12 monthsProgramme duration
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
Psychology
Degree
MA
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
On Campus
Explore fundamental questions about music and its central place in our lives on the longest established music psychology programme in the UK. Our interdisciplinary approach offers a unique perspective on music and rigorous research training with professional applications.
Dive into the key debates in music psychology, master advanced research techniques, and explore how music shapes everyday human experience. You’ll build a solid grounding in core areas including the cognition and neuroscience of music, music education, music therapy and wellbeing, performance science, and the role of music in both daily and exceptional life. Our widely published staff will guide and support you as you develop your specific interests and professional priorities, culminating in an original research dissertation. For your final project, you can pursue a topic of your choice or tackle a real-world problem directly alongside an external industry partner or practitioner.
Throughout your studies, you’ll engage with a remarkable range of cutting-edge specialisms. These span everything from music and dementia, technology, and AI to innovations in classical audience experiences and the socio-musical dynamics of group singing for human flourishing. Embedded within the regional music network, the course connects you directly with partners across music education, health, wellbeing, and industry. Along the way, you’ll acquire a versatile set of employable skills including:
data management and analysis
laboratory, interview, and observational techniques
evaluation methods for the impacts of creative arts interventions
Joining our school means becoming part of a vibrant academic community made up of students from music, psychology, and other related backgrounds. You’ll have regular opportunities to participate in events hosted by our internationally recognised research centres: Muses, Mind, Machine, the Sheffield Performer and Audience Research Centre (SPARC), and the Harmonic Health Hub. By fostering interdisciplinary research, industry collaborations, and consultancy projects, these centres offer invaluable real-world insights that will help shape your future career.
Accreditation
We are an All-Steinway School.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Psychology
Degree
MA
Study Level
Master's
Study Mode
On Campus
Explore fundamental questions about music and its central place in our lives on the longest established music psychology programme in the UK. Our interdisciplinary approach offers a unique perspective on music and rigorous research training with professional applications.
Dive into the key debates in music psychology, master advanced research techniques, and explore how music shapes everyday human experience. You’ll build a solid grounding in core areas including the cognition and neuroscience of music, music education, music therapy and wellbeing, performance science, and the role of music in both daily and exceptional life. Our widely published staff will guide and support you as you develop your specific interests and professional priorities, culminating in an original research dissertation. For your final project, you can pursue a topic of your choice or tackle a real-world problem directly alongside an external industry partner or practitioner.
Throughout your studies, you’ll engage with a remarkable range of cutting-edge specialisms. These span everything from music and dementia, technology, and AI to innovations in classical audience experiences and the socio-musical dynamics of group singing for human flourishing. Embedded within the regional music network, the course connects you directly with partners across music education, health, wellbeing, and industry. Along the way, you’ll acquire a versatile set of employable skills including:
data management and analysis
laboratory, interview, and observational techniques
evaluation methods for the impacts of creative arts interventions
Joining our school means becoming part of a vibrant academic community made up of students from music, psychology, and other related backgrounds. You’ll have regular opportunities to participate in events hosted by our internationally recognised research centres: Muses, Mind, Machine, the Sheffield Performer and Audience Research Centre (SPARC), and the Harmonic Health Hub. By fostering interdisciplinary research, industry collaborations, and consultancy projects, these centres offer invaluable real-world insights that will help shape your future career.
Accreditation
We are an All-Steinway School.
Admission Requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject.
Subject requirements
We accept degrees where either Music or Psychology is a named component.
We may also consider other degree subjects if you can evidence engagement with music, e.g. through modules studied, professional or amateur music performance etc.
We assess each application on the basis of the applicant’s preparation and achievement as a whole. We may accept applicants whose qualifications don’t meet the published entry criteria but have other experience relevant to the course.
If required degree subjects and modules are listed, these are indicative only. Sometimes we may accept subjects or modules that aren’t listed, and sometimes we may not accept subjects or modules that are listed, depending on the content studied.
We also consider a wide range of international qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent.
Other requirements:
We will not ask you to provide references or referee details as part of your application.
We will not ask for a formal supporting statement, although the application form will ask you to reflect on your motivations for studying the course.
Pathway programme for international students:
If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.
Scholarships
Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.
To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:
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