Music Courses in UK

Did you know that there is a Beatles Course offered by the University of Liverpool to study the impact of their music on culture, language, and lifestyle? The UK is popular for producing some of the greatest music and musicians in the world. To keep their legacy alive, the music schools and universities offer a range of music courses in the UK to prepare young minds and talented students a chance to sharpen their skills and techniques.

Why Study Music in UK?

• The UK has made many great contributions to the world of music. From Bealtes, Rolling Stones to Elton, Amy Winehouse and Adele, the country has produced world’s greatest musical treasures who have defined the industry.
• Studying music in the UK will allow you to focus on a wide range of musical genres alongside gaining knowledge about theoretical and practical modules.
• Studying music courses in UK means gaining a proficiency in a range of specialisations like musical performance, composition, and production
• Students will be able to develop their creativity, communication ,performance skills and work on their teamwork in the form of seminars, lectures and practical sessions. The module will focus on  specific periods of music, composition, performance and collaborative practice.
• After you have completed the first year of your study you will be allowed to focus on your interested genre by customising your study plan and many teachers  in these universities are industry professionals with years of musical experience.

Best Universities in UK for Music Courses

The top universities in the UK that offer Music Courses are listed below, according to the QS World University Rankings 2022:

UK Universities	Complete University Guide 2022	QS World Rankings for Performing Arts 2021
University of Oxford	1	=12
Royal College of Music	–	2
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland	–	3
University of Cambridge	2	14
Durham University	3	–
University of Manchester	4	51-100
University of Edinburgh	5	51-100
Royal Holloway University of London	6	18
University of Southampton	7	–
University of Glasgow	8	51-100
University of Bristol	9	51-100
University of Birmingham	10	51-100

Also Read: Universities in the UK

Conservatoires for Music Courses in UK

Conservatoires are colleges for the study of classical music and are common in Continental European Tradition. The UK has a total number of 11 conservatoires where you can apply for a course in music. Out of these 11, 9 are a part of the UCAS service. These are :

• Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
• Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
• Leeds Conservatoire
• Royal Academy of Music
• Royal College of Music
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• Royal Northern College of Music
• Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
• Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

The Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama are not part of the UCAS Conservatoire service and you will need to apply to them through their respective websites. 

*The difference between studying at a University and a Conservatoire is that the latter will focus more upon practical learning while the former will be more focused on theoretical concepts such as history, analysis, and philosophy of music. Further, the degree offered by Conservatoires is referred to as a Bachelor of Music (BMus) rather than the generic BA used by most universities. 

Courses Available/ Specialisations

As a Music graduate, you can have a career as a performer or work behind the scenes in the making of a musical piece. Listed below are some common courses offered by universities, colleges, and conservatories.

• Music
• Musical theatre
• Music education
• Music and communities
• Sound and music for games
• Commercial songwriting
• Music business
• Songwriting
• Sound engineering
• Audio recording and production
• Music composition and technology
• Instrumental performance
• Music (classical)
• Master of Composition
• Bachelor of Music
• Musical theatre performance
• Conducting
• Music management

Also Read: Top Courses in the UK After 12th Arts

How to Apply?

In the case of Undergraduate programs, you need to apply through the UCAS. In the case of Conservatoires, you have to apply through the UCAS Conservatoire service. Postgraduate courses are applied for through the respective websites of the university/conservatoire you aim to apply to.

Eligibility Criteria 

The following is the eligibility to study music programs in UK:

Undergraduate

• Typical A- Level Requirements – ABB (75-80%, depends on Board) including music as a subject.
• IELTS Requirement – A total score of 6.0 with no lower than 5.5 in any component. 
• *As Music is a creative subject, many students are accepted on the basis of talent and merit.

Postgraduate

• Postgraduate studies typically require at least a 2:2 score (50-60%) in your bachelor subject.

Conservatoire 

Conservatories generally have the same grade requirements as universities. They also accept admission through auditions, which can be either a performance or an interview. Audition locations are available around the world but if you can’t attend any you have the option to send in a video or audio recording instead. Average IELTS Requirements – 6.0 with no less than 5.5

Documents Required

• Academic Transcripts as proof of your academic achievements.
• Proof of English Proficiency scores
• Proof of Funds as evidence to pay for the tuition fees and monthly living cost for the first year
• Resume
• Two academic reference letters
• SAT scores 
• ACT scores 
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) for studying in the UK.

For a more detailed guide, check out this blog on How to Study in the UK.

Scholarships

If you plan well in advance, you can apply to an extensive range of scholarships offered by the UK Government and Universities. Here are the best scholarships for Indian students to study in the UK:

• British Chevening Scholarships for International Scholarships
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Scholarship
• GREAT Scholarships
• A.S Hornby Educational Trust Scholarship
• Felix Scholarships
• Rhodes Scholarship
• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
• Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT)
• Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarships
• Inlaks Scholarships 
• Scotland Saltire Scholarships
• Goa Education Trust Scholarships
• Queen Mary University Scholarships
• University of Westminster Scholarships

Career Prospects

Music is a popular degree subject. Typically, students find work within six months of completing their undergraduate program. They can also opt for postgraduate studies. They can find a number of careers and jobs in the world of music, as listed below. 

Job Type	Average Base Salary (United Kingdom)
Musician	£19,615 (₹20.1 Lacs)
Sound Recordist	£24,078 (₹24.7 Lacs)
Music Tutor	£29,075 (₹29.8 Lacs)
Music Producer	£20,742 (₹21.2 Lacs)
Music Manager	£29,681 (₹30.4 Lacs)
Music Agent	£23,960 (₹24.5 Lacs)

Since a lot of musician work is temporary or freelance, the most common way for new graduates to find a job is through contacts, which they can make by learning how to make good use of networks and contacts to help in one’s career.

FAQs

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