The Doctor of Musical Arts is a three-year full-time programme in Music with three areas of specialisation: Performance, Composition or Studio Production. The DMA offers creative musicians the opportunity to develop their skills to the highest artistic and professional levels, while working within the innovative and stimulating environment of Otago's Music Department.

Attaining a DMA will demonstrate your mastery in a creative field of music perfomance, composition or studio production. The DMA signals to the professional and creative musical world that you are capable of independently conceiving and presenting high quality musical creative outputs in your area of specialisation.

1. Admission to the degree programme shall be subject to the approval of the Senate.

   Note: Applications may be made at any time. Applications must be approved before the candidate begins the research work.

2. Every candidate must be a university graduate and produce evidence of ability to undertake study in the proposed area. Such evidence shall include:
   1. a Bachelor’s degree with first or upper second class Honours or equivalent; or
   2. a Master’s degree (including an appropriate research component); or
   3. appropriate experience in the proposed area of study.
3. A candidate for a Master of Music degree may apply to transfer to candidature for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts, and may have the date of admission backdated as is considered appropriate.
4. Initial admission to the degree programme shall normally be provisional, and shall be confirmed on receipt of a satisfactory progress report after no less than six months and no more than 12 months of full- or part-time study.
5. If admission to the degree programme is not confirmed, then either provisional admission may be extended for one period of up to six months or the candidate shall be required to withdraw or to enrol for another degree. If admission is not confirmed after a period of extension, the candidate shall be required to withdraw or to enrol for another degree.

   Note: A person wishing to undertake the programme in Performance is required to sit an audition before admission into the programme.