The Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Advanced Science six-year Dual degree program enables you to complete a Major in Advanced Science as well 24-48 UOC of project or thesis work in Science while studying for a specialist music program that offers intensive pre-professional training in one of four streams: Music Creative Practice, Music Inquiry, Sonic Arts and Music Pedagogy. All streams are supported by a variety of large and small, western and non-western music ensembles as well as extensive opportunities for developing musicianship skills.

The Advanced Science program is designed to challenge you with an interest in critical thinking, research and innovation. The development of depth of understanding and practical skills in a discipline is a key part of the program; however, the degree also focuses on instilling a culture of research and enquiry through early induction into the research ethos and access to research groups and facilities. In their final year students undertake an Honours program, which involves a supervised research project and in some cases advanced level coursework. Outstanding Honours students may continue their studies in a higher research degree.

Admission to the program is subject to a satisfactory music audition and an acceptable level of attainment in year 12 music studies or equivalent.

For questions regarding the Bachelor of Music requirements for the program, students should contact the UNSW Arts & Social Sciences Student Centre. For questions relating to the Bachelor of Advanced Science component of the program, students should consult the UNSW Science Student Centre.

Please refer to the program objectives as listed for the Bachelor of Science program 3972 and the Bachelor of Music program 3436.

A total of 288 UOC is required to complete this Dual program. Students must satisfy the following requirements for the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Advanced Science components.

The basic requirements for the degree in dual mode (144 UOC) are:

The following stream specialisations are available in the Bachelor of Music:

Prescribed music electives are chosen from the list of offerings published by the program.

High achieving students who secure a WAM of 75 in each program and who have completed at least 48 UOC in each program at UNSW are eligible for the award of their Pass Degree "with Distinction".

High achieving Bachelor of Music / Bachelor of Advanced Science students who have successfully completed all course requirements for levels 1-4 may apply to continue their fifth/sixth year of study in the Bachelor of Music (Honours) / Bachelor of Advanced Science program 3472. A minimum WAM of 70 is required for entry into Honours. Please refer to the Bachelor of Music (Honours) / Advanced Science program 3472 for further information.

BMus students must take part in a required number of the performance ensembles offered by the School.

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must:

When taken concurrently a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) is comprised of 144 units of credit which includes:-

Academic rules relating to the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) in Dual mode are as follows:

1. Students must complete a minimum of 144 units of credit for the Bachelor of Science (Advanced);

2. Students must complete at least one approved Bachelor of Science (Advanced) major, and this must be declared before enrolling in level II courses. Details of approved Bachelor of Science (Advanced) majors and how to declare a major can be found on the 3972 Bachelor of Science (Advanced) program page;

3. SCIF1121 Advanced Science: Professional Perspective and Practice (6 units of credit) or SCIF1131 Science: Technological & Professional Perspectives (6 units of credit) must be completed in first year.

4. An Honours Year of 48 units of credit must be completed. For information regarding the admission requirements and application process for honours, please see the information under 'Honours' on the 3972 Bachelor of Science (Advanced) program page;

5. In addition to the courses required for a student's chosen major, SCIF1121/1131, and honours, students must take 'science' courses so that the major plus SCIF1121/1131, plus Honours year plus 'science' courses total 144 units of credit. Details of what courses constitute 'science' courses can be found in Table 1 on the 3972 Bachelor of Science (Advanced) program page;

6. Students must complete at least 24 units of credit of 'science' level I courses;

Most majors in the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) already satisfy this requirement, for example, the Molecular Biology major requires BIOS1101, BABS1201, CHEM1011, CHEM1021 and 6 units of credit of Mathematics. This is a total of 30 units of credit of science level I courses, therefore, no more level I science courses are required. Where a major does not include at least 24 units of credit of science level I courses, students will need to choose additional level I science courses to bring the total to 24 units of credit. For example, Psychology requires PSYC1001 and PSYC1011, therefore, students will need to choose an additional 12 units of credit of science level I courses. These science level I courses also count towards the 144 units of credit requirement at rule number 5.

7. A minimum of 30 units of credit of level III courses must be completed;

Typically Advanced Science majors contain 18 -30 units of credit of level III courses. Therefore students may be required to take an additional 0-12 units of credit of level III courses which must be 'science' courses such that a total of 30 units of credit at level III is completed. These additional level III courses should be completed in a student's major area of study, or a complementary area that will be beneficial for a student's chosen honours area. Students completing a double major will typically meet this requirement through completion of level III courses for the second major. These additional level III science courses count towards the 144 units of credit requirement at rule number 6 above.

8. Where offered in a particular major students must take higher versions of courses. Any variation to this must be approved by the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs) or nominee.

This rule only applies to courses typically at level II and III in a major (or in some cases level I courses considered to be core for the major). It does not apply to fundamental knowledge building level I courses in a major. Not all Bachelor of Science (Advanced) majors have advanced level courses, but where a major does, Advanced Science students must take these higher level courses. Please refer to the Advanced Science stream entries in this Handbook which indicate where higher courses must be taken.

9. No student may commence level II courses until 30 units of credit of level I courses have been successfully completed (This is 30 units of credit of courses taken towards the entire Dual program and not just courses for the Science component);

10. Students may commence level III courses upon successful completion of 72 units of credit. (This is 72 units of credit of courses taken towards the entire Dual program and not just courses for the Science component);

11. Progression to stages 2, 3, and 4 is subject to academic performance. Students will be required to attain a weighted average mark (WAM) of 70 in each semester. Where students do not maintain this minimum level of academic performance, they will be transferred to the Bachelor of Science program.

Students wishing to complete a double major in the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) when taken concurrently with another degree program at UNSW, should be aware that it will be very difficult to complete two majors within 144 units of credit. Therefore where a Dual degree student would like to undertake a double major, they should be aware that it may involve extra time and cost to complete, and may have visa implications for international students.

For information on Honours and applying for Honours, students should refer to the 3972 Bachelor of Science (Advanced) program page. Students may not enrol in the Honours Year in this combined program until they have satisfied all requirements for a 3 year single degree. That is, 144 UOC. In the case of the BMus BSc (Adv) program, this means students must have completed at least 96 UOC from the BSc (Adv) plus 48 UOC from the BMus before commencing Honours for the BSc (Adv).

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

The Academic Rules for the UNSW BMusBSci(Adv) and the online enrolment facility provide students with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that students meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. Students are responsible for ensuring they are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. Students should not assume that because they have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to their degree program.

Admission to the program is subject to a satisfactory audition/interview and an acceptable level of attainment in year 12 studies or equivalent. Assumed knowledge: HSC Music 2 or Extension or equivalent qualification.

For more information on the audition/interview, please contact school

For all other enquiries, please contact the UNSW Arts & Social Sciences Student Centre.
Tel: + 61 2 9385 2289
Email: arts@unsw.edu.au
Location: Room G1 Ground Floor, Morven Brown building (C20)
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Frequently asked questions

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