Australian residents
International students
Intakes: 

2024: February, July

Duration: 
3 years
Location: 
Footscray Nicholson
Fees: 

2024: A$14,300*
* fee per semester

Application due dates:
We are currently accepting applications for this course.
Apply

Overview

Explore your love of music with a Bachelor of Music at VU, and prepare for a range of exciting careers.

This music degree focuses on popular and contemporary music, including international perspectives. You’ll develop your music knowledge, technical fluency, and creativity. Through practice, cultural analysis and critical listening, you’ll discover an inspiring variety of musical styles.

Areas of study in the Bachelor of Music course include:

  • music performance
  • music theory
  • song writing and arranging
  • popular music culture and history
  • music technology.

Considered one of the best live-music cities in the world, Melbourne offers a range of performance opportunities. Alongside your collaborative projects with other VU students, you'll have the chance to work with some of the city's industry professionals and community organisations.

You’ll also have access to cutting-edge music technology and our commercial recording facilities at Kindred Studios.

All students should be able to read music notation. If you’ve studied music performance, or worked as a musician, you may be eligible for advanced standing, and credits towards your degree.

For 2024 direct applicants we are streamlining the audition and interview process.

Please provide with your application a folio of evidence of previous musical training and experience, and links to video or audio of you performing live.

If we are satisfied with the folio, we may be able to bypass the need for an audition and interview and speed up your application process. If we need to book an audition and interview we will contact you.

Further information

Download the information sheet to find out more about folio requirements.

For further information about the course, please contact course coordinators:

Our music students study alongside music and media industry professionals in our unique industry-based location at Kindred Studios in Yarraville, just a 5 minute walk from Footscray Nicholson campus.

In 2016 Kindred Studios was listed as one of the top ten co-working spaces in the world by Lonely Planet.

Performance spaces, rehearsal rooms, recording studios and computer labs are fitted out with quality instruments, sound gear, and the latest computers and software.

Students studying this course can get performing opportunities through the VU Music Booking Agency.

You’ll learn from expert staff and professional musicians, all of whom work in the industry. VU music staff include:

  • Jonathan Zion – who has worked with Ian Moss, Pete Murray, Tim Minchin, Joe Camilleri, Steve Mangusson, Lior, and Eddie Perfect
  • Kiernan Box – who has worked with Augie March and the Black Eyed Susans.

Our Bachelor of Music has a reputation for being modern, progressive, friendly, and having engaged and responsive staff.

The course is accessible, supportive and has a positive culture. For mature-age professionals seeking a qualification, we offer flexibility to study alongside your work.

In addition to our partnership with Kindred Studios, you’ll also benefit from industry and community connections we have with:

  • Telstra Road to Discovery
  • OxJam – Gigs for Good by Oxfam
  • Footscray Community Arts Centre
  • Newport Jazz Festival
  • Williamstown Music Festival
  • Edgewater Festival
  • Big West Festival.

At VU you can spend part of your degree studying overseas all while gaining credits towards your course.

Immerse yourself in a new culture and learn from a new perspective, while building experiences that will help you to stand out in the competitive job market.

Melbourne boasts more live-music venues per capita than any other major city in the world – so when you study at VU you'll have more places to perform or get inspired.

Come to Melbourne to study music, and make the most of living in a live-music metropolis.

Quaran'tunes is a series of online concerts pre-recorded live from Hutterer Hall in Kindred Studios, featuring various solo artists and bands associated with the VU Music Booking Agency.

The Footscray University Town initiative was originally part of the Maddern Square Placemaking Residency series and is proudly co-sponsored by Victoria University and Maribyrnong City Council.

Watch the performances

Discover what's happening in the VU music community.

Attend a gig and listen to some of the tunes our talented staff and students are creating.

Practical Learning - Music - Transcript

Careers in music

The Bachelor of Music prepares you for a wide range of career options within the music industry. You could pursue a career as one of the following:

  • music performance artist
  • instrumental music or music theory teacher
  • composer, songwriter or arranger
  • musical director or band leader
  • music administrator
  • sound artist
  • music producer
  • accompanist.

Following this music course, you can prepare to become a secondary music teacher with our Masters of Teaching (Secondary), or other postgraduate study at VU. Some graduates of this course go on to study music therapy.

Salaries

Use Labour Market Insights to find the average salary for music professionals in Australia.

You could also continue with your study with our Master of Teaching to become a secondary-school music teacher.

Emily Pritchard playing guitar outdoors

Emily Pritchard’s passion for music, her perseverance and the opportunities presented by Victoria University (VU), took her all the way to Chongqing, China.

Read Emily's story

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Music students will be required to complete 288 credit points in total consisting of:
-
240 credit points Professional Core studies including 24 credit points of Capstone studies;
-
48 credit points of Minor studies from the list below.

Bachelor of Music students will also be required to complete a minimum level of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activity in addition to their studies:
- 30 hours or more in their choice of music/entertainment industry placement.

- Attendance and completion of four Music Industry and Employment workshops

Year 1

Year 2

Plus

24 credit points from Minor studies listed

Year 3

Plus

Plus

24 credit points from Minor studies listed

Minors

We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.

Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.

You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.

Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.

Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.

Find out more about the VU Block Model.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Devise, compose, transform and analyse musical works by employing theory, practice and research in the fields of music performance, music theory, music technology, music culture and music cognition;  
  2. Conceptualise and adapt their knowledge and skills to implement new and emerging technologies and practices in music;  
  3. Reflect on their knowledge and interpersonal skills to network with other professionals, and negotiate their own roles as professionals, in the music industry;  
  4. Contextualise music practice in relation to other creative arts disciplines, and adapt to the diversity of fields required for music practitioners;  
  5. Integrate technical skills and craft in music with the creative, cultural, technological and entrepreneurial acumen required for successful participation and employment in the music industry; and  
  6. Exhibit academic skills in independent research, critical analysis, reading, note-taking and collection and organisation of resource materials, including the presentation of oral and written material, and online and digital media resources.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Admissions

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Entry requirements

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent).
OR:
Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent).
PLUS:
IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score or 6.0 (with no band less than 6.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).
OR:
Completion of a Foundation course or equivalent.

An interview and/or audition is required as part of the application process.

Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.

Pathways & credits

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

Foundations at VU JYAC

You will be guaranteed entry only.

International Foundations at VU JQAG

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

How to apply

We are currently accepting international applications, and we welcome you to apply for this course.

Click 'apply' to begin, and we will guide you through the application process.

Apply

If you have questions, please get in touch:

Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students. Fees are accurate at the time of viewing and will be subject to annual increases. Some courses require students to purchase equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above – check your Letter of Offer for an estimate on non-tuition-fee-related expenses.

VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.