peer and mentor-led learning and act as focal points for students doing research in the department and for staff of different career stages working on projects.
Our staff are also involved in consultancy work, contributing to the arts and cultural sectors and ensuring our teaching and research is relevant to their needs.
Accreditation
We are an All-Steinway School.
Modules
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Open days
An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses. You'll find out what makes us special.
Duration
- 1 year full-time
- 2 years part-time
Teaching
You’ll learn through lectures, lab-sessions, and tutorials. These are combined with departmental study days and extracurricular performance opportunities, all of which makes for a stimulating and supportive study environment.
Department of Music students study at the heart of the campus in our Jessop Building, Soundhouse and performance facilities. We timetable teaching across the whole of our campus.
- Learn more about your supervisors
-
Changes to the teaching staff on the programme are possible, but are likely to include:
Assessment
The taught programme is continuously assessed through a variety of forms such as reports and essays. They are usually individual assessments, even if they concern the processes and outcomes of group work.
Your career
Many of our graduates have found success within music therapy and performance, while a large number have gone onto teach or work in creative arts organisations. Others have stayed to continue their studies at PhD level, or taken up offers to study further at leading music conservatoires.
By joining a leading Russell-Group University you'll experience an outstanding teaching and learning environment. The multidisciplinary approach will provide you with a well-rounded skill set to succeed in a wide range of rewarding career paths.
Department
Department of Music
Our department ethos combines high achievement with a sense of community and a shared passion for music. Our internationally recognised research informs our high-quality teaching and our student experience is collaborative, supportive and inspiring.
Sheffield is celebrated as one of the UK's leading music cities, with dozens of major venues from the City Hall and Crucible to Yellow Arch Studios and the Foundry, covering all music genres. This brings with it a host of opportunities for our students to get involved in professional music-making of the highest quality.
We work closely with the University's Concerts Series and oversee ensembles such as the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, the Chamber Choir and the Folk Group, so our MA students have the opportunity to perform and develop ensemble skills with their peers.
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in music, psychology or a combined degree with a substantial music component.
We may accept other undergraduate degrees in a related subject, depending on your experience.
Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
University funding and scholarships opportunities are available each year. Please check the department funding webpages for music specific scholarships. Department scholarships details are released in the January prior to the start of your course.
Apply
You can apply for 2024 postgraduate study using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
music-admissions@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 0495
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.