Fully Online MA Voice Pedagogy
Specialising in Singing For Health
Now Taking Applications for April 2023

Overview

Overview

Singing for Health has become a significant area of research and interest in the past two decades in the UK.

This course provides an academic pathway to facilitate the study and research of Singing for Health.

Students will be at the forefront of innovation in this programme, with an opportunity to engage in Masters level practitioner research focused on Singing for Health and Well-being, culminating in a Voice Pedagogy MA.

Students on this pathway have examined the impact of singing on blood pressure, strategies for working with lung health groups, working with stroke, chronic pain, mental health, postnatal depression and Parkinson’s disease.

Tara Leiper has generously shared her examination presentation on the health and wellbeing benefits of online singing groups during Covid 19.

Tara’s paper is due to be published by the Voice and Speech Review later this year.

Structure & Content

This course will equip learners with knowledge of the history and development of the singing for health movement and provide up to date summaries of research to help inform future studies. You will be supported in your individual interests as well as benefit from group learning sessions and from external specialists.

We encourage students to sign up to the Singing for Health Network (SHN), which will also provide invaluable resources and opportunities to connect with other practitioners, researchers and those working in healthcare. There may be opportunities to platform your research via the SHN alongside conferences and events.Previous MA students with a specialism in Singing for Health have presented their research at the BVA, Spheres of Singing conference, for the MARCH Network, Parkinson’s UK conference and for the Centre for Child Mental Health.

Students have also had work published in peer reviewed journals, such as the Internal Journal for Community Music, and have independently published resources which are available via Amazon and Waterstones.

Research in Singing for Health has led to previous students securing support and funding from the NHS as well as charitable trusts and foundations.

You will have access to a range of video content and library material, in addition to the extensive Voice Pedagogy resources, including the following listed below.

You will be free to explore areas that suit your practice.

Introduction to Singing for Health – history, research, policy, current landscape, including Social Prescribing
Research overviews of key topics within Singing for Health (for example, Respiratory conditions, Postnatal Depression and Trauma & Mental Health)
A library of research papers, covering a range of health conditions and topics within Singing for Health research

The course consists of one non-assessed assignment and six micro-projects, allowing you to explore different aspects of your practice.

You will also receive step-by-step guidance on how to complete the assignments and engage in research.

Formative Assignment	Open choice
Module 1: Introductory Module – 4,500 words	This module facilitates the exploration of theory in part 1 with direct application to practice in part 2
Module 2: Research Methods – 4,500 words	Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
Module 3: Work-Based Research Report – 9,000 words	Open Choice: Choose an area of your practice to investigate. You can develop strategies for implementation and then test them out. Or you can deepen understanding by examining and analysing existing methods.
Independent Study – 9,000 words	Open Choice: This is an opportunity to carry out a detailed literature review to strengthen your practice. Evidence of practice application can take the form of a curriculum, strategy design, tools, workbooks, etc.
Independent Study – 9,000 words	As above
Final dissertation – 15,000 words	The final piece will consist of primary research in an area of your choice.

Will I be able to fit it into my working commitments and family life?

The course is designed specifically for practitioners who combine a busy working life and family life. The course is designed to study one module at a time. The deadlines are set and students work in tandem with one another. The deadlines give a generous time allocation as your working life is factored into the calculation. Our retention rate is very high with the majority of our students continuing onto the MA.

Tutor Support

Tutorial support is pivotal to your development throughout the course. You will be offered contact via Zoom, and you can book in for sessions as you need them. We can provide advanced support where necessary, and eligible students with registered disabilities receive additional one-to-one support from the university.

It is beneficial to discuss project ideas and to re-shape projects as they progress. We also offer group sessions on Zoom to ease isolation and share ideas with other students. We try to provide these at a time that suits everyone, although time differences and work commitments may make this problematic, and for this reason, we will record the sessions for you to access the content at a later date.

With regards to other support, you will have access to the UWTSD online library, as well as their support structures.

These include learning support, disability advice, and counselling services.

You will be able to access a tutor five days a week, between the hours of 9am-5pm (UK time).

Applications

Eligibility

The pre-requisite for the MA is a Degree or degree level equivalent.
We do accept Trinity and ABRSM higher-level Diplomas providing there is an academic component to them.
We will accept level 5 qualifications in some cases, and we do accept level 6 transcriptions where a degree level qualification has not been completed.
Please do enquire as to your qualification status.
Students without the requisite qualifications can undertake the foundation course at no extra cost and forms part of our inclusivity policy.

Applications

Our MA programme is moderated and accredited by our academic partner, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Applicants will therefore go through a two-stage application process, with the first tier of application through the Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop) and the second tier of application through the University.

As part of the application process, you will meet with a Course Tutor for an interview. This is an excellent way for you to find out more about the programme and discuss your background and interests with one of our tutors. During this interview, a Course Tutor will assess your suitability for the programme and be able to answer any questions you may have.

Applicants must have a degree qualification, if you are not educated to degree level, you may wish to undertake our Foundation Course.

Applicants will be asked to provide the following:

Two references (one of these must be academic) available upon request.
A personal statement detailing your reasons for wishing to undertake this postgraduate programme of study. This should be between 500-1000 words and include your professional and academic experience, your interests, your motivation for undertaking this programme of study, and what you hope to gain for your career path and continuing professional development.
Copies of your highest qualification (degree certificate and transcript).

During the formal University enrolment process, International students will be asked to provide a Personal Statement, ID, qualification certificates/transcripts, academic references and proof of English language level to UWTSD. This is in line with UK Government regulations for higher education institutions. Voice Study Centre (formerly Voice Workshop) will be supporting applicants and on hand to provide advice and guidance through this second tier of their application process with the University.

International Applicants

If an applicant has:

Successfully completed a recognised undergraduate or postgraduate qualification, at a recognised institution based in one of the above majority English speaking countries (certificates, transcripts and/or other documents stating language of delivery and assessment may be required by the University prior to an offer being made).
Successfully completed within the last five years a recognised undergraduate or postgraduate qualification at a recognised institution that has been certified as being taught in the medium of English (certificates, transcripts and / or other documents stating language of delivery and assessment may be required by the University prior to an offer being made).
A UKVI recognised Secure English Language Test awarded within 2 years of applying for entry to the University.
One of the following English Language Test documents awarded within 2 years of applying for entry to the University:

NAME OF QUALIFICATION	LEVEL / SCORE REQUIRED
IELTS (Academic)	Minimum overall score of 6.0 with no lower than 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening or Speaking.
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE).	Minimum score of 169 or above with no lower than 162 in Reading, Writing, Listening or Speaking.
Cambridge English: Business Vantage (BEC Vantage) – for Business courses only.	Minimum score of 75 or above.
Cambridge English: Business Higher (BEC Higher) – for Business courses only	Minimum score of 60 or above
BULATS: Business Language Testing Service (online certificated version taken with certifying BULATS agents) – for Business courses only	Minimum score of 65 or above.
Cambridge English: Financial (ICFE) – for Business courses only.	Minimum score of 60 or above.
Cambridge English: Legal (ILEC) – for Business courses only	Minimum score of 60 or above.
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)	C1
Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)	Benchmark Score of 56 with a Minimum Score of 51 in Communicative Skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking). Scores may fall below the Benchmark Score in the Communicative Skills by no more than the specified Minimum Score and in no more than two Communicative Skills.
University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Wales Academic Language Test	Minimum overall score of 6.0 with no lower than 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) ll	Distinction in each component
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) lll	Pass or above overall, with Passes or above in each component
International Baccalaureate	Higher Level 5 or Standard Level 5 Language A or Higher Level 5 or Standard Level 5 Language B
Cambridge IGCSE	Minimum Grade C (grade 4) in IGCSE in English as a first language, Grade C (grade 4) in IGCSE in English as a Second Language satisfy the English language proficiency requirements for undergraduate study

Fees & Timescale

Programme of study	Credits	Length of course
Full MA	180	33 months

The MA consists of 180 credits in total. There is an opportunity to exit with 60 credits and a Post Graduate Certificate (PGCert), though the majority of our students continue on to the full MA pathway. Please be aware that the PGCert is part of the MA as it forms the first 60 credits; it is NOT a separate course.

We’re now taking applications for our April 2023 cohort.

April 2023 Fees

Programme of study	UK Students US Students	International Students

MA	£9,995 (VAT inclusive) total cost $15,000 USD total cost	£11,995 total cost

Programme of study

UK Students

US Students

International Students

£9,995 (VAT inclusive) total cost

$15,000 USD total cost

£11,995 total cost

If you decide to enrol onto the full MA after completing the PGCert, the fee you paid for the PGCert will be deducted from the MA fee. For example, after completing the PGCert you will need to pay £6,495 (UK) or £8,000 (International) to complete the full MA.

Students that opt to pay the full amount up front rather than installments, will receive a $250 discount. The total amount payable in that case will be $14,750.

The SLC will provide up to £11,500 of your tuition fees, which will be paid in instalments.

Please note that once you have enrolled on to the MA, you are contractually bound even if you do not complete it.

Also, be aware that our instalment programme may not match the Student Loan Company, and temporary borrowing may be necessary.

Students who require US Federal Student Aid funding will need to apply for the MA to access the loan.

For student loan enquiries, please follow this link.

For UK based MA students, do be aware that student finance instalments may not align with the tuition fee schedule. In this case, you will still have to abide by the tuition fee deadlines. This is due to differences in student loan schedules that individual applicants receive and it is not possible to facilitate differing agreements. We would advise you to make sure that you are able to financially commit to this before your application.

October 2022 Payment Schedule

(April 2023 Payment Schedule coming soon)

MA Course fees

Course fees are all non-refundable (apart from the initial

£1,000

$1000

which has the refundable 14-day cooling off period) and must be paid in accordance with the

instalment

installment

schedule below.

Students from Northern Ireland are eligible for finance for the fees payable to the university only.

Students from Scotland are not eligible for student finance, however, as policies do change please consult Student Finance Scotland.

ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

October 2022 – MA Fee Payment Schedule

* discount of 5% applicable if full MA fee is paid up front

UK £9,995* $15,000 USD*	International £11,995*
£1,000 $1,000 – Deposit	£1,000 – Deposit
£1,600 $3,133 – 1st November 2022	£2,995 – 1st November 2022
£2,725 $4,133 – 1st November 2023	£2,995 – 1st November 2023
£2,600 $4,133 – 30th August 2024	£2,935 – 30th August 2024
£2,070 $2,600 – UWTSD	£2,070 – UWTSD

UWTSD fees are payable in instalments.

October 2022 – PGCert Fee Payment Schedule

UK £3,500
£1,000 – Deposit
£800 – November 2022
£800 – July 2023
£900 – UWTSD

Testimonials

For full student experience stories and testimonials, please follow the links below.

What opportunities will the course give me?

Until recently, all of our students have been based in the UK and the opportunities created are therefore relevant to their locality.

We have recently seen the completion of our first MA and from this cohort of 20:

3 have been accepted to present at EuroVox 2020.
3 have been accepted to present at the Society of Music Education in Ireland.
1 has been asked to present at Mental Health Network conference specialising in Singing and Health.
1 presented her research at the British Voice Association – Vocal Health Forum in 2019.
3 have moved into teaching at University level on the basis of their qualification.