Victoria University
3 years
Discover your sound and shape the future with Victoria University's Bachelor of Applied Music. This innovative 3-year degree blends creative music practice with real-world application, preparing you for diverse careers in music teaching, production, performance, and community engagement while exploring music's power to support wellbeing and social change.
Applicants must have completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) with a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in other English, OR an Australian Advanced Diploma/Diploma, OR a Foundation course. International students require IELTS overall score of 6.0 (minimum 6.0 in all bands). Critically, applicants must have at least two years' experience playing a musical instrument and/or singing, and must submit a one-page written statement identifying their instrument/voice, music styles, years of experience, and training level, along with a short performance video (one song, 3-5 minutes).
Year 1 focuses on foundational music knowledge through units including Academic Discourse in Music, Music and Text, Music Inquiry, and Creativity and Communication in Music. Students explore popular music history through The Birth of Popular Music (Blues), Making Music Popular (Motown and Soul), Amplifying Popular Music (Rock), and The Evolution of Popular Music (Funk and Hip Hop). Year 2 introduces Technology of Music and Audio, Learning and Teaching Music 1, Practical Ear Training and Applied Music Theory 1, Music and Wellbeing, Home Studio Music Production, and From Concept to Production. Year 3 advances learning with Learning and Teaching Music 2, Practical Ear Training and Applied Music Theory 2, Musical Futures (Streaming and AI in Music), two Graduating Projects, and Aboriginal Popular Music. Students also complete 48 credit points of minor studies from options including Writing, Digital Media, Popular Music Studies, The Musical Mind, Visual Art, or Aboriginal Yulendj (Knowledge) and Community.
Victoria University is ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide and is renowned for its award-winning VU Block Model, which delivers workshop-style learning where students complete one subject at a time over four weeks. The university is ranked #1 for skills development (QILT) and offers 4000+ industry connections. Located in Melbourne, a city with more live-music venues per capita than any other major city globally, students benefit from exceptional performance opportunities and inspiration. The university provides comprehensive support through The Learning Hub with 24/7 access to mentoring, study sessions, and digital learning modules.
Graduates can pursue immediate careers as professional performers, songwriters/composers, music producers, remix artists, music streamers/influencers, music video producers, mixed-media artists, instrumental music teachers, and project workers in arts and community organisations. With further postgraduate study, graduates can transition into school-based music teaching, early childhood education, music therapy, mental health support, youth work, community work, social work, and criminal justice sectors. The course also provides a pathway to Victoria University's Master of Teaching (Secondary Education) for those seeking to become secondary-school music teachers.
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