OVERVIEW

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Music Leadership (MMusL), is offered by the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST).

The MMusL is a graduate degree programme designed to support musicians who want to advance their skills and be leaders of change within the rapidly evolving musical landscape in Singapore and around the world.

The programme adopts a multidimensional approach to increase students’ understanding of the musical ecosystem, diversify their skillsets, and promote critical thinking. Flexibility is also integrated into the curriculum, in order to help each student to develop along their unique artistic trajectory.

The MMusL curriculum places an emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, aimed at equipping graduates to keep pace with the changes wrought by rapid technological development, digitalisation of the music profession, and societal need for cross-domain competencies and collaboration. Graduates will emerge with an increased versatility that will allow them to adapt more quickly and effectively in their current and future career paths.

Why This Programme?

  • Cultivate leadership and music entrepreneurial skills within a learning environment that keeps abreast of and contributes to the evolution of the musical landscape.

  • Attain excellence in individual practice to enhance artistic vision and credibility with the support of a well-established yet constantly innovating institution.

  • Be empowered as a future leader of the music industry, with critical thinking skills within and across disciplines, diversified knowledge and skillsets, and access to various world-class faculties within NUS.

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

Application Period
An Academic Year (AY) at NUS consists of two semesters and a special term (which occurs during the Semester 2 Vacation, and is divided into two parts of six weeks duration each):

  • Semester 1: Aug–Dec
  • Semester 2: Jan–May
  • Special Term (Part 1): May–Jun
  • Special Term (Part 2): Jun–Jul

For the MMusL programme, there are two application periods for each AY. As the MMusL programme is newly launched, more details will be provided at a later date.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the NUS MMusL programme is granted on a competitive basis as places in the programme are limited. Applicants should possess the following minimum requirements:

Academic

Bachelor of Music or equivalent degree from an approved institution of higher education in music

Note: Alternatively, candidates may be evaluated based on significant contributions and demonstrable professional accomplishments in music-related fields (see Skill/Experience requirement below), and on a case-by-case basis.

Skill/Experience

For holders of Bachelor’s Degrees other than the above, professional experience in music-related industries

English Language
Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not completely in English:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score of 100 (Internet-based) and a minimum score of 22 for the writing section, or
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum Academic score 7.0, or
  • A good pass in the Diagnostic English Test

Note: TOEFL / IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date and should not have expired at point of application. Expired scores will not be considered for the application.

Other Not applicable             

Note: Applications must be completed on the NUS Graduate Admission System (GDA2). Each application must be accompanied by:

  • a curriculum vitae,
  • a personal statement,
  • two referee reports from referees who are in the most suitable position to comment on the applicant’s music ability and aptitude (to be submitted online by the referees); recommendations by a peer, family member or friend will not be accepted, and
  • official English translations of all non-English documents.

All shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview(s) and/or audition(s) where requested, in order to carefully assess if this professional studies programme is appropriate for the goals and aspirations of each applicant. Please see application information here.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application information and all supporting documents are truthful and correct. NUS reserves the right to verify information provided as part of an application. False or misleading information in an application (including but not limited to test scores, resumes, certificates, transcripts, etc.) is grounds for admission rejection, revocation and/or dismissal from the University.

MODE OF STUDY AND PROGRAMME CANDIDATURE

The NUS MMusL programme is offered on the following basis (with estimated time to complete the programme indicated below):

 Full-time  12*–24 months 
 Part-time  30–48 months
* The fastest mode of two semesters, or a single year of full-time is applicable for students who have already passed required courses via NUS L3 or CET500 prior to admission to the MMusL programme.

Note: International applicants must be accepted into an approved full-time course in Singapore to apply for a Student’s Pass. For more information, refer to the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The NUS MMusL is a 40-Unit coursework-based Master’s Degree programme comprising: 

  • Core/essential courses (20 Units), inclusive of a Capstone Project (6 Units), 
  • A Graduate Certificate in Music Perspectives and Practices (12 Units), and
  • Elective courses (8 Units).
Core/Essential Courses

The core curriculum (20 Units) comprises three compulsory courses (totalling 14 Units), and two to three additional courses that may be selected based on the individual student’s interests (totalling 6 Units). Workload and assignments will vary based on the nature of the course.

View Courses

Compulsory Courses
Course Code Course Title Units
MUA5160 Leadership in Musical Contexts 4
MUA5163
Research Practices in Music
4
MUA6178*
Graduate Capstone Project in Music Leadership
6
Additional Courses
Course Code Course Title Units
MUA5105 Leadership in Orchestral Conducting
4
MUA5121
Professional Practices in Music
2
MUA5122
Graduate Practicum in Pedagogy
2
MUA5123
Collaborative Portfolio
4
MUA5124
Musical Explorations
2

* The Capstone Project is an individualised, self-directed application of research thinking and skills, building upon the work done in the preceding Research Practices in Music course. Students will conceive and independently develop a project that investigates their chosen topic, demonstrating skills such as experimentation, literature review, and quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. Each student will be supported by at least one supervising mentor from YST faculty.

Graduate Certificate Courses

Students must complete three courses from the list below (12 Units) for the Graduate Certificate in Music Perspectives and Practices.

View Courses

Course Code Course Title Units
MUA5264 Musical Engagement in the Community 4
MUH5201
Histories and Cultures of Amateur Music-Making 4
MUH5202
Music in Interconnection 4
MUT5201 Practical Approaches to Musical Analysis 4
Elective Courses

Students must complete 8 Units of free electives, which may be fulfilled by two to four courses from the following list of YST SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)-eligible courses.

View Courses

Course Code Course Title Units
MUA2203 Keyboard Literature: Genres throughout History 4
MUA2204
Keyboard Literature: Sonatas in Context  4
MUA3105 Conducting 2
MUA3116
Pedagogy for Orchestral Instrumentalists 4
MUA3209
Business for Musicians
4
MUA3228 Re-Imagining Pianism through Analysis 4
MUA3271 Acoustics and Sound Production for Performers 4
MUA4113
Piano Pedagogy 4
MUA4215 Vocal Pedagogy 4
MUT3224
Teaching Music Online 2
MUT3225 Teaching Music Online 2 2
GEH1047 Social and Cultural Studies Through Music 4
GES1020 Western Music within a Singaporean Context 4
GET1019
Patrons of the Arts 4
GET1039 What, When and Where is Art 4
GET1040
Communicating about the Arts 4
GET1047 Art and Identity 4

Note: For course descriptions, please visit the MMusL web page at YST. For more information about the courses listed above (as well as other courses offered in the current academic year), please visit NUSMODS

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To graduate from the NUS MMusL programme, students must meet the following requirements:

Programme and/or Specialisation

Read and pass a total of 40 Units, comprising:

  • 20 Units of core/essential courses
  • 12 Units for a Graduate Certificate, and
  • 8 Units of elective courses
Course and/or Qualification

Read and pass Graduate Certificate in Music Perspectives and Practices and elective courses totalling 20 Units (level 4000 and below courses capped at a total of 8 Units)

Grade Point Average (GPA) 

Minimum 3.5 (out of maximum 5.0)

Please see also the University’s minimum standards for Continuation and Graduation Requirements specific programmes may implement stricter or additional requirements.

Other 

Not applicable


FEES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Kindly note that all fees for the NUS MMusL programme quoted on this page are exclusive of prevailing GST, unless otherwise stated (GST rate will be increased from 8% to 9% with effect from 1 Jan 2024). The University reserves all rights to review fees as necessary and adjust accordingly without prior notice.

Tuition

S$43,000.00 (excluding GST) /
S$46,870.00 (including 9% GST)

Financial Assistance

Starting AY2023/2024, tuition fee rebates will be provided for this programme as an NUS Master's Degree by Coursework programme not subsidised by the government:
• All Singaporeans and Singapore PRs (non-NUS alumni) will receive a 10% tuition fee rebate*
• All NUS alumni will receive a 15% tuition fee rebate*

* Singaporeans and Singapore PRs may enjoy tuition fee subsidies (for up to 8 Units) under SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG); the tuition fee rebates mentioned above will apply only to those courses that are not SSG-funded.

For more about loans and other financial assistance, please refer to the NUS Office of Admissions.

Application

Not applicable

Acceptance

S$5,000.00 (excluding GST)

• Payable upon acceptance of offer
• Non-refundable and non-transferable
• Will be credited towards tuition fees

Miscellaneous Student Fees

As published by NUS Registrar’s Office

• Payable every regular semester


Programme at a Glance*

Upcoming Event(s):

Watch this space for updates!
Next Intake:

Application Period:
To be announced

Updating soon!

* For full details, please refer to main write-up.

For enquiries, contact us.

Video
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MMusL VOD

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For Frequently Asked Questions relevant to YST and its programmes, please click here.

For enquiries, contact us.

We will guide you through the next steps of your transformative journey.

 
24 May 2023