MLitt in Sacred Music
Saint Andrews, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
07 Aug 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,880 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* overseas / home: £11,680
Introduction
The MLitt in Sacred Music offers a unique interdisciplinary formation in Sacred Music for musicians, scholars, and leaders in artistic ministry. It is taught jointly by the School of Divinity’s Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts and the University of St Andrews Music Centre.
Course details
The MLitt in Sacred Music is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time taught programme and is run jointly by the School of Divinity's Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts (ITIA) and the University of St Andrews Music Centre.
The course is aimed at those intending to carry out church music performance and leadership roles, clergy, and those seeking a self-contained programme of study in sacred music or planning to pursue doctoral research in the field.
Students will deepen their understanding of the theological and artistic underpinnings of sacred music-making, and, where applicable, will develop their practical skills in sacred music performance and leadership.
The University of St Andrews has a range of unique music facilities for Sacred Music students, including the new state-of-the-art Laidlaw Music Centre. Students will be supported by ITIA and Music Centre staff who have research and practical expertise in sacred music.
Highlights
- Develop skills relevant to your area of specialism in music making (e.g. composition, choral directing, organ, instrumental music in worship) or music journalism and lecturing
- Gain insights into the theological and philosophical underpinnings of music in worship, both in the past and in the present day
- Study at the School of Divinity, based in the ancient St Mary’s College Quad, and at the University of St Andrews Laidlaw Music Centre
- Receive expert tuition from musicians and scholars working actively in the field of sacred music, including Sir James MacMillan, composer and professor of Theology, Imagination and the Arts
- Benefit from excellent music resources, including cutting-edge electronic music studios, a purpose-built recital hall, four pipe organs, and the acclaimed St Salvator’s Chapel Choir.
Admissions
Curriculum
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your program.
Students are expected to take three compulsory modules and one optional module followed by either a final dissertation or a practical project. Each module has varying teaching and assessment methods.
Compulsory
- Music and the Sacred in Theory and Practice: Introduces students to the wide diversity of music in its relation to the sacred, in and outside different denominational church contexts
- Making Music in a Church Context: Enables students to develop their skills in such roles as choir director, organist, composer, worship ensemble leader, and music journalist, through specialist small-group teaching
- Sacred Music in the West: History and Context: Invites students to explore when, where, and why Christians have made music in their worship, focusing on the history and development of sacred music-making in a variety of confessional traditions informed by Western musical practice.
Optional
In Semester 2, students must pick an optional module. This optional module can either be from the Theology and the Arts MLitt or another Divinity MLitt.
An example of a Theology and the Arts option:
- Christian Doctrine and the Arts
Dissertation
The end-of-year assessment provides students with the opportunity to draw together the theoretical, philosophical, and professional practice strands of the course. Students may choose from either a research or practical assessment.
Students choosing a research assessment must complete a 12,000-word dissertation on a topic in sacred music of their choice. Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise students on their choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process.
Those choosing a practical project have the choice of either a recital of sacred music with a written exegesis of research on the program (5,000 words) or a composition portfolio of sacred music with critical reflection (5,000 words).
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, an exit award is available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.
Teaching
Teaching format
The programme consists of four taught modules taken over two semesters followed by either a 12,000-word dissertation or a practical project undertaken during the summer.
Students will learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, practical workshops and one-to-one supervision or teaching.
Assessment
Assessment comprises a combination of practical and theoretical methods.
Practical assessment methods may include:
- The musical performance of sacred music repertoire
- A performance of originally composed sacred music
- A live lecture presentation on a topic researched during the course.
Scholarships and Funding
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
The University of St Andrews offers postgraduate scholarships and other financial awards. These may be held in addition to external funding or awards from a government body. These may also cover (fully or partially) tuition fees, maintenance (living costs including accommodation), or both.
Scholarships are available based on academic merit and financial need. There are scholarships available for both home and overseas fee status. The scholarship team recommends reading the terms of each award carefully and applying to a range of funding sources.
Postgraduate scholarships
Postgraduate study is an investment in your intellectual development and career potential. The University of St Andrews provides scholarships to help as many students as possible continue in higher education.
Scholarship availability may depend on your area of study or fee status (for example, whether you are a 'Home' or 'Overseas' student).
Career Opportunities
The MLitt in Sacred Music will benefit those wishing to pursue a career as a church musician, or who are already active as church music makers.
Theology Music, and Sacred Music, are growing fields of interdisciplinary scholarship, and this program will also benefit those wishing to pursue doctoral study in the area.
Further study
In addition to the MLitt, the School of Divinity offers a two-year residential Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree option in Theology and the Arts.
Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programs at St Andrews or elsewhere.