Master of Fine Arts in Music, with Specialisation the Composing Musician

The aim of the programme is to provide students with the opportunity to deepen and broaden their artistic expertise through reflective and exploratory musical creation, with a particular focus on improvisation.

The programme is grounded in improvisation as an independent artistic practice, as well as a method for composition, interpretation, and ensemble interaction. Students develop their personal artistic voice through advanced practice, critical reflection, and artistic engagement with improvisational processes.

The education prepares students for a professional artistic career as improvising musicians, composers, or freelance artists, and also provides a solid foundation for further higher education. A Masters degree (second-cycle, 120 credits) gives students eligibilty to apply to doctoral (third-cycle) courses and study programmes.

Bachelor degree of arts in music or equivalent, and musical knowledge and skills that are assessed at the admission test and are the basis for selection. The education is conducted in English. Applicants must prove their knowledge of English: English 6/English B from Swedish Upper Secondary School or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL or IELTS.

Other requirements are documented in each course syllabus.

This programme leads to a Degree of Master of Fine Arts (120 credits) in Music with Specialisation the Composing Musician.

This advanced-level programme is grounded in the student’s individual qualifications and artistic goals, and aims to provide in-depth knowledge, skills, and experience in improvisation as an artistic practice. At the core of the programme is the development of the composing musician – an artist who integrates improvisation and composition into a personal and reflective approach to musical creation.

The programme prepares students for a professional artistic career as improvising freelance musicians and composers, and also serves as a foundation for further research within the field of artistic practice.

The education is carried out in collaboration with the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen and the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. Students study the first and fourth semesters in Gothenburg, the second in Copenhagen, and the third in Oslo.

The programme offers advanced knowledge and experience of artistic processes, along with immersion in diverse contemporary musical expressions and aesthetics. The curriculum is closely connected to both professional artistic practice and to each student’s chosen artistic focus. Throughout the programme, students are given the opportunity to broaden and deepen their perspectives on – and critical reflection around – improvisation and composition in their various forms and interrelations.

During the first three semesters four courses are given:

Main subject master improvisation/world music (in all 45 credits), where the course content furthers the students development of their personal musical profiles. Students prepare one concert per semester which are later used as the foundation for their independent project work, carried out in semester 4. The student also participates in international collaborative artistic projects together with other Master's programmes.

Master's seminars (in all 12 credits) are given to students in several of the Master's (120 credits) programmes at the music department. The course includes seminars, workshops and lectures on themes that are relevant to the main subject, often in an interdisciplinary context.

In The Reflective Artist (in all 18 credits) students meet experienced practicians from several artistic fields in seminars, discussion forums and workshops. In these courses the students present and discuss their independent projects from an artistic and theoretical view point. The student's personal profile (in all 15 credits) is determined by their choice in elective courses offered at the department.

The module Core Values (semester 1, 1.5 credits) is given in collaboration with other Master's (120 credits) programmes at the department.

In semester 1 and 4 students study the Independent project (degree project) (30 credits) courses where they write a thesis on a methodological artistic research project within their main field of study. The text must be written in dialogue with the student's artistic work as a whole. The work culminates in a completed artistic project, that includes audio/video documentation or a score, as well as a written reflective text in an optional format.

The studies are divided into the following compulsory courses:

Semester 1

• MIV201 Main subject master improvisation/world music 1 (Huvudämne master improvisation/världsmusik 1) 15 hp
• MAS201 Independent Project (Degree Project) master 1 (Självständigt arbete (examensarbete) master) 1 7,5 hp
• MAS231 Master's seminar 1 (Masterseminarier 1) 3 hp
• MIV231 The Reflective Artist 1 (Den reflekterande tonkonstnären 1) 4,5 hp

Semester 2

• MIV202 Main subject master improvisation/world music 2 (Huvudämne master improvisation/världsmusik 2) 15 hp
• MAS232 Master's seminar 2 (Masterseminarier 2) 3 hp
• MIV232 The Reflective Artist 2 (Den reflekterande tonkonstnären 2) 4,5 hp
• Elective course (Valbar kurs) 7,5 hp

Semester 3

• MIV203 Main subject master improvisation/world music 3 (Huvudämne master improvisation/världsmusik 3) 15 hp
• MAS233 Master's seminar 3 (Masterseminarier 3) 3 hp
• MIV233 The Reflective Artist 3 (Den reflekterande tonkonstnären 3) 4,5 hp
• Elective course (Valbar kurs) 7,5 hp

Semester 4

• MAS205 Independent Project (Degree Project) master improvisation (Självständigt arbete (examensarbete) master improvisation) 22,5 hp
• MIV234 The Reflective Artist 4 (Den reflekterande tonkonstnären 4) 4,5 hp
• MAS234 Master's seminar (Masterseminarier 4) 4 3 hp

General outcomes for Degree of Master in Fine Arts (120 credits)

According to Higher Education Ordinance (see SFS 1993:100, System of Qualifications, Annex 2):

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master in Fine Arts (120 hec) the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialised knowledge in areas of the field as well as specialised insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate familiarity with methods and processes for dealing with complex phenomena, issues and situations in the field.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master in Fine Arts (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to formulate new issues autonomously and creatively and contribute to the formation of knowledge, solve more advanced problems, develop new forms of personal expression as well as to reflect critically on his or her artistic approach and that of others in the main field of study
• demonstrate the ability to create and execute his or her own ideas with his or her own personal expression, to identify, formulate and solve artistic and creative problems autonomously and also to plan and undertake advanced artistic tasks using appropriate methods within predetermined time frames
• demonstrate the ability both nationally and internationally to clearly present and discuss his or her works and artistic issues in speech, writing or in other ways and in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the competence and knowledge required to work autonomously in a professional capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree in Master of Fine Arts (120 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant artistic, social and ethical issues
• demonstrate insight into the role of art in society, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Local outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

• create and develop music through improvisation, composition and cross-genre cooperations
• substantiate and communicate their artistic ambitions with a personal profile in their musical exercise and composing
• contribute new artistic approaches and innovation in the music scene

Competence and skills

• demonstrate the ability to develop and extend musical perspectives and methodical work in their independent artistic work
• demonstrate the ability to meet a music field and music industry in transformation, both musically and professionally
• work independently with requiring artistic challenges and initiate, implement and lead different projects

Judgement and approach

• independently and critically analyse material from artistic research as well as relate to and use this in their own work

This programme syllabus GU 2025/1861 applies to students admitted to the programme from the autumn semester 2026. In connection with the establishment, Master of Fine Arts in Music with Specialisation in Improvisation Performance (K2IMP) will be discontinued, and all students on the programme will be transferred to this programme.

As there are no differences in the structure and content of the two programmes, the students' right to complete the programme they have started will be met by transferring to the new programme as of the autumn semester 2026.

The study programme will be followed up and evaluated in accordance with the applicable Policy for the Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement of Education at the University of Gothenburg (Policy för kvalitetssäkring och kvalitetsutveckling av utbildning vid Göteborgs universitet).

Language of instruction is English. Studies on evenings and weekends can occur to a lesser extent.

A student who follows the programme at the regular pace is guaranteed admission to the courses within the programme. Guaranteed admission at University of Gothenburg consists of two kinds, it can be general or limited.

The programme applies a limited guaranteed admission to the elective programme courses, which means that it is not possible to guarantee admission according to the student’s ranking order of selected elective courses. However, the student is always guaranteed admission to one of the elective courses given at the department the current semester.