Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Composition)
University of Sydney
CRICOS provider number: 00026A TEQSA provider ID: PRV12057
Courses included
This course has been cancelled
About
This specialised stream within the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Composition) focuses on musical composition with an emphasis on art music, compositional craft and the development of an individual creative voice. You will be encouraged to specialise and create ambitious work and be provided with opportunities to hear your work performed. You will have the opportunity to undertake academically challenging coursework and projects within the Conservatorium and with the professional arts industry.
Areas of study
Composition skills and techniques. Traditional and electroacoustic composition areas, including computer music, digital music and sound art. Core studies are taken in analysis, composer performance workshop, composition through improvisation, history and culture, and music skills (aural perception, harmony and analysis, music technology and sound recording). In addition to your primary music studies, you will complete a major from Table S, the disciplines offered from areas across the University, and the Open Learning Environment. In the fifth year, you will undertake advanced coursework and industry, community or entrepreneurship project.
Table S: Accounting; American Studies; Anatomy and Histology; Ancient Greek; Ancient History; Animal Health; Disease and Welfare; Animal Production; Anthropology; Applied Medical Science; Arabic Language and Cultures; Archaeology; Art History; Asian Studies; Banking; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Biology; Business Analytics; Business Information Systems; Business Law; Chinese Studies; Chemistry; Computer Science; Computer Systems; Criminology; Cultural Studies; Data Science; Design; Digital Cultures; Digital Music; Disability and Participation; Discrete Mathematics and Algorithms (from 2025); Diversity Studies (minor); Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Econometrics; Economic Policy; Economics; Education Studies; English; Environmental, Agriculture and Resource Economics; Environmental Studies; European Studies; Film Studies; Finance; Financial Economics; Financial Mathematics and Statistics; Food Science; French and Francophone Studies; Gender Studies; Genetics and Genomics Geography; Geology and Geophysics; Germanic Studies; Health; Hearing, Speech and Communication; Hebrew (Modern); High Performance in Sport; History; History and Philosophy of Science; Immunology and Pathology; Immunology (minor); Indigenous Studies; Indonesian Studies; Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management; Infectious Diseases; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; International and Comparative Literary Studies; International Business; International Relations; Italian Studies; Japanese Studies; Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture; Korean Studies; Latin; Linguistics; Management and Leadership Marketing; Marine Science; Mathematical Modelling and Computation (available from 2025); Mathematics; Medicinal Chemistry; Microbiology; Modern Greek; Music; Neuroscience; Nutrition Science; Pathology (minor); Pharmacology; Philosophy; Physical Activity and Health; Physics; Physiology; Plant Production; Plant Science; Political Economy; Politics; Project Management; Psychological Science; Sanskrit (minor); Socio- legal Studies; Sociology; Software Development; Soil Science and Hydrology; Statistics; Spanish and Latin American Studies; Studies in Religion (available as a minor or major in 2024, available as a minor in 2025); Sustainability; Theatre and Performance Studies; Urban Studies; Virology (minor); Visual Arts; Wildlife Conservation (minor).
Career opportunities
Performing soloist, chamber musician, orchestral/ensemble player, artist agent, arts administrator, audio engineer, chamber/orchestral musician, composer, concert manager, concert soloist, conductor, contemporary musician, digital music composer, ethnomusicologist, event producer, festival or venue manager, film score composer, interactive music designer, jazz musician, music journalist, music producer, musicologist, opera singer, orchestra manager, piano accompanist, private studio teacher, school music teacher.
Practical experience
Students participate in workshops and performances of their compositions.
Fees and charges
The Australian Government subsidises the tuition fee for this course. The remaining balance is paid by the student. Current University of Sydney fee information.
Admission criteria
Portfolio and audition application: Selection into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music programs is by portfolio submission, interview and ATAR. Applicants demonstrate their level of achievement as a composer by submitting three compositions in different performance media or genres and attend an interview. A non-refundable administration fee is charged for all applications.
Applicants with recent secondary education
Assumed knowledge: Music 2.
Other applicants
Refer to the University of Sydney general admission criteria.
Student profile
Visit the University of Sydney website.
Further information
View all details of this course on the University of Sydney website.
The academic content of all programs is subject to routine review.
ATAR profile
ATAR-based offers only (semester 1, 2023)
Use all ATAR profile data as a guide only; it provides a broad overview of the ATARs and selection ranks of previous Year 12 students admitted into that course. ATARs and selection ranks required for entry in 2024 may be different. If you are unsure about including a course among your preferences, contact the relevant institution.
- This ATAR profile table is in line with Commonwealth Government transparency requirements. It is based on offers to recent school leavers (ie completed Year 12 in the last 2 years) who were selected solely or partly on their ATAR. Note that some institutions further differentiate this information on their websites.
- The ATAR values exclude any adjustment factors.
- The selection ranks include the ATAR and any adjustment factors.
Abbreviations
– = data is not available.<5 = less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made.
N/A = no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
NC = new course
NP = Not provided by institution
NR = No reportable profile
NS = No Semester 1 offers
NN = Unavailable (other)
NO = Entry on other criteria
Student profile
Course updates
Courses are added and cancelled throughout the admissions year and course details are subject to change. Check the UAC course search regularly.
Global mobility/international experience
At the University of Sydney, every undergraduate student has access to global opportunities. These opportunities may include overseas field schools, global professional placements, and student exchanges (one-year, single semester and shorter-term durations) with more than 300 partner universities worldwide.
Open Learning Environment (OLE)
Open Learning Environment (OLE) units are short, on-demand and workshop- supported. They enable you to broaden your skills in areas such as entrepreneurial thinking, persuasive communication, project management and ethical reasoning. OLEs are available to all students at the University, while students commencing in liberal studies degrees (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce or combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies) and some specialist degrees (Bachelor of Economics) must complete 6 credit points of OLE units.
Faculty handbooks
View available first-year subjects in the University of Sydney handbooks.