Bachelor of Music (BMus) 

SELECTION PROCESS

PLACES

The departmental intake process is in accordance with the requirements for admission to any field of study, as specified in the General Regulations and in the regulations for the Faculty of Humanities. The admission requirements of both the University of Pretoria and the Faculty of Humanities have to be met for intake in the first year of study.

Closing date

• For applications: 30 June of the year preceding commencement of studies.
• Date of selection: July to August
• Disclosure of final results: 31 August of the year preceding commencement of studies (by phone or email).

The Selection Committee consists of the following members:

• The Head: Department of Music (ex officio)
• Two senior staff members of the Department of Music
• One senior student of the Department (Honours or Masters students)

Selection principles

• Only candidates who comply with the requirements set out in this document will be considered for selection.
• The best candidates will be selected taking into account academic performance, the level of practical and theoretical musical performance, and the availability of facilities and personnel.

Minimum requirements for school-leavers, university student transfers and international students:

(Also refer to the ‘Minimum admission requirements table’ and Annexure A in this document.)

Group 1: School-leavers

School-leavers include applicants who will matriculate in the year of application, as well as applicants who have already matriculated, but have never studied at a tertiary institution.

• School-leavers require a NSC with admission to degree studies.
• Applicants from designated groups who matriculated from historically disadvantaged schools are placed in accordance with the University’s commitment to improve diversity in the composition of the student body.

Group 2: University student transfers

University students who apply for a transfer to the Department of Music include applicants who already hold a tertiary qualification or applicants registered at UP for another field of study, but who have not yet obtained their degree. In both instances, a comprehensive academic achievement record is required. Applicants whose current field of study did not initially require an APS of 30, must include their National Senior Certificate with the tertiary academic record.

Group 3: International students

Foreign applicants’ academic qualifications must be equivalent to Grade 11 or Grade 12 of the South African NSC and they must comply with the minimum selection requirements (that is, 30 APS). A comprehensive academic record is required and applicants must be proficient in English.

Selection procedure

Candidates must take part in a practical audition and a written music theory test. The minimum skills level, as prescribed for the practical and theoretical components of the study of music, forms the basis for selection. The selection criteria are stated below:

• Performance on the candidate’s principal instrument:
  • the performance should last about 15 minutes
  • the programme must contain three works from different style periods
  • standard: at least Grade VII, Unisa/Royal Schools/Trinity practical music examinations; or music as a NSC subject, Grade 12, of at least level 4 (i.e. 50-59%)
• A written test that will assess the candidate’s knowledge of elementary harmony
  • standard: at least Grade V, Unisa/ Royal Schools/Trinity theory examinations; or music as a NSC subject, Grade 12, of at least level 4 (i.e. 50–59%)
• Departmental selection will be determined by both the practical and theoretical components of the audi

Final selection

• Minimum academic requirements as described above in the three groups and the attainment of the minimum skills level as described under the selection criteria above.
• The Department will contact students and inform them of the audition date as soon as the list has been received from the Student Administration.
• Student Administration will notify all applicants whether or not their application was successful by 31 August

Total

50

Bachelor of Music (five-year degree)

SELECTION PROCESS

PLACES

The departmental intake process is in accordance with the requirements for admission to any field of study, a specified in the General Regulations and in the regulations for the Faculty of Humanities. The admission requirements of both the University of Pretoria and the Faculty of Humanities have to be met for intake in the first year of study.

Closing date

• For applications: 30 June of the year preceding commencement of studies
• Date of selection: July to August
• Disclosure of final results: 31 August of the year preceding commencement of studies (by phone or email)

The Selection Committee consists of the following members:

• The Head: Department of Music (ex officio)
• Two senior staff members of the Department of Music
• One senior student of the Department (Honours or Masters students)

Selection principles

• Only candidates who comply with the requirements set out in this document will be considered for selection.
• The best candidates will be selected taking into account academic performance, the level of practical and theoretical musical performance, and the availability of facilities and personnel.

Minimum requirements for school-leavers, university student transfers and international students

(Also refer to the ‘Minimum admission requirements table’ and Annexure A in this document.)

Group 1: School-leavers

School-leavers include applicants who will matriculate in the year of application, as well as applicants who have already matriculated but have never studied at a tertiary institution.

• School-leavers require a NSC with admission to degree studies.
• For applicants who have already completed their NSC or equivalent qualification, these marks are used for APS calculations.
• The allocation of places will align with the University’s commitment to diversity. This implies that at least 50% of all new admissions will be from designated groups. In the event that insufficient numbers of such students meet the requirements based solely on academic merit, suitable applicants from the waiting list will be considered.
• Use the University of Pretoria calculator to assist with APS conversions: https://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=1360&subid=13603

Candidates applying for the BMus Extended programme are required to obtain at least 50% for English Home Language or First Additional Language. Should the English results be below 50%, candidates must take the National Benchmark Test (NBT) obtained at 51% and above for Academic Literacy (AL). The candidates will be required to write the NBT as soon as possible to allow their application to be forwarded to the Department for further selection and auditions.

Group 2: International students

Foreign applicants’ academic qualifications must be equivalent to the penultimate or the final year of the South African NSC or equivalent qualification and they must comply with the minimum selection requirements (that is, an APS of 26-29). A comprehensive academic record is required and applicants must be proficient in English. Use the University of Pretoria calculator to assist with APS conversions:

  http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=15182&language=0#international

Selection procedure

Candidates must take part in a practical audition and a written music theory test. The minimum skills level, as prescribed for the practical and theoretical components of the study of music, forms the basis for selection. The selection criteria are stated below:

• Performance on the candidate’s principal instrument:
  • the performance should last about 10 minutes,
  • the programme must contain three works from different style periods
  • standard: at least Grade V, Unisa/Royal Schools/Trinity practical music examinations); or music as a NSC subject, Grade 12, of at least level 4, (i.e. 50-59%)
• A written test that will assess the candidate’s knowledge of elementary theoretical principles:
  • standard: at least Grade III, Unisa/ Royal Schools/Trinity theory examinations; or music as a NSC subject, Grade 12, of at least level 4 (i.e. 50–59%)
• Departmental selection will be determined by both the practical and theoretical components of the audition.

Final selection

• Minimum academic requirements as described above in the three groups and the attainment of the minimum skills level as described under the selection criteria above.
• The Department will contact students and inform them of the audition date as soon as the list has been received from the Student Administration.
• Student Administration will notify all applicants whether or not their application was successful by 31 August.

Total

20