Master of Arts in Music and Science
Jyväskylän yliopisto, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 8,000 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* applications open from January 8th to January 22nd.
Key Summary
Introduction
The role of music in society is dynamic and ever-changing. Thanks to streaming services, social media, and other technological advances, music is consumed at a higher rate and with more individual freedom than ever before. Meanwhile, the health and well-being sectors are increasingly interested in the powerful impact music can have on mood and emotions. As a consequence, the potential of music as a therapeutic and salutogenic tool has recently entered the mainstream.
The Master's Degree Programme in Music and Science at the University of Jyväskylä aims to help students understand the various functions of music in modern everyday life by examining music through a cognitive, psychological and societal lens. If you are interested in studying this emerging and interdisciplinary subject, our programme might be the right place for you!
Our degree programme is a two-year interdisciplinary course run by some of the world’s leading researchers in music cognition and music psychology. By the end of your studies, you will have earned strong skills in reading, assessing and producing research. Additionally, with our state of the art facilities, you will have developed a unique set of practical skills in technologies such as optical motion capture, EEG and digital audio.
Our courses cover a large range of topics related to Music and Science, touching upon theoretical frameworks, contemporary research methods and real-world practical applications. Our courses on Music Psychology, Music Perception & Cognition, Music & Embodiment, and Musical Creativity will expose you to the neurological, therapeutic and pedagogical dimensions of music, while training you in various research methods. Additionally, our Music Technology module will teach you Music Computing, Music Information Research and Music Studio work. The practical and transferable skills developed in the programme will serve you in carrying out your independent thesis work. Graduates of Music and Science exit the programme with qualifications suitable for exciting careers within the broader music, arts and culture sector. Additionally, the course prepares individuals interested in continuing their education at the Doctoral level.
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Admissions
Curriculum
The Master’s Degree Programme in Music and Science is a two-year course focusing on contemporary issues in interdisciplinary research on music. The programme conceptualises music as human behavior, tackling issues relating to music and emotions, music perception, creativity, embodied music cognition, music and medicine, and technology involved in these fields of research.
In addition to theoretical perspectives, the Master’s Degree Programme in Music and Science offers courses focusing on a more practical level of skill development, providing communication competencies required in multidisciplinary work life contexts. The programme prepares students for careers in technical and administrative positions within music and cultural sectors, as well as academia.
The programme includes an extensive research component (Master’s thesis and related courses), and practical experience in working life (an internship of 1 -2 months and/or a working life project course).
As a Music and Science student, you will meet and network with students from different countries, disciplines and backgrounds. This is facilitated by our bilingual approach to teaching, combining English and Finnish languages. Through group or pair work, discussions, presentations, and independent work in a multilingual environment, we enable our students to develop various sets of skills needed for professional life.
The Music and Science programme is located at the Department of Music, Art and Culture Studies, a large, international and multidisciplinary unit. The programme is closely related to the Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain, which studies music as a multimodal human experience and as a versatile engine of change throughout the life-span and in health and disease. The curriculum includes links to music therapy which support development of research skills for students who already have a background in more practical-level music therapy training and/or clinical competence as a therapist.
Goals
In this program, you will delve deeper into a range of questions, research methods and technologies used in Music and Science research. You will learn how to interpret and evaluate scientific research papers, and apply new knowledge and skills to the completion of your own thesis project.
Upon graduation, students are awarded the title of Master of Arts.
Elective study modules
The Master’s Degree Programme in Music and Science offers great flexibility when creating a study plan. The degree structure includes elective study modules (40 ECTS), which can be used to create a study plan that caters to your individual interests and future ambitions. At the beginning of your studies, you’ll devise a personal study plan (HOPS) with the help of a pedagogical mentor. The aim of the plan is to provide a roadmap for your studies and courses, and the plan can be refined and updated as you progress.
Thesis
The master’s thesis is worth 30 ECTS. Thesis topics are linked to the department's music research profile, and the thesis can be written in Finnish or English. The thesis project is carried out while attending Master’s Seminars. In the seminar, you develop a research plan and receive feedback from professors and peers. The thesis should be completed by the end of the seminar. Your thesis supervisor provides support and advice throughout the thesis project and seminar.
Career Opportunities
Our alumni go on to work in a range of research, technical, administrative and other senior positions in the music and cultural sectors. Typical employers include festivals, music schools, universities and research units, music libraries, orchestras, organizations, music industry and media. Many of our alumni have gone on to doctoral training, leading to exciting careers in academia.