Composition

2027 Start Year Intake

Applications open 3 August

Applications close 31 October

All applicants must meet the standard eligibility for the Bachelor of Music (Degree with Honours) in addition to the requirements below:

• For graduates of other institutions or the University of Melbourne students who do not have a result of at least H2A (75%) in the Bachelor of Music subject Composition 6, follow the steps outlined in the How to Apply section of the Bachelor of Music (Degree with Honours) to complete an application. You will be required to submit a composition folio.
• For the University of Melbourne Bachelor of Music students with a result of at least H2A (75%) in the Bachelor of Music subject Composition 6, submission of a composition folio is not required.

See standard eligibility requirements for degree

See how to apply for Bachelor of Music (Degree with Honours)

If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, you may like to contact our Faculty’s Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development before proceeding. They can assist you with your application and provide you with additional information about your study options.

All applicants must submit a direct University application and a supplementary application.

Supplementary Application

Submit your folio via the supplementary application

Folio Requirements

Composition applicants are required to submit the following materials:

• Three original works (only) for any medium (at least two in notated score format (PDF)), at least one of these composed within the last two years. No more than one piece should be for orchestra or large ensemble. The folio should comprise up to 20 minutes of music.
• Audio realisations/recordings to accompany notated scores. Live recordings are encouraged where possible. MIDI realisations are acceptable, rendered as audio (mp3).
• One-minute test piece: write a new, original composition for bassoon and vibraphone (with audio realisation (mp3) and score (PDF)); duration up to one minute.
• List of works composed to date, listing title, instrumentation, duration, and year of composition.
• A personal artistic statement in video format (see below).

Current or former students of the University of Melbourne Bachelor of Music will be asked to indicate their student status in the supplementary application form, which will determine whether a folio submission is required.

Personal Artistic Statement

Submitted in video format (approximately 90 seconds duration), the personal artistic statement should address the following questions:

• Who are your musical heroes?
• What artistic ideals do you hold most passionately?
• Describe your dream compositional project.

The University of Melbourne and the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all participants, regardless of their physical, sensory, cognitive, or psychological abilities. Please contact the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music in advance if you require any assistance submitting your application.

How will I be assessed?

Applicants will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• artistic conception
• musical creativity
• technique and craft
• sonic effectiveness
• potential for the development of a distinctive voice

Please note that all applicants will be ranked based on the above criteria, up to the capacity of places within the course.

Audition/interview requirements

Applicants are not required to attend an interview.

Go to supplementary application form

Go to degree application process