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MA Music part 2

In part 2 of the MA in Music, you’ll design and conduct original research on a musical subject of your choosing. With dedicated support, you’ll develop a project in one of five specialised areas: historical musicology, hermeneutical studies, ethnographic research, practice-led research, or popular music studies. As you develop your research, you’ll explore diverse musical traditions spanning from sixteenth-century dance music to modern Western popular music, engaging with readings and resources relevant to both these traditions and your chosen musicological approach. At the end of the module, you’ll submit a dissertation to showcase your research.

Vocational relevance

If you’re a musician seeking to develop skills in conducting independent research on subjects that interest you, this module will be valuable to your professional development. You’ll also develop transferable skills relevant to a number of careers, including music teaching and positions within arts organisations.

Qualifications

A891 is a compulsory module in our:

Module

Module code
A891
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
90
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
Distance learning
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

The module is made up of four blocks of study.

Block 1 introduces you to the five approaches available for your MA project: historical musicology, hermeneutical studies, ethnographic work, practice-led research, and popular music studies. You’ll gain essential guidance on identifying relevant sources, applying appropriate methods, and conducting research ethically.

This initial block also exposes you to diverse musical traditions spanning several centuries and regions: from 16th-century German dance music to 20th-century Austrian opera and American film scores, from North Indian classical music to 19th-century European compositions and contemporary Western popular music. Through carefully selected readings and resources, you’ll deepen your understanding of these traditions and various musicological approaches.

Above all, the primary focus for Block 1 is developing your own research project on a subject that interests you, culminating in a formal proposal outlining your plan.

Blocks 2, 3 and 4 guide you through the process of researching your subject and writing your dissertation. You’ll receive structured support on organising your research, developing your arguments, and refining your work. Throughout these blocks, you’ll participate in seminars featuring current musical research and workshops where you can discuss your work with peers. At the end of Blocks 2 and 3, you’ll submit draft extracts of your dissertation for tutor feedback, preparing you for the final submission of your completed dissertation at the conclusion of Block 4.

You will learn

By studying this module, you will:

  • independently plan and implement a research project
  • evaluate the authority of sources, methods, and theories, as well as their relevance to your project
  • present a sustained and carefully structured argument in the form of an MA dissertation
  • engage with resources for research, including online databases and collections
  • develop your abilities as a researcher and writer.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module. Your tutor will:

  • mark your assignments and offer detailed feedback to help you improve
  • provide individual guidance as you develop your research project and write your dissertation
  • suggest potentially helpful resources
  • facilitate online discussions with your fellow students in dedicated forums and rooms.

We also offer online tutorials, seminars, and workshops throughout the module, and we encourage you to participate in these. Where appropriate, we’ll make recordings available.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box.

Course work includes

3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment

Future availability

MA Music part 2 starts once a year – in September. This page describes the module that will start in September 2025. We expect it to start for the last time in September 2036.

Regulations

As a student of 快猫视频, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our website.

Entry requirements

To register for this module, you are required to have successfully completed MA Music part 1 (A890).

Register

Start End England fee Register
06 Sep 2025 Jun 2026 拢3950.00

Registration closes 14/08/25 (places subject to availability)
This module is expected to start for the last time in September 2036.

Future availability

MA Music part 2 starts once a year – in September. This page describes the module that will start in September 2025. We expect it to start for the last time in September 2036.

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

Study materials

What&/postgraduate/modules/a891/39;s included

You will have access to a module website that includes:

  • the teaching text
  • audio and video recordings
  • links to external readings and resources
  • access to online forums and meeting rooms
  • an interactive study planner
  • guidance on writing assignments, including the dissertation
  • access to the OU library and its research resources, including Grove Music Online, Naxos, and JSTOR.

You will need

Good-quality headphones or loudspeakers to help you gain the most from the various listening activities.

Computing requirements

  • Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer. It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device.
  • Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
  • Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
  • Operating systems – Windows 11 or latest supported macOS. Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 as of 14 October 2025.
  • Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
  • Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended. Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.

If you have a disability

This module has no printed materials and is delivered online as a series of web pages via the module website.

You will be asked to listen to music and study a variety of visual documents. Where such activities are not accessible, we are happy to propose alternatives. However, some activities may not be available in other formats: for example, those involving studying music manuscripts, listening to musical examples, or watching video recordings of musical performances. Some materials may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader, particularly where musical notation or original historical documents are involved. The module may, therefore, be challenging if you have a severe visual or hearing impairment.

Please note that the module demands a high level of independent study, including locating sources relevant to your dissertation project. The module also requires extensive use of research databases.

If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer or the internet and have concerns about accessing module materials, we advise you to contact us about the support we can provide to meet your needs.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our .

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