Overview

The Composition programme at the University of Victoria offers a project-based curriculum designed to foster personal artistic growth and technical expertise. Students engage in a rigorous academic environment that encourages the exploration of diverse musical practices, from instrumental concert works to electronic media. This degree provides the freedom to challenge artistic boundaries while building a professional creative portfolio.

Why Composition at the University of Victoria?

The university is renowned for its commitment to experimentation and innovation within the Faculty of Fine Arts. Students benefit from a supportive community of dedicated composers and have numerous avenues to showcase their original music. The programme prioritises collaboration with performance students and school ensembles, including the Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, the department regularly hosts accomplished guest composers, performers, and scholars to enrich the research environment.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: CAD 2801 per semester
National fee: CAD 2221 per semester

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum focuses on essential areas of creative development and collaborative creation. Modules may include:

Theory
Research Methods
Collaborative Creation
Musicology and Sound Studies
Music Technology
Performance
Composition

Careers with Composition

Graduates from this programme have established successful careers as professional composers, arrangers, and sound designers on both national and international levels. The training provided also prepares students for roles in educational leadership and arts administration. Many alumni choose to continue their academic journey by pursuing advanced research into the technological, theoretical, and cultural aspects of music. The programme's high level of community engagement ensures that graduates are well-positioned for diverse opportunities in the global music industry.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Throughout their studies, students work towards a substantial composition project. Individual and group composition meetings cultivate a supportive environment where students not only learn from one another but also foster a community of dedicated composers.
The curriculum comprises essential areas of study including theory, research methods, and collaborative creation. Furthermore, graduate students have the flexibility to select elective courses based on personal interests, spanning various disciplines such as theory, musicology and sound studies, music technology, and performance.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-03 00:00:00

Application deadline not specified.

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

60 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Victoria, Canada

Disciplines

Music Music Composition View 43 other Masters in Music in Canada

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

Required

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Apply to Composition

In addition to the standard admission forms, applicants should submit:

Scores and recordings (if possible) of three recent works
A proposal for research and creative activity

PDFs of scores maybe be uploaded with the application. Recordings can be submitted on CD, flash drive, or as downloads.

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

Studyportals partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of Victoria and/or in Canada, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

5602 CAD / year

≈ 5602 CAD / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

4442 CAD / year

≈ 4442 CAD / year

Living costs

Victoria

Canada

1490 - 2092 CAD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Composition.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Living costs

Victoria

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners