Sacred Music (MLitt) 2025 entry

The MLitt in Sacred Music offers a unique interdisciplinary formation in Sacred Music for musicians, scholars, and leaders in artistic ministry. It is taught jointly by the School of Divinity’s Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts and the University of St Andrews Music Centre.

Sir James MacMillan, Claire Innes-Hopkins, Dr Michael Downes, Dr George Corbett and Dr Michael Ferguson talk about the Sacred Music MLitt

Video transcript

[Choral music plays]

Dr George Corbett: We’re very excited about this collaboration between our School of Divinity and the University of St Andrews Music Centre here in St Mary’s College where Theology has been taught for almost 500 years. Our MLitt presents a unique opportunity to reflect together about what makes music sacred, about why music is so important for the church and for wider society today, about some of those theological, pastoral, aesthetic considerations that have shaped – and that continue to shape – the extraordinary diversity of sacred music in different Christian worship traditions, denominations and cultures.

[Choral music plays]

Sir James MacMillan: They say that music is the most abstract of the arts, but we also know that music has deep roots in our culture, and especially our Judaeo-Christian culture, and it’s not just in the past its actually in the 20th and now the 21st centuries as well. You can find this search for the sacred at the heart of modernism, at the heart of modernity, composer after composer finding new ways to tease out the mysterious and the divine. It’s very exciting that a new course like this MLitt here at the University of St Andrews will allow scholars and artists and composers and theologians to explore that bigger context in a joint search for the sacred.

[Choral music plays]

Claire Innes-Hopkins: St Salvator’s Chapel Choir is our flagship choir here at the University of St Andrews. The Choir’s history extends back to the founding of the University in the early 15th century. Nowadays we sing three services per week including repertoire spanning the six centuries of the University’s history. We also regularly commission and perform new sacred music, including our recent premiere and recording of six new works as part of our Theoartistry composers’ scheme.

[Choral music plays]

Dr Michael Downes: If you decide to come and study sacred music here in St Andrews, you’ll instantly become part of a vibrant musical community. We have literally hundreds of concerts and performances each academic year, and represented in our programmes are some of the Uk’s leading artists. Ensembles in residence at the University include artists of the calibre of the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and The Wallace Collection. If you come and study here, you’ll have the chance not only to hear these artists and others like them but also to study with them, to make music with them, and to learn from their insights.

[Choral music plays]

Dr Michael Ferguson: one of the core aspects of our Masters is that those working on it are active in sacred music outside of the University walls. Our Masters retains close links with a variety of churches and worship traditions. Within that we’re open to the full range of approaches to sacred music making.

Dr George Corbett: Our MLitt is a stand-alone qualification but for some it will also be a stepping stone, a launch pad, for further doctoral research.

[Choral music plays and ends]

Start date: September 2025
End date: September 2026
Duration: One year full time
School: School of Divinity

Apply for 2025 entry Register your interest

Sacred Music (MLitt) 2025 entry

Application deadline

Thursday 7 August 2025

Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships.

Entry requirements

A 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree and relevant experience in theology or music. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application requirements

CV
personal statement (300 to 500 words)
sample of your own, single-authored academic work in English (2000 words)
two original signed academic references
academic transcripts and degree certificates

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

English language proficiency

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The MLitt in Sacred Music is a one year full-time or two years part-time taught programme and is run jointly by the School of Divinity's Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts (ITIA) and the University of St Andrews Music Centre.

The course is aimed at those intending to carry out church music performance and leadership roles, clergy, and those seeking a self-contained programme of study in sacred music or planning to pursue doctoral research in the field.

Students will deepen their understanding of the theological and artistic underpinnings of sacred music-making, and, where applicable, will develop their practical skills of sacred music performance and leadership.

The University of St Andrews has a range of unique music facilities for Sacred Music students, including the new state-of-the-art Laidlaw Music Centre. Students will be supported by ITIA and Music Centre staff who have research and practical expertise in sacred music.

Highlights

Develop skills relevant to your area of specialism in music making (e.g. composition, choral directing, organ, instrumental music in worship) or in music journalism and lecturing.
Gain insights into the theological and philosophical underpinnings of music in worship, both in the past and in the present day.
Study at the School of Divinity, based in the ancient St Mary’s College Quad, and at the University of St Andrews Laidlaw Music Centre.
Receive expert tuition from musicians and scholars working actively in the field of sacred music, including Sir James MacMillan, composer and professor of Theology, Imagination and the Arts.
Benefit from excellent music resources, including cutting-edge electronic music studios, a purpose-built recital hall, four pipe organs, and the acclaimed St Salvator’s Chapel Choir.

Modules

The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.

Students are expected to take three compulsory modules and one optional  module followed by either a final dissertation or a practical project. Each module has varying teaching and assessment methods.

Music and the Sacred in Theory and Practice: introduces students to the wide diversity of music in its relation to the sacred, in and outside different denominational church contexts.
Making Music in a Church Context: enables students to develop their skills in such roles as choir director, organist, composer, worship ensemble leader, and music journalism, through specialist small-group teaching.
Sacred Music in the West: History and Context: invites students to explore when, where, and why Christians have made music in their worship, focusing on the history and development of sacred music-making in a variety of confessional traditions informed by Western musical practice.

In Semester 2, students must pick an optional module. This optional module can either be from the Theology and the Arts MLitt or from another Divinity MLitt.

An example of  a Theology and the Arts option:

Christian Doctrine and the Arts

Optional choices are subject to the approval of the course coordinator and subject to change each year. Some also may require a minimum number of participants or only allow limited numbers of students. Read more about curriculum development at the University of St Andrews.

The end-of-year assessment provides students with the opportunity to draw together the theoretical, philosophical, and professional practice strands of the course. Students may choose from either a research or practical assessment.

Students choosing a research assessment must complete a 12,000-word dissertation on a topic in sacred music of their choice. Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise students in their choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process.

Those choosing a practical project have the choice of either a recital of sacred music with a written exegesis of research on the programme (5000 words) or a composition portfolio of sacred music with critical reflection (5000 words).

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, an exit award is available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.

The programme consists of four taught modules taken over two semesters followed by either a 12,000-word dissertation or a practical project undertaken during the summer.

Students will learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, practical workshops and one-to-one supervision or teaching.

Outwith the core requirements of the course, students are encouraged to attend ITIA’s weekly research seminar and participate in the vibrant musical life of the University.

Assessment comprises a combination of practical and theoretical methods.

Practical assessment methods may include:

the musical performance of sacred music repertoire
a performance of originally composed sacred music
a live lecture presentation on a topic researched during the course.

Events

The Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts (ITIA) is a vibrant community of established scholars, post-docs, and graduate students. 

The weekly research seminar, at which internal and guest speakers discuss their ongoing work, is at the heart of the Institute’s day-to-day life.

The ITIA research forum allows postgraduate students to discuss ongoing research and also provides professional and practical training.

Fees

Home
£12,030

Overseas
£25,900

Application fee

Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.

15% Recent Graduate Discount

If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.

Taught postgraduate scholarships Postgraduate loans

After your degree

Careers

The MLitt in Sacred Music will benefit those wishing to pursue a career as a church musician, or who are already active as church music makers.

Theology and Music, and Sacred Music, are growing fields of interdisciplinary scholarship, and this programme will also benefit those wishing to pursue doctoral study in the area.

Previous graduates of the MLitt in Sacred Music have gone on to church music leadership and performing roles, active ministry, doctoral research at St Andrews and elsewhere, and positions in the wider field of music and the arts.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Further study

In addition to the MLitt, the School of Divinity offers a two-year residential Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree option in Theology and the Arts.

Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.

Postgraduate research

What to do next

Information sessions

Meet our staff, learn more, and ask questions about how our courses can work for you.

Contact us

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2826
Email: divinitypg@st-andrews.ac.uk
Address: School of Divinity
St Mary's College
South Street
St Andrews
KY16 9JU

School of Divinity website

Legal notices

Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy

Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.

Page last updated: 11 July 2024