The International Centre for Music Studies (ICMuS)
Welcome to the web pages for the International Centre for Music Studies (ICMuS), formerly Department of Music, now the largest part of the School of Arts and Cultures. In these pages you will find information about our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, our research and everything you need to know about studying music at ICMuS.
The study of music is intellectually challenging and physically demanding. A well-educated student of music is therefore, more than anything, both an agile thinker and an accomplished practical musician.
“I have always enjoyed visiting Newcastle and the surrounding areas so where better to do my degree. The city has a vibrant atmosphere and this was exactly the place I wanted to study in. Also the fact it wasn’t too close to home (or too far).”Students at ICMuS are trained to deal with a range of musical repertoires (classical, early, popular, folk and traditional, contemporary, avant-garde and jazz) from a range of perspectives. We have the highest standards of teaching in both our academic and practical courses and you will be taught by staff who are world leaders in their fields.
The Head of ICMuS is Agustín Fernández.
Ten Reasons to Study Music at ICMuS:
- Outstanding research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise 95% of all our research was deemed internationally recognised, internationally excellent or world leading, with 80% of all research in the highest two categories. In absolute terms, this is the best result for Newcastle University in the 2008 RAE. Click here to read more
- Ranked overall 6th in the 2011 Guardian University Guide and 10th in the Complete University Guide
- Ranked 2nd nationally for overall student satisfaction in the UK in 2010 National Student Survey
- Committed and dynamic team of staff, all of whom are active researchers of international standing and excellent teachers; our staff are world leaders in musicology, composition and performance.
- ICMuS has a reputation as one of the most forward-looking HE providers of music in Europe
- Outstanding resources including full online access to over 100 music journals, The Grove Online, RILM, African American Song (online sound archive), American Song (online sound archive), Classical Music Library (online sound archive), FARNE: Folk Archive Resource North East, Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Online and many more
- An extensive library collection (books, periodicals, scores and recordings)
- Outstanding research and performance facilities
- The Music Studio: a new, custom-built, state-of-the-art building
- Strong links with The Sage Gateshead
Don't just take our word for it. Click here to see what our students think of being at ICMuS.
ICMuS offers the following degrees:
- four undergraduate degrees
- two taught masters programmes:
- MA in Music (musicology, ethnomusicology)
- MMus (composition and/or performance)
- three research degrees, the MLitt, MPhil and PhD.