CRICOS Code: 065052F

This program  applies to students whose commencement in 2022 or later.

For Commencement Year 2017 to 2021 - Please refer to 1659.4 - Bachelor of Music

For Commencement Year 2015 and 2016 - Please refer to 1659.3 - Bachelor of Music

For Commencement Year 2011 and 2014 - Please refer to 1659.2 - Bachelor of Music

For Commencement Year 2009 and 2010 - Please refer to 1659.1 - Bachelor of Music

The Bachelor of Music develops innovative, articulate musicians who contribute to the community through a diverse range of careers. It offers high-level training in music performance, song writing, composition, sound technologies, music theory, arranging, analysis and musicology, with opportunities to apply this training in collaborative projects on campus and in the community. Lectures, workshops, tutorials, rehearsals and performances are carried out in well-equipped facilities, recording studios and auditorium. Skills in music performance, composition and sound technologies are augmented by intellectual, theoretical and contextual studies. A professionally active staff of music academics supports students to develop their individual creative goals.

• Director of Academic Program - Associate Professor Andrew Milne

Study Mode

Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Program Advice

enquiriesHCA@westernsydney.edu.au

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Location

Campus	Attendance	Mode	Advice
Penrith Campus	Full Time	Internal	See above
Penrith Campus	Part Time	Internal	See above

Admission

Applicants will be selected by one of three methods

   1. Attain an HSC Music result in band 4 or above. No audition is required.

   2. Hold the following AMEB or equivalent (e.g. Trinity College) qualification:
      a. PASS standard (minimum) of 6th Grade Performance (instrument or voice) And
      b. PASS standard (minimum) of 4th Grade musicianship and/or theory.
      No audition is required.

   3. Attend an audition in person as a performer and/or composer. Applicants applying as a composer will need to bring recordings and/or scores of original compositions to the audition. After applying to UAC or Directly to Western applicants are required to book an audition online.

Online audition booking system

If not auditioning, applicants will need to upload their supporting documentation (e.g. AMEB certificates demonstrating level of achievement in performance and musicianship and/or music theory).

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Alternate Entry Pathway

The exceptional merit pathway (EMP) will offer those students who demonstrate an aptitude and ability in the creative industries area that is assessed as meeting the Program Learning Outcomes, to receive either a direct or conditional offer. Students will be required to complete an audition or submit a recording of original compositions, take part in at least one workshop and/or submit a written assessment, in addition to participating in an interview, during one of a series of on-campus Young Creatives events. Successful completion of the EMP requirements will result in either a direct or conditional entry offer for the following year. Though the direct offer is a non-ATAR pathway, eligibility to accept the direct offer will remain contingent on the successful completion of the HSC or TAFE Diploma.

Program Structure Current

This structure applies to students who commenced in 2024 or later. If you commenced prior to 2024 please refer to the relevant Sequence tab for details.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points comprising 80 credit points of core subjects, 80 credit points for the Music Studies major, and 80 credit points of elective subjects which may include Music or other minors.

Core Subjects

Students must successfully complete the following core subjects:

Subject List

Subject	Title	Credit Points
PERF 1023	Western Art Music History	10
PERF 1015	Music Theory Fundamentals	10
PERF 1014	Music Production	10
PERF 1016	Popular Music Histories	10
PERF 1024	Music Theory and Songwriting	10
PERF 2004	Composition and Creativity	10
PERF 3014	Music and Critical Thought	10
PERF 3009	Music Research Methods	10

Music Studies major

NOTE: Please enrol in this major via your MySR account.  If you need help, please refer to the details under 'Field of Study and Subjects' at the How to: Register page.

Students must successfully complete the following major:

Elective subjects

Students may select their electives from any program offered by the university, provided any requisite requirements are met.

Electives

Students may use their elective subjects to complete a major (80 credit points) or one or more minors (40 credit points each) from the same or another discipline area, or up to 80 credit points from the wide range of subjects offered by Western Sydney University. 

Suggested minors

Students can apply for a major or minor via MySR.

Enrolment in elective subjects is dependent on meeting any required criteria for individual subjects, such as co-requisites and pre-requisites. 

Minor elective spaces

Elective subjects may be used toward obtaining an additional approved minor (40 credit points).  Western Sydney University offers minors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Global Sustainability Minor 
Indigenous Australian Studies Minor

Western Sydney University also offers the following innovative transdisciplinary Challenge Minors which we encourage those students who have elective space to consider.

Equitable Technologies
Urban Evolution
Migration and Global Change  
Personal Innovation    
Innovating, Creating and Problem Solving 
Eco-Socially Conscious Design and Manufacturing
Water for Life 
Climate Justice
Creative and Visual Communication
Global Workplaces
Innovating For Humans 
Creative Living for Cultural Wellbeing  
Ideate.Strategise.Innovate.
Humanising Data

For more information, visit the Challenge Minor website.  

Search for majors and minors

Students can apply for an elective minor via Western Now.

WesternNow

Recommended Sequence Current

This sequence applies to students who commenced in 2024 or later. If you commenced prior to 2024 please refer to the relevant Sequence tab for details.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.  

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
PERF 1023	Western Art Music History	10
PERF 1015	Music Theory Fundamentals	10
PERF 1010	Music Performance 1	10
PERF 1014	Music Production	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
PERF 1016	Popular Music Histories	10
PERF 1024	Music Theory and Songwriting	10
PERF 1012	Music Performance 2	10
PERF 1025	Sound Design	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Autumn session
PERF 2028	World Music	10
PERF 2004	Composition and Creativity	10
Select one subject from a music or other minor or one elective		10
Select one subject from a music or other minor or one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
PERF 3032	Music and Cultural Frameworks	10
PERF 3031	Arranging Music	10
Select one subject from a music or other minor or one elective		10
Select one subject from a music or other minor or one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Autumn session
PERF 3014	Music and Critical Thought	10
PERF 3013	Music and Analysis	10
Select one subject from a music or other minor or one elective		10
Select one subject from a music or other minor or one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
PERF 3009	Music Research Methods	10
PERF 3029	Intercultural Music Project	10
Select one subject from a music or other minor or one elective		10
Select one subject from a music or other minor or one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	240

Equivalent Subjects

Replaced Subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2023 or earlier. 

PERF 3022 Screen Media Composition

PERF 2029 Music Multimedia Project

PERF 3028 Expanded Performance

Program Structure 2022 - 2023

If you commenced in Autumn 2024 or later please refer to the 2024 Structure and Sequence tabs for details.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
PERF 1023	Western Art Music History	10
PERF 1015	Music Theory Fundamentals	10
PERF 1010	Music Performance 1	10
PERF 1014	Music Production	10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
PERF 1016	Popular Music Histories	10
PERF 1024	Music Theory and Songwriting	10
PERF 1012	Music Performance 2	10
PERF 1025	Sound Design	10
	Credit Points	40
Year 2
Autumn session
PERF 2028	World Music	10
PERF 2004	Composition and Creativity	10
PERF 2033	Recording Studio Practices	10
Select one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
PERF 2030	Musicology as a Professional Practice	10
PERF 2001	Arranging Music	10
PERF 2029	Music Multimedia Project	10
Select one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
Year 3
Autumn session
PERF 3009	Music Research Methods	10
PERF 3013	Music and Analysis	10
PERF 3028	Expanded Performance	10
Select one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
Spring session
PERF 3014	Music and Critical Thought	10
PERF 3022	Screen Media Composition	10
PERF 3029	Intercultural Music Project	10
Select one elective		10
	Credit Points	40
	Total Credit Points	240

Elective subjects

Students may select their electives from any program offered by the university, provided any requisite requirements are met.

Elective Minors

The minors listed below are only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music (Dean’s Scholars) and Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Creative Industries.

The following minors may be completed using elective subjects.

Note: The minors listed below are only available to non-Bachelor of Music students but restrictions apply.

Minor elective spaces

Elective subjects may be used toward obtaining an additional approved minor (40 credit points).  Western Sydney University offers minors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Global Sustainability Minor 
Indigenous Australian Studies Minor

Western Sydney University also offers the following innovative transdisciplinary Challenge Minors which we encourage those students who have elective space to consider.

Equitable Technologies
Urban Evolution
Migration and Global Change  
Personal Innovation    
Innovating, Creating and Problem Solving 
Eco-Socially Conscious Design and Manufacturing
Water for Life 
Climate Justice
Creative and Visual Communication
Global Workplaces
Innovating For Humans 
Creative Living for Cultural Wellbeing  
Ideate.Strategise.Innovate.
Humanising Data

For more information, visit the Challenge Minor website.  

Search for majors and minors

Students can apply for an elective minor via Western Now.

WesternNow

Replaced Minor

The minor listed below counts towards completion of this program for students who began studying this minor prior to 2022.

SM1126 Music Production, Minor

Equivalent Subjects

PERF 3009 Music Careers Research, replaced by PERF 3009 Music Research Methods