Popular Music

In our Master’s programme in Popular Music, you get the opportunity to work within one of our specializations.

Performance-based specializations:

• Popular Music Performance

• Electronic Music

• World Music

• Songwriting

Theoretical specializations:

• Music Business and Management

• Project Management for Music and Stage

  What do you learn?

  • You acquire a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between performance practice and relevant popular musicology.
  • You are provided with insight into central concepts and theoretical issues of popular musicology.
  • You develop an academic foundation in order to be able to contribute to reflection and innovation inside popular music.
  • You achieve comprehensive understanding of how to accomplish research projects in the field of popular music.
  • You get an overview of the different participants and organizations in the musicological environment, and and the dynamics operating between them.
  • You achieve knowledge of new technologies and the possibilities and challenges they offer.
  • You achieve comprehensive understanding of relevant musicological methods within artistic research, and the ability to use them independently.

  Job opportunities

  The master’s programme leads to the degree of Master in Popular Music. The performance specializations qualify for creative and performative work within the cultural sector, in addition to more specialized performance based work. After completion, you have also achieved qualifications to establish your own music business.

  The theoretical specializations offer relevant skills for working in music organizations, media, record companies, and copyright agencies.

  A completed Master’s degree in Popular Music qualifies for PhD-level work, e.g. at the Faculty of Fine Arts, UiA.

  Student exchange

  You can take part of the master’s program in Popoular Music abroad. It is facilitated for exchange in the 3rd semester.

  Course structure

  Se studierammeplaner for et annet år
  2004 Høst
  2005 Høst
  2006 Høst
  2007 Høst
  2008 Høst
  2009 Høst
  2010 Høst
  2011 Høst
  2012 Høst
  2013 Høst
  2014 Høst
  2015 Høst
  2016 Høst
  2017 Høst
  2018 Høst
  2019 Høst

  1. sem	ME-426-1Musicological theory and method15 sp						MUR402-1Idividual Performance and Interpretation l15 sp
  2. sem	MU-402-1Aesthetics Workshop15 sp						MUR403-1Individual Performance and Interpretation ll15 sp
  3. sem	MUR502-1Master’s Thesis (1/2)15 sp						MUR503-1Individual Performance and Interpretion lll15 sp
  4. sem	MUR502-1Master’s Thesis (2/2)15 sp						MUR504-1Individual Performance and Interpretation lV15 sp

  Admission requirements

  See supplementary regulations regarding admission.

  Music Management

  1. Academic basis
  The academic basis is one of the following alternatives:

  • A major subject of at least 80 credits in music performance, the pedagogy of music or musicology.
  • A relevant major subject of at least 80 credits in culture, music or art studies
  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration or equivalent.
  • Other relevant bachelor’s programmes may upon individual assessment be approved as basis for admission.

  2. Minimum grade requirements
  A weighted, average grade of C or better is required, see Regulations concerning admission to programmes and courses at the University of Agder, § 24. The grade requirement is calculated from the all the grades included in the bachelor’s degree.

  3. Ranking of applicants
  Weighted grade average is calculated from all the grades included in the bachelor’s degree. Ranking of applicants is done according to Regulations concerning admission to programmes and courses at the University of Agder, § 25.

  4. Conditional offer of admission
  Conditional offer of admission may be given to applicants who lack no more than 15 credits of the admission requirements apart from their major subject if the criteria stated in the Regulations concerning admission to programmes and courses at the University of Agder § 26 are met.

  Musicology of popular music

  1. Academic basis
  The academic basis is a major subject of at least 80 credits in music performance, pedagogy of music or musicology.

  2. Minimum grade requirements
  A weighted, average grade of C or better is required, see Regulations concerning admission to programmes and courses at the University of Agder, § 24. The grade requirement is calculated from the grades included in the academic basis described in subsection 1.

  3. Ranking of applicants
  Weighted grade average is calculated from the academic basis as described in subsection 1. Ranking of applicants is done according to Regulations concerning admission to programmes and courses at the University of Agder, § 25.

  4. Conditional offer of admission
  Conditional offer of admission may be given to applicants who lack no more than 15 credits of the admission requirements apart from their major subject if the criteria stated in the Regulations concerning admission to programmes and courses at the University of Agder § 26 are met.

  Music Performance and World Music

  1. Academic basis
  The academic basis is a major subject of at least 80 credits in music performance or equivalent.

  2. Application
  The application must include a proposal for project description for the master’s thesis based on guidelines adopted by the Faculty of Fine Arts. The proposal for specialization must be approved by the University 5 weeks prior to the entrance examination. Current areas of specialization will be issued when the study programme is announced.

  3. Ranking of applicants
  Applicants are ranked on the basis of a performance test with the following parts:

  a) Performance test. If passed, the performance test gives from 10 to 20 credits. Applicants with less than 10 credits have not passed the performance test. The performance test accounts for 80 % of the total number of credits.

  b) Interview, which gives from 10 to 20 credits. The performance test must be passed in order to sit for the interview. The interview accounts for 20 % of the total number of credits.

  Further information about the performance test is provided by the Faculty.

  4. Conditional offer of admission
  Conditional offer of admission may be given to applicants who lack no more than 15 credits of the admission requirements apart from their major subject if the criteria stated in the Regulations concerning admission to programmes and courses at the University of Agder § 26 are met.

  Electronic music

  1. Academic basis
  a) The academic basis is a major subject of at least 80 credits in music performance or electronic music or a bachelor’s degree in music technology or equivalent.

  b) Other relevant bachelor’s programmes may upon individual assessment be approved as basis for admission.

  2. Application
  The application must include a proposal for project description for the master’s thesis based on guidelines adopted by the Faculty of Fine Arts. The proposal for specialization must be approved by the University 5 weeks prior to the entrance examination.

  3. Ranking of applicants
  Applicants are ranked on the basis of a performance test with the following parts:

  a) Performance test. If passed, the performance test gives from 10 to 20 credits. Applicants with less than 10 credits have not passed the performance test. The performance test accounts for 80 % of the total number of credits.

  b) Interview, which gives from 10 to 20 credits. The performance test must be passed in order to sit for the interview. The interview accounts for 20 % of the total number of credits.

  Further information about the performance test is provided by the Faculty.

  4. Conditional offer of admission
  Conditional offer of admission may be given to applicants who lack no more than 15 credits of the admission requirements apart from their major subject if the criteria stated in the Regulations concerning admission to programmes and courses at the University of Agder § 26 are met.

  See information about auditions.

  Audition and expectations

  Your musical skills are tested through an audition. The content and organisation of the audition to music educations in Norway differ between the institutions. Read the information about the auditions and how to apply to the University of Agder when you apply for out study programmes. The auditions are organised depending on the degree, specialization and main instrument.

  Application period

  • Non EU/EEA international applicants: From 1 November till 1 December (both for performance and theoretical specializations).
  • EU/EEA applicants: From 1 November till 1 December (performance specializations) or 1 February till 1 March (theoretical specializations).
  • Nordic citizens and applicants with a permanent or renewable residence permit in Norway: From 1 November till 1 December (performance specializations) or 1 February till 1 March (theoretical specializations).