Master of Music Leadership

Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music

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 modules 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-modular credit (MC) coursework-based Master’s Degree programme comprising:

Core/essential modules (20 MCs), inclusive of a Capstone Project (6 MCs),
A Graduate Certificate in Music Perspectives and Practices (12 MCs), and
Elective modules (8 MCs).

Core/Essential Modules

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

View Modules

Compulsory Modules
Module Code	Module Title	MCs
MUA5160	Leadership in Musical Contexts	4
MUA5163	Research Practices in Music	4
MUA6178*	Graduate Capstone Project in Music Leadership	6
Additional Modules
Module Code	Module Title	MCs
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 module. 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 Modules

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

View Modules

Module Code	Module Title	MCs
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 Modules

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

View Modules

Module Code	Module Title	MCs
MUA3105	Conducting	2
MUA3116	Pedagogy for Orchestral Instrumentalists	4
MUA3209	Business for Musicians	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 module descriptions, please visit the MMusL web page at YST. For more information about the modules listed above (as well as other modules 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 MCs, comprising: 20 MCs of core/essential modules 12 MCs for a Graduate Certificate, and 8 MCs of elective modules
Module and/or Qualification	Read and pass Graduate Certificate in Music Perspectives and Practices and elective modules totalling 20 MCs (level 4000 and below modules capped at a total of 8 MCs)
Cumulative Average Point (CAP)	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. The University reserves all rights to review fees as necessary and adjust accordingly without prior notice.

Tuition	S$43,000.00 (excluding GST) / S$46,010.00 (including 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 will receive a 10% tuition fee rebate* • All NUS alumni will receive an additional 5% tuition fee rebate * Singaporeans and Singapore PRs may enjoy tuition fee subsidies (for up to 8 MCs) under SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG); the 10% tuition fee rebate mentioned above will apply only to those modules 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 (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