Send me a PDF copyHighlights
- Gain experience in both recording studio and live performance environments, using state of the art equipment and studios to develop skills in song writing, media composition, record production, and collaborative music-making.
- Gain real-world experience and contacts in your industry through professional industry placements and projects.
- Pursue your individual musical goals with the option to tailor your Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music) degree to suit you with the unique ability to expand your skillset with a second major, minors and/or extensions and electives.
- Unique course structure allows you to combine creative disciplines together to develop transferable skills across a range of industries.
Highlights
- Gain experience in both recording studio and live performance environments, using state of the art equipment and studios to develop skills in song writing, media composition, record production, and collaborative music-making.
- Gain real-world experience and contacts in your industry through professional industry placements and projects.
- Pursue your individual musical goals with the option to tailor your Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music) degree to suit you with the unique ability to expand your skillset with a second major, minors and/or extensions and electives.
- Unique course structure allows you to combine creative disciplines together to develop transferable skills across a range of industries.
Why choose this course?
The music industry is riding a digital wave of change. These are exciting times for anyone who wants to strike out in new directions and QUT’s Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music) degree helps prepare you for these evolving opportunities. This course offers an innovative learning environment that will help you develop your individual artistic identity and acquire the creative, technical and entrepreneurial skills to realise your vision in the contemporary music scene.
This degree is designed to help you stand out as an individual artist and set you up for a sustainable career. With options of a second major or combining your music degree with other interdisciplinary majors, minors and course units across multiple subjects, there are many ways to shape your career.
Our internationally recognised facilities with purpose-built recording and rehearsal studios are state-of-the-art. Here you will learn how to use technology to create music, record and distribute your works, and market your talent.
This degree will encourage collaboration with like-minded people on various projects while finding new ways to develop your own artistic vision.
You will have the opportunity to present your work across a network of Brisbane’s live music venues, and access to a student-run record label designed to help release and promote original music. While studying at QUT there will also be opportunities to participate in intercultural music projects via study tours.
Real-world learning
You will be mentored by experienced staff in production and performance applications. The Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music) teaching staff are industry leading creative practitioners with national and international industry links to associations such as QMusic, and APRA/AMCOS, Gyrostream, and Socialstate Entertainment. You will have the opportunity to participate in music projects that focus on artist development and music-related research such as our capstone student-run record label, Vermilion Records where you will manage artists, produce and release new music, publish a biannual music magazine, produce music videos, and curate live events in partnership with venues across Brisbane.
Visit the student and graduate blog to find out more about what it’s like to study creative arts and where a QUT degree can take you.
Explore this course
You’ll be creating new music from your first year, followed by working with creative technologies, performing and recording new music, or composing for media. In addition to practical areas of music making, the course can lead you into music industry professions such as management or promotion, and social engagement.
Our music degree prepares aspiring musicians for the rapidly changing music industry. Students are encouraged to create works across musical boundaries and strike out in new directions.
In your final year you’ll work on transdisciplinary industry-connected projects with students from other study areas in the creative and performing arts. You can also participate in music projects which focus on artist development and music-related research.
Throughout your degree you will also build skills in areas such as critical and creative thinking, self-awareness and digital fluency which will prepare you for a rapidly changing future with QUT You units.
Customise your degree
If production is your passion, you will focus on creating new music and developing skills in songwriting, studio recording, sequencing, digital processing, and writing for acoustic, electric and digital instruments. Consider complimenting your studies with the production design minor to learn real-world production design skills and techniques, such as set and spatial design, lighting design, projection and multimedia design, and interactive audio-visual performance systems.
If you are interested in performance, you’ll focus on developing your unique performance style and artistic voice, creating new work, using digital technology, and developing new interpretations of your repertoire, as well as gaining further experience performing in recording studio and live contexts.
If your passion is making music for film, television, animation, games or any other transdisciplinary media environment, you’ll have opportunities to work with students in those disciplines.
Double degrees
Combine your music degree with a second study area for greater career flexibility and opportunities in other industries. Consider a double degree with:
- behavioural science (psychology): promote health and wellbeing by combining music and psychology, for a career as a music therapist, a community music program coordinator or take the first step towards becoming a psychologist.
- business: develop skills to work in a variety of music-related roles including arts management, event or festival management and community arts projects.
- law: use your skills for a career as a music lawyer, solicitor in private practice, policy adviser or intellectual property lawyer supporting creative arts businesses.
- education (secondary): combine your interests in music and education to prepare you to teach music in secondary schools and other education environments. Additional entry requirements apply to the Bachelor of Education, see information on double degrees.
Careers and outcomes
This course can lead you into music industry professions such as performing, recording, management or promotion, and social engagement. Graduates work in an eclectic range of live, recording and multimedia environments as performers, producers, composers, developers of music software and games, DJs and private instrumental music teachers.
Graduates of this music degree have gone on to find national and international success, including bands such as Ball Park Music and Cub Sport, solo artists such as Moss McGregor, WALTA, and Hallie, music producers such as multi-ARIA award winning Konstantin Kersting and Tristan Hoogland, and composers such as Cannes Gold medal winner Michael Edwards. We also see music students embracing successful portfolio careers managing a range of rewarding, music-related positions such as booking agents, artist management, music marketing and promotions, event management, radio show hosting, graphic design and photography.
If teaching is your ambition, this course can be also followed with a graduate-entry teacher education Master of Teaching courses (check the entry requirements for specific teaching courses) which enables you to become a qualified teacher.
Pathways also exist to prepare you for further study including research.
Possible careers
- Band leader
- Composer
- Conductor
- D.j
- Digital composer
- Film composer
- Media industry specialist
- Multimedia designer
- Music agent/manager
- Music publisher
- Music sampler
- Music teacher
- Music technologist
- Musical director
- Musician
- Post-production specialist
- Song writer
- Sound designer
- Sound and music producer
- Sound/audio engineer
In order to complete this course, you must complete a total of 288 credit points comprising:
- Six common units: 72 credit points
- Music major: 96 credit points
- QUT You: 24 credit points
- Complementary studies: 96 credit points chosen from:
- one 96 credit point second major; OR
- one 84 credit point second major and one unit option (elective); OR
- one 72 credit point second major and two unit options (electives); OR
- two minors; OR
- one minor and 48 credit points chosen from unit options (electives); OR
- 96 credit points chosen from unit options (electives).
In order to complete this course, you must complete a total of 288 credit points comprising:
- Six common units: 72 credit points
- Music major: 96 credit points
- QUT You: 24 credit points
- Complementary studies: 96 credit points chosen from:
- one 96 credit point second major; OR
- one 84 credit point second major and one unit option (elective); OR
- one 72 credit point second major and two unit options (electives); OR
- two minors; OR
- one minor and 48 credit points chosen from unit options (electives); OR
- 96 credit points chosen from unit options (electives).
- Course code
- CA01
- QTAC code
- 419362
- CRICOS code
- 116102H
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- Kelvin Grove
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- Kelvin Grove
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
- 3 years full-time
- February and July
- February and July
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
Year 12 early offer scheme
If you're a current Queensland Year 12 student, you may be eligible to receive an offer for this course on the last day of Queensland Year 12, before receiving your ATAR or selection rank.
Find out more about the QUT Year 12 Early Offer Scheme
Helping you to get into your course
If you don't think your ATAR or selection rank is high enough to get into this course, you can guarantee your entry with guaranteed advanced standing by upgrading through one the following programs which you can select as one of your QTAC preferences:
QUT College Diploma in Creative Industries
As a QUT College Diploma in Creative Industries graduate you will automatically receive an offer to start the Bachelor of Creative Arts within one week after completion of the diploma. You will also automatically receive up to 1.0 year (96 credit points) credit transfer and be able to complete the degree in 2 years as a full-time student (or equivalent part-time).
Find out more about the QUT College Diploma in Creative Industries
Offer guarantee
If you achieve an ATAR or selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
VET guarantee
If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Advanced standing
If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
More about deferring your offer
Adjustments to your ATAR/selection rank
Any adjustments you receive to your ATAR or selection rank will be applied to this course.
Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your ATAR or selection rank
Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2024
As this is a new course, Semester 1, 2024 information is not available.
You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.
Other admission options
If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
I completed secondary school in Australia
Offer guarantee
If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
VET guarantee
If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / IELTS One Skills Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
|
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
| PTE Academic | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| TOEFL iBT / Paper | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2025 fees
2025: CSP $11,500 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2025 fees
2025: $37,400 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
QUT Excellence Scholarship (Academic)
QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding academic achievement.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
QUT Real World International Scholarship
A scholarship to cover tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
QUT Excellence Scholarship (Creative Arts)
QUT Excellence Scholarships are the university's premier offering for students with outstanding excellence in creative arts.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
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