Bachelor of Music (1659)

  • Approved Abbreviation: BMus
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 1659
  • AQF Level: 7

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 - Dr Clare MacLean

Study Mode

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

Program Advice

Dr Waldo Garrido

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

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

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 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 sessionCredit 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 Points40
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 Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
PERF 2028 World Music 10
PERF 2004 Composition and Creativity 10
PERF 2033 Recording Studio Practices  
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points30
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 Points40
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 Points40
Spring session
PERF 3014 Music and Critical Thought 10
PERF 3022 Screen Media Composition 10
PERF 3029 Music Project 3: Intercultural Interactions 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points230

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

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

PERF 2031 The Music Industry, replaced by PERF 2033 Recording Studio Practices

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

Program Structure 2024

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 Title Credit Points
PERF 1023Western Art Music History10
PERF 1015Music Theory Fundamentals10
PERF 1014Music Production10
PERF 1016Popular Music Histories10
PERF 1024Music Theory and Songwriting10
PERF 2004Composition and Creativity10
PERF 3014Music and Critical Thought10
PERF 3009Music Research Methods10

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

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

Recommended Sequence 2024

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 sessionCredit 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 Points40
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 Points40
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 Points40
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 Points40
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 Points40
Spring session
PERF 3009 Music Research Methods 10
PERF 3029 Music Project 3: Intercultural Interactions 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 Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Equivalent Subjects

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

PERF 2031 The Music Industry, replaced by PERF 2033 Recording Studio Practices

PERF 2001 Arranging Music, replaced by PERF 3031 Arranging Music

PERF 2030 Musicology as a Professional Practice, replaced by PERF 3032 Music and Cultural Frameworks

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