Entry requirements

Find out about the level of musical theory or ability required to study with us.

Depending on your choice of courses and degree, you may be expected to have a certain level of musical theory before starting your course of study. If performance will be part of your studies, you will also need to pass an audition as part of the application process.

University entry requirements apply to all our courses.

Open entry courses

There are a range of courses that can be taken by interested students that don't require an audition or knowledge of music theory. Have a look at our list of open entry courses or check out the course finder.

A Music major in a Bachelor of Arts, a Popular Music Studies minor, or Digital Music and Audio Productions minor may be taken without having prior knowledge of music theory or passing an audition.

A Digital Music and Audio Production major in a Bachelor of Music may be started without any theory pre-requisites, with an expectation that students have a basic understanding of music notation for CMPO 101 Introduction to Composition, Sonic Arts and Film Scoring, a course you will need to take as part of this major.

Undergraduate entry requirements

Majors that require music theory

The Bachelor of Music (BMus) majors—Classical Performance, Digital Music and Audio Production, Instrumental/Vocal Composition, Jazz, and Music Studies—require you to have some prior knowledge of musical theory.

Classical Performance

Read about the entry requirements for MUSC 166 Classical Theory and Musicianship, the music theory course that you need to take in the first year of this major.

Digital Music and Audio Production

Read about the entry requirements for MUSC 166 Classical Theory and Musicianship, and the entry requirements for MUSC 164 Jazz Theory 1. You will need to take one of these courses for this major, at some point in your degree.

Jazz Performance

Read about the entry requirements for MUSC 164 Jazz Theory 1, the music theory course that you need to take in the first year of this major.

Music Studies

Read about the entry requirements for MUSC 166 Classical Theory and Musicianship, and the entry requirements for MUSC 164 Jazz Theory 1. You will need to take one of these courses for this major, at some point in your degree.

Instrumental/Vocal Composition

Read about the entry requirements for MUSC 166 Classical Theory and Musicianship. You will need to take this course at some point in your degree.

NZSM theory entrance test

There are several ways to meet the theory pre-requisite for MUSC 164 or MUSC 166, required courses in the Bachelor of Music in Classical or Jazz Performance. Email music@vuw.ac.nz if you wish to sit the NZSM theory entrance test.

Auditioned courses

You need to audition if you will be majoring in Classical Performance or Jazz as part of a BMus. Entry to most performance courses is by audition, regardless of your degree. See the list of open entry courses above to see which current performance course or courses do not require an audition or search on 'PERF' in the course finder.

Apply to audition

Postgraduate entry requirements

Entry into postgraduate courses differs by programme—read about the postgraduate qualifications we offer and their requirements.

You need to audition to apply to study towards a Master of Music Therapy or to take Classical Performance or Jazz Performance as part of any of the following programmes:

Composition postgraduate applicants who have not completed a BMus in Composition or Sonic Arts at the NZSM must submit a portfolio of compositions.

If you are applying as an International student, contact Wellington University International before auditioning.

Apply to audition