There is music all over, whether you like it or not. Music can bring to mind many different questions. How is music composed? Who are the people who make the music we hear? Why are there so many different musical styles? What function does a musical score serve in a film? Are their specific rules or norms? Musicology is the study of the music of the past and present in our society and in other cultures. Some musicologists consult archives for the information they are looking for, others travel to Siberia or Indonesia to record and describe the local music. If you do a Bachelor’s in Musicology, you will discover a wealth of ideas about music and forms of music from various societies and periods. The UvA and the University of Utrecht are the only places in the Netherlands where students can do a complete study programme in Musicology. There are no musical entrance requirements for the Bachelor’s programme, but students do have to be able to read notes. There are staff notations and written music in the literature and study material used in the programme. It is also important for students to be able to play musical instruments, preferably instruments they can play together on. Students who major in Musicology also study the history and culture of the society where music is composed or performed. This means Musicology interfaces with other cultural study programmes at the UvA such as Theatre Studies, Art History and general Cultural Studies. In addition to general cultural subjects, the Bachelor’s programme in Musicology includes courses in the whole field of musicology, the general principles of music, the history of Western music, ethnomusicology, and proficiency in music. There is also ample opportunity to take electives at other departments, do an internship, or do part of the study programme abroad. After completing the Bachelor’s programme in Musicology, you will graduate as a Bachelor of Arts (BA).

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