Program Overview

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History and Music, MA

Introduction

History at Aberdeen offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in rich study of all aspects of human adventure in the past, exploring the medieval, early modern and modern periods in Scotland, Europe, America, Asia and Africa. You will study at a university steeped in 500 years of history. You can study this course with Music to give you a unique range of learning and opportunities and careers.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MA
• Duration: 48 months
• Study Mode: Full Time
• Start Month: September
• Location of Study: Aberdeen
• UCAS Code: VW13

You will learn in buildings centuries old, yet with the most modern teaching and technology, enthused and inspired by teachers who are leaders in their fields, with expertise as diverse as medieval Scandinavia, early-modern Poland and modern East Asia. You will have the opportunity of courses in historical chronological order, ranging from the ancient world to the present day and gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between cultures and national traditions. You will benefit from access to our historic treasures including manuscripts, books, and museum exhibits collected by distinguished alumni, thinkers and explorers over 500 years, in collections accredited as nationally significant, and of international importance.

Music at Aberdeen is the wonderful opportunity to learn, compose and perform with world-renowned composers, conductors, musicologists and researchers working in all genres, styles and periods. You will benefit from first-class facilities and instruments and unrivalled opportunities to grow as a musician and performer, be part of the vibrant musical scene in north-east Scotland and have options to specialise in teaching music or working with music in community settings.

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme.

What You'll Study

Year 1

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Academic Writing for Language & Literature (AW1008)
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)
  • Making History (HI1027)
  • Introduction to Music Studies (MU1026)
• Optional Courses:
  • Select TWO of the following courses listed below plus, 30 credit points of level 1 History courses. Also, select additional credit points to make up a total of 120 credit points.
    • Performing and Composing 1 (MU1027)
    • Digital Musicianship: Music Making in the Digital Age (MU1058)
    • Writing About Music (MU1528)
    • Introduction to Music Theory and Harmony (MU1557)
    • Performing and Composing 2 (MU1527)

Year 2

• Optional Courses:
  • Select 45 credit points from level 2 Music courses, including AT LEAST ONE of the following courses:
    • MU20XX Introduction to Ethnomusicology (15 credit points)
    • MU20XX Analysing Music (15 credit points)
    • MU25XX Global Music History (15 credit points)
  • The following course is an approved option that may be taken as credit towards the Music component:
    • EF2501 Scottish Folklore and Oral Tradition
  • Plus, select 60 credit points from level 2 History courses and additional credits to make up a total of 120 credit points.

Year 3

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Thinking History (HI356J)
• Optional Courses:
  • Select 60 credits from Level 3 Music courses, which may include the following approved options:
    • ME33PE Music, Health and Wellbeing
    • FS3017 Film and Music
    • FS3018 Spanish Identity through Music, Film and Visual Culture
  • Plus 30 credits from Level 3 History courses, or ONE of the following approved courses:
    • AH3003 Materialising Faith
    • DR302D Reformation, Reason and Revolt
    • ME33HM History of Medicine
    • AH3505 The Twelfth-Century Renaissance
    • HA3515 Art and Society in 18th-century England

Year 4

• Optional Courses:
  • One of the Special Subject courses listed below.
    • HI4003 Special Sub: Enlightenment Compared: Ireland, Scotland, Central Europe
    • HI4025 Special Subject: History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
    • HI401F: Special Sub: the Child as Subject in the British World
    • HI401G Special Sub: Court Society in Late Medieval Europe (C. 1300 – C. 1500)
    • HI4023 Special Sub: European Constitutional Monarchies in the Long 19th Century
    • HI4012 Special Sub.: Britain and Revolutionary Russia
    • HI4026 Special Subject: Myths of the North
  • Select ONE of the following dissertation options:
    • Dissertation in History (HI4516)
    • Dissertation in Music (MU4049) AND History in Practice II (HI4518)
  • Also, select ONE Special Subject (HI40XX), plus select further credits in History and Music to gain a total of 60 credit points in each discipline.
  • The following courses are approved options that may be taken as credit towards the Music component:
    • FS4017 Film and Music
    • FS4018 Spanish Identity through Music, Film and Visual Culture
    • EL45HC Literature and Music

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

• Individual Projects
• Lectures
• Research
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:

• Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course;
• Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and
• Written examinations at the end of each course.

The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.

Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Why Study History and Music?

• Academic staff who are internationally recognised experts in composition, performance, musicology, music in schools, community music and many rising student stars.
• Particular strengths in Irish and Scottish studies, Scandinavian studies, late medieval and early modern period and research centres studying the history of global empires, history and philosophy of science, technology and medicine, Russian and Eastern European history.
• The flexibility to study music alongside a wide range of other subjects at Honours level.
• Spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, combining top-class study facilities with state-of-the-art technology and an online catalogue giving you access to thousands of books and millions of journal articles on the web.
• Specialist facilities including three state-of-the-art Electroacoustic Composition studios as well as Music Technology workstations.
• Major international treasures including 7,000 early printed books, the magnificent 12th century Aberdeen Bestiary, a large Jacobite collections, works of the Scottish Enlightenment, and fascinating local records dating from the middle ages.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

• SQA Highers:
  • Standard: AABB
  • Minimum: BBB
  • Adjusted: BB
• A LEVELS:
  • Standard: BBB
  • Minimum: BBC
  • Adjusted: CCC
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.
• Entry from College: Advanced entry to this degree may be possible from some HNC/HND qualifications, please see www.abdn.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/college-articulation for more details.
• Please Note: Candidates for a joint MA degree with Music are required to demonstrate a strong interest in the study of music in one or more of a range of disciplines including performance, composition, music technology, musicology, and community engagement. Graded qualifications on instrument or voice are welcome but are not essential. Performance studies will require audition on arrival.

English Language Requirements

To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

• IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
• TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
• PTE Academic: OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
• Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Fees and Funding

You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.

• EU / International students: £20,800
• Home Students: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,535

Careers

There are many opportunities at the University of Aberdeen to develop your knowledge, gain experience and build a competitive set of skills to enhance your employability. This is essential for your future career success. The Careers and Employability Service can help you to plan your career and support your choices throughout your time with us, from first to final year – and beyond.

Our Experts

You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

Related Undergraduate Degrees

• MA Anthropology and History
• MA Archaeology and History
• MA Computing and Music

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