The Wits School of Arts (Music) is the music department of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. Established in 1921 as the School of Music at the University College of Johannesburg, it is one of South Africa's most innovative higher education music programs. The department offers an integrated Bachelor of Music (BMus) degree that limits first-year intake to approximately 30 students, creating a small, focused learning environment with individual academic mentoring. Unlike most music schools, Wits does not stream students into separate jazz, classical, African music, or music technology degrees. Instead, all BMus students receive training across multiple traditions: a classical flautist also studies jazz theory and film music composition, and a musical theatre voice student learns orchestral arranging and South African music history.
Programs and Degrees
Wits Music offers a four-year integrated BMus degree with the following structure:
First year: Film, Visual and Performing Arts; Music Literacies and Skills; Music Performance Studies; plus two BA semester courses and a language requirement (isiZulu, Sesotho, or South African Sign Language, with alternatives including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish).
Second year: Critical Music Studies; Music Literacies and Skills; Music Performance Studies; or one BA year course.
Third year: Music in History and Society covering Music and the Theatre, Music Sound and the Moving Image, Musical Modernisms, and Music in Contemporary Lives. Composition and Performance at the IIIA and IIIB level. Additional options include Cultural Policy and Management, Animation, Interactive Media, and Writing and Interactivity.
Fourth year: Music Criticism (Research Project) and Music Business Studies, plus a specialization in one of the following:
- Composition
- Performance
- Community Music
- Business and the Arts
- Long Essay
Students choose a practical focus in jazz or classical music, with voice for musical theatre as an additional option. All students gain skills in music technology and studio practice, composition and arrangement, and community music-making.
Wits Music is the only university music department in Africa that is part of a School of Arts including television and film, dramatic arts, digital arts, fine arts, and arts management departments. This structure allows music students to collaborate across disciplines and prepare for careers in converging media and arts industries.
The department recently opened the state-of-the-art Chris Seabrooke Music Hall, providing a dedicated performance and recording space.
Admissions and Tuition
Entry requirements for the BMus:
- APS score: 34 or higher
- English: Level 5 (Home Language or First Additional Language)
- Audition and interview: Required at the Wits School of Arts
- Wait-listing: Applicants with 30 to 33 APS points may be wait-listed subject to place availability
International applicants must meet specific entry requirements as outlined on the Wits website.
Tuition for the 2026 academic year:
- BMus first year: R62,720 (approximately $3,400 USD at current exchange rates)
- Upfront payment (South African residents): R9,340 before registration
- International students: Must pay 75 percent of fees before registration, with the remaining 25 percent due by June 30
- Full payment deadline: Last working day in June 2026
- Early payment discount: 5 percent discount available for 2026 student fees
Students can apply for financial aid through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), National Arts Council bursaries, and SAMRO bursaries (available from the second year of study onward).
Real-World Example
A jazz pianist from Johannesburg accepted into the BMus program for 2026 pays R62,720 (approximately $3,400 USD) for the first year. With the upfront payment of R9,340 due at registration and the balance due by the end of June, the student manages payments in two installments. If the student qualifies for the 5 percent early payment discount, tuition drops to approximately R59,584 ($3,230 USD). Over four years, total tuition comes to approximately R230,000 to R250,000 ($12,500 to $13,600 USD), depending on course selections and whether the fourth year has fewer courses (which reduces fees). The student studies jazz performance while also taking classical theory, film music composition, music technology, and South African music history. They perform in the Chris Seabrooke Music Hall and collaborate with students from the film, drama, and digital arts departments on interdisciplinary projects. If the student receives a SAMRO bursary from their second year onward, they may reduce their annual cost by R15,000 to R25,000.
Notable alumni include singer Sibongile Khumalo (one of South Africa's most versatile vocalists), composer and bandleader James Phillips (a leading figure in South African punk and new wave), composer Kevin Volans (associated with the post-minimalist movement and the Cologne School), and musician Johnny Clegg. Academic alumni include Martin Scherzinger (professor at NYU), James Davies (professor at UC Berkeley), and Nicol Hammond (assistant professor at UC Santa Cruz).
Notable Alumni in Detail
Johnny Clegg (1953 to 2019)
Johnny Clegg was a singer, songwriter, dancer, and anthropologist. He studied Social Anthropology at Wits, earning a BA in 1976 and a BA Honours in 1977. He then lectured in the Wits Social Anthropology Department for four years, writing scholarly papers on Zulu music and dance.
Clegg formed the band Juluka with Sipho Mchunu in 1971, becoming one of the first white South African musicians to perform with black musicians during apartheid. He later formed Savuka in 1986. His 1987 single "Scatterlings of Africa" reached audiences worldwide and appeared on the soundtrack of the 1988 film Rain Man. Clegg sold over 5 million records during his career. He received the French Knight of Arts and Letters (1991), the Order of the British Empire (2015), and the South African Order of Ikhamanga in Silver (2012). Wits awarded him an honorary doctorate in music in 2007.
Sibongile Khumalo (1957 to 2021)
Sibongile Khumalo was a vocalist who performed classical, jazz, opera, and traditional South African music. She graduated with an Honours Degree from Wits Music in the late 1970s. Nelson Mandela called her South Africa's "First Lady of Song" after she performed at his presidential inauguration in 1994. She also led the national anthems at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final.
Khumalo won the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Music in 1993 and received four South African Music Awards. She performed with the Brodsky Quartet, Hugh Masekela, Jack DeJohnette, and Danilo Perez. Her albums include Ancient Evenings (1996), Live at the Market Theatre (1998), and Immortal Secrets (2000). Wits awarded her an honorary doctorate in music posthumously in 2021. She was appointed to the Order of Ikhamanga in 2008.
Kevin Volans (born 1949)
Kevin Volans is a composer associated with the post-minimalist movement and the Cologne School. He studied at Wits and later worked with Karlheinz Stockhausen in Germany. His piano concerto was premiered by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas with pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin. His works have been performed at the BBC Proms and by the Royal Academy of Music. Volans's music blends African and Western classical traditions.
James Phillips (1956 to 2015)
James Phillips was a composer, bandleader, and singer-songwriter. He was a leading figure in South African punk and new wave music. He fronted the band Corporal Punishment and later the Cherry Faced Lurchers. Phillips used his music to protest apartheid and became associated with the Voelvry movement of the 1980s.
Academic Alumni
Several Wits Music graduates hold faculty positions at major international universities. Martin Scherzinger is a professor at New York University. James Davies is a professor at UC Berkeley. Nicol Hammond is an assistant professor at UC Santa Cruz.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Wits Music is the right choice if you want a rigorous music education in an African context at a fraction of the cost of American or European institutions. At approximately $3,400 USD per year, the BMus is one of the most affordable university music degrees available from a globally recognized institution.
The integrated curriculum is a significant differentiator. Rather than locking yourself into a single genre, you graduate with training across jazz, classical, African music, music technology, and composition. This breadth prepares you for the reality of working as a musician in South Africa and across the African continent, where versatility across genres often matters more than specialization.
The interdisciplinary structure of the Wits School of Arts is unique on the continent. As a music student, you can collaborate with film students on scoring projects, work with digital arts students on interactive media, and engage with drama students on performance pieces. These collaborations build the kind of portfolio that is increasingly relevant in a media-convergent industry.
If you are an international student, note that fees are the same as for South African students (local tuition rates apply to SADC and international students), making Wits an affordable option compared to music schools in the US, UK, or Europe. The audition and interview requirement means you should prepare a strong performance demonstration and be ready to discuss your musical background and goals.
Visit the official Wits Music website for full entry requirements and application details.
Related Resources
- Music Schools Directory - Compare Wits with other music schools
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Project streaming revenue as a working musician
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Income strategies for performing musicians
- Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - Career planning for music school graduates
Similar Music Schools
- UCT South African College of Music - The other major university music program in South Africa, based in Cape Town
- Berklee College of Music - A global leader in contemporary music education with similar interdisciplinary values
- Royal Academy of Music - A leading conservatory with strong jazz and classical programs
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama - An interdisciplinary arts school with a similar cross-genre philosophy
