Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.
Want to learn more?
Visit the School of Music website to learn more about Music: General Studies.
View full program detailsProgram information
General Studies is designed to provide a broad, flexible, general higher education in music, including private lessons on the instrument that you play best.
You’ll have the freedom to choose many elective courses, allowing continuation into various professional options, including graduate degrees.
Program overview
- Campus
- Vancouver
- Program length
- 4 years
- Faculty
- School of Music
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- Yes
- Degree
- Bachelor of Music
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What you'll learn
Students admitted to the Bachelor of Music program may follow one of four streams: General Studies, Advanced Performance, Scholarship, or Composition. Every stream includes four years of private lessons in an instrument or voice, along with ensemble performance (4 years), music scholarship (3 years), and non-music electives (4 years). The distribution of required and elective courses, in Music and in other subjects, is different for each stream. General Studies is designed to provide a broad, flexible, general higher education in music, including private lessons on the instrument the student plays best. Most undergraduates admitted to the School of Music are eligible to enrol in this program. In General Studies, you may select from three streams:
General Studies (concentrations include Piano, Organ, Voice, Opera, Guitar, Harpsichord, Orchestral Instruments, Historical Musical Instruments);
General Studies – Elementary Education Stream (preparation for studies in education leading to certification as a teacher in BC elementary schools);
General Studies – Secondary Education Stream (preparation for studies in education leading to certification as a music teacher in BC secondary schools).|The School of Music offers cutting-edge performance facilities like the Gessler Multimedia Teaching Studio and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, recently named one of the world’s greatest concert halls.
The School of Music offers cutting-edge performance facilities like the Gessler Multimedia Teaching Studio and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, recently named one of the world’s greatest concert halls.
Most popular courses
Practical and theoretical training in technologies that support current artistic and academic practice, such as MIDI, podcasts/videocasts, websites, social media, and software for score notation, music education, and basic audio/video editing
The development of Western music from circa 1800 to circa 1900
Private instruction, vocal or instrumental, Technical and stylistic perspectives on contemporary art music and popular and world music idioms. Exercises in composition and production. Training in related listening, sight-singing and score reading skills
A technical approach to the diverse concert-music repertoire since 1950, including orchestral, chamber, solo, and electro-acoustic genres. Applicable theories of pitch and rhythm, with reference to composers’ own writings.
Outcomes
Take action & plan
Program requirements
Choose application type:
English-language requirements
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
IB Diploma Programme
- Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.
IB Certificate Courses
- IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
- IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.
Degree-specific requirements: Music
- No specific courses required beyond those needed for general admission
- Audition, portfolio (students in composition), and letters of reference
Related courses
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.
- Language Arts
- Second Languages
- Visual and Performing Arts
Want to get a feel for campus?
If you’re unable to visit UBC in person, or you just want to get a sneak peek at your new home campus before you arrive, take one of our virtual tours. Current UBC students walk you through UBC’s residences, study spots, recreational facilities, lecture halls, academic buildings, and more.
Related programs
Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.
Want to learn more?
Visit the School of Music website to learn more about Music: General Studies.
View full program details