The Sydney Conservatorium of Music has a long tradition of producing singers of exceptional quality for concert and opera stages in Australia and worldwide. Your development as a singer and performer will be mentored and supported to reach your potential by teaching staff who are internationally experienced active performers, teachers and researchers.
At both an undergraduate and graduate level your focus will be on thorough technical and stylistic preparation for imaginative and engaged performance. Interpretative skills are supported by expert tuition in lyric diction as well as separate language classes.
The course provides excellent training in the four key areas of opera voice and performance, opera repertoire, opera diction/language and stage skills.
Each of these is drawn together in two staged, orchestrally-accompanied performances of operas per year, providing students with experience at a professional level which helps to equip them to enter the profession.
Submit an online application direct to the University of Sydney by clicking apply from this page. International applicants can apply through a University overseas representative (education agent) if they wish.
Entry is by audition, which is held at the Conservatorium. If you are unable to attend in person, you may provide a recording.
In your course application, please indicate if you will audition live. If not, please include your recorded audition via a web-link to a video streaming service such as YouTube, SoundCloud or provide an mp3/mp4 file via dropbox or GoogleDrive. Alternatively, you may post a DVD or a USB to: Ms Shauna Crick, 1 Conservatorium Road, Sydney NSW 2000.
Please make sure you follow the specific audition requirements found in the postgraduate audition requirements PDF on the right hand side of the Conservatorium's admission website.
Applicants should be at least 21 years old by 1 March of the year in which they intend to enrol.
To qualify for the award of the Graduate Diploma in Music (Opera Production) a candidate must complete 48 credit points of prescribed core units of study.
Applicants who do not have a recognised tertiary award but who demonstrate an equivalent musical ability and maturity at the audition and interview, and who can show considerable performing experience may be admitted.
Admission to the Graduate Diploma requires:
(a) a bachelor’s degree of higher award from the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification, in an appropriate discipline as determined by the School; or
(b) a graduate certificate from the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification, in an appropriate discipline as determined by the School; or
(c) completion of the requirements of an embedded graduate certificate in an appropriate discipline, as determined by the School, from the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification; or
(d) in exceptional circumstances the Head of School and Dean may admit applicants without these qualifications but whose evidence of experience and achievement is deemed by the Head of School and Dean to be equivalent, and
(e) successful completion of an audition and an interview.
The Opera Studies program will help you to develop the personal attributes needed for a career in performance, teaching or other fields such as:
Indicative Postgraduate Student Contribution Amount
The student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Tuition Fees website.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.
Indicative Postgraduate Domestic Tuition Fee
The tuition fee for a domestic postgraduate student is an indication only of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount.
Annual review and fee increase
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review by the University, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the student contribution and/or course fee. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protected clothing and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.
Indicative International Tuition Fees for Postgraduate Students
The tuition fee for international postgraduate students is an indication only of the fees payable in Year 1 for a standard full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). Depending on the calendar year in which you undertake your study, and if your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL, your tuition fee will differ from the indicative amount.
Annual review and fee increases
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and will increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental costs and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental costs additional to the tuition fees. Some of these incidental costs are significant, for example, course-specific materials, tools, protective clothing, and equipment. Further information about these costs is available from https://sydney.edu.au/students/materials-and-equipment.html. In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through a government approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government. Further information is available from https://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/living-costs/health-insurance.html.
Visa/MasterCard/American Express/JCB surcharge
Please note that a surcharge of 1.53% will apply for payments made by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or JCB. The surcharge is subject to review and may change. Information about payment methods and the surcharge is set out at: http://sydney.edu.au/study/finances-fees-costs/fees-and-loans/paying-your-fees.html.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about fees.