Make the most out of your degree with opportunities within the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and beyond!
Options within U of T
While you will have have your primary program with requirements laid out in the program chart within the Academic Calendar, there are options within your degree to gain focus on particular areas outside of your specialized program. These options within your degree can be focused within either your music electives, or your breadth electives. Explore your options below.
As part of your music degree, you have the possibility to earn recognition for an Arts & Science Minor or Major, provided you complete the required courses and meet the minimum grade requirements in your chosen discipline. You’ll find the specific course requirements for each Minor or Major outlined by discipline in the Arts & Science Calendar.
Please note, however, that students at the Faculty of Music do not receive priority in enrolling in courses of the Faculty of Arts & Science. Therefore, access to courses within some disciplines may be problematic, and certain courses may be restricted to students of the Faculty of Arts & Science. If you are interested in pursuing a Major or Minor, you are urged to to consult the Faculty of Arts & Science timetable, as well as contact the respective Department to determine the feasibility of successfully completing the desired Minor or Major.
Note: You will not be able to enrol in a Major or Minor during your studies, rather it is declared only after you have completed all of the course requirements and a formal request is submitted to the Registrar’s Office for review. Learn more.
You may wish to work toward a minor in another area of music. This is optional, and if you choose to enrol in the minor, the Minor will substitute for the Music Electives required for your program.
Currently, the following Minor programs offered through the Faculty of Music:
The course requirements for each of these programs are available in the Academic Calendar below the table corresponding to the specialization in that area. Students are not required to complete a Minor towards the degree/diploma. However, for those who choose to do so, the Minor will substitute for the Music Electives required for their program.
Completed in conjunction with your designated program, certificates provide you with the opportunity to explore the intersection between music and another discipline and broaden your musical perspectives in the process. These also also allow you to focus your interest in one or more specific area of music beyond your designated program and receive an annotation on your academic transcript as a result.
Students have the option of completing one or more Certificates in Music while working towards their undergraduate degree. Note that is an option within your degree and not a requirement for graduation.
Choose from one or more of the following Certificates in Musicwhile working toward your degree:
Health Applications in Music
Music Entrepreneurship
Music Technology
Piano Pedagogy
Popular Music Studies and Ethnomusicology
Popular Music Studies and Ethnomusicology with Ensemble Option
To obtain a Certificate, students must complete a sequence of courses in the respective area (1.5 credits). As all degree programs require the completion of a prescribed number of Music Electives, courses completed as part of the Music Elective requirement can be counted towards Certificate requirements. In cases where the Certificate requirements exceed the Music Elective requirements, additional courses must be completed to satisfy the Certificate requirements.
Options outside of U of T
Considering exploring outside of U of T and become a global citizen. Expand your world view and understand cultural differences.
Boost your self-confidence and independence and strengthen adaptability, communication and team-building skills.
Enhance your career opportunities. You will add an international perspective to your education and relate classroom study to real-world situations abroad.
Create lifelong friendships.
It’s a once in a lifetime experience!
Students are able to go on an exchange to any institution with which the University of Toronto has an agreement.
This is an amazing opportunity to develop your academic and professional skills and gain valuable international experience, in a country of your choice! All exchanges are administered by the Centre for International Experience. They also provide need-based funding to facilitate your study abroad.
The Faculty of Music currently has agreements with the following institutions:
Danish National Academy of Music (Odense, Denmark)
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Natal, Brazil)
Mozarteum University Salzburg (Salzburg, Austria)
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Glasgow, UK [Scotland])
University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, UK [Scotland])
Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, UK [England])
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (Cardiff, UK [Wales])
Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts (Helsinki, Finland)
It is recommended that students consider doing an exchange in Year 3 or 4 of their program, once they have successfully completed the core curriculum. An exchange can be for one term, or both terms. During an exchange, students pay tuition to the University of Toronto.
Complete a full-year arts and science elective in 3 to 6 weeks over the summer. Learning is not limited to the classroom! Locations become the “living textbook” and you will be completely immersed in the language, history, culture, art, religion, business and politics of the host country. The classes are relatively small classes and are taught by U of T professors or faculty from the host university.
Students wishing to complete one or more courses at another accredited university, for credit towards a Faculty of Music Degree, must apply to the Registrar prior to enrolling in the course(s). Calendar descriptions and course outlines must be provided.
An official Letter of Permission will be issued only for courses relevant to the student’s program and deemed to be fully equivalent to an appropriate University of Toronto course. The letter relays whether or not you are eligible for transfer credit, the course equivalencies (specific/unspecified) and/or exclusions, and any specific restrictions or conditions that may apply.
A highlight of my undergraduate degree was enrolling in U of T’s Summer Abroad program to study French at L’institut de Touraine in Tours, France. This wonderful opportunity made possible by Dr. Carolyne Sumner and the Experience France Award, was an incredibly fulfilling educational and immersive cultural experience. Through this course, I made many long lasting U of T friendships, sang at a local music venue and grew as both a musician and as a person.
