BMus Composition and Theory (Major) at University of Victoria

Programme overview

A major within the professionally focused Bachelor of Music, offered by the School of Music in the Faculty of Fine Arts. It centres on composition and music theory.

Faculty: Faculty of Fine Arts | Department: School of Music | Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

What you will study

Year 2 includes MUS 202A Theories of Musical Form, MUS 202B Theories of Musical Texture, MUS 207 Music, Science and Computers, MUS 223 Western Music History, MUS 205 Music Composition I and ensemble participation; Years 3 and 4 add Music Composition II and III, Orchestration, Sound Recording Techniques and Introduction to Computer Music.

Career pathways

Composer; conductor; instrument designer; music producer; performing musician; recording engineer; singer/songwriter; teacher.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Music (BMus) admission requirements, British Columbia and Yukon secondary school applicants: Grade 11 Approved English 11, three courses from Foundations of Math 11 or Pre-calculus 11, approved science 11, approved language 11 and approved fine arts 11, plus approved social studies 11/12; Grade 12 English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 (minimum 73%), two approved academic 12 courses and one additional approved academic 12 or fine arts 12 course. Estimated admission average: minimum 75% (estimate from recent admission cycles). An audition (live or recorded) and supporting documents are required by February 15; applications for audition are due February 15 and recorded auditions February 28. No specific theory prerequisite is set for the audition; Royal Conservatory Theory Level 8 is recommended, and admitted students write a 25-minute music theory placement test.

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the courses you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Undergraduate entry points: September (fall), January and summer (May) entry; Engineering summer entry is for high school graduates only.

September entry: most degree programs January 31; Elementary Curriculum and Secondary Curriculum teacher education post-degree programs January 2; Indigenous Education ongoing; Public Administration diploma and certificate programs May 31. Early admission is possible for high school students who submit grades by early December. Late applications may be accepted where programs remain open.

January entry: Art History and Visual Studies, Computer Science, Computer Science and Health Information Science, Music (Bachelor of Arts) and all Humanities, Science and Social Sciences programs September 30; Health Information Science October 31; Public Administration diploma and certificate programs September 30.

Summer entry: Art History and Visual Studies, Computer Science, Music (BA) and all Humanities, Science and Social Sciences programs March 31; Engineering programs December 31 (high school graduates only); Public Administration diploma and certificate programs February 15.

Applications are submitted through EducationPlannerBC. The application fee is $89.50 if all transcripts come from institutions within Canada and $184.00 if any transcripts come from outside Canada.

Apply through the official page: https://www.uvic.ca/undergraduate/

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities