| Qualification code: | 90089 |
| NQF level: | 7 |
| Total credits: | 360 |
| SAQA ID: | 101510 |
| APS/AS: | 20 |
| Maximum time to complete this qualification: | 8 years |
Purpose statement:
This qualification prepares qualifying students to function as professional musicians, composers, music industry specialists, and music scholars. Qualifying students will have specialist knowledge and skills in African music, composition studies, music technology, musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, and the music business. They will be able to interpret music from historical and oral sources, compose music in a range of popular, jazz, and art music styles, and orchestrate combinations of African and Western musical instruments. On completion of their studies students are qualified for careers as professional musicians as composers, producers, and researchers, or in collaboration with other musicians in recording, editing, and mastering professional work for the recording industry. Graduates will be qualified to work in the music business and the creative arts industries in general. Graduates will also be qualified to work in the educational sector, as music critics and writers, and as composers and producers for film, television, radio, and broadcast media. Graduates will be qualified to conduct basic research, and for admission to postgraduate studies in musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, and composition studies.
Your admission to Unisa is dependent on you meeting the specific admission requirements for your chosen qualification.
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) (Degree endorsement) with Music as one of the subjects passed or equivalent,
or
Theory of Music (Unisa Grade 5, ABRSM Grade 6/Trinity Grade 6 Music Theory, Unisa Music Foundations Short Learning Programme) or an equivalent,
and
A National Senior Certificate (NSC) (Degree endorsement) with at least 50% in the language of teaching and learning,
or
A Senior Certificate (SC) with matriculation exemption or qualify for the exemption from the Matriculation Board with at least a D symbol on HG or a C symbol on SG in the language of teaching and learning.
Applicants who do not comply with the above requirements, should consider applying for the Bachelor of Arts with Musicology as a major, or the Unisa SLP Music Foundations.
Applicants who would like to apply for admission through recognition of prior learning (RPL) must be at least 23 years old; have completed at least Grade 10; and have at least five years' relevant work experience in the study field in which they would like to apply for admission to a qualification. For more information on RPL criteria visit: http://www.unisa.ac.za/rpl
Pay the application fee once you've received your student number:
Please note that this application fee is non-refundable even if you decide not to study through Unisa, do not qualify for admission to Unisa or cannot be offered a space due to limited spaces available.
Click here to find out more about Unisa's student fees, and the bursaries and loans for Unisa students.
Apply for admission to undergraduate qualifications for the 2026 academic year between 18 August and 10 October 2025.
Please take note of the following:
Unisa will send the necessary information about registration dates and the registration process to all successful applicants who have confirmed their acceptance of Unisa's offer. Visit www.unisa.ac.za/register for registration information.