Program Overview

---

History with Music Studies, MA

Overview

History with Music Studies at Aberdeen is a great combination, adding to your study of all aspects of human activity in the past with the opportunity to study, compose and perform alongside world-renowned composers and musicologists, working in all genres, styles and periods of history.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MA
• Duration: 48 months
• Study Mode: Full Time
• Start Month: September
• UCAS Code: V1W3

Introduction

You will be enthused and inspired by teachers who are leaders in their fields, with expertise as diverse as medieval Scandinavia, early-modern Poland and modern East Asia and enthralled by our wonderful collections of historic treasures collected by distinguished alumni over the centuries.

Aberdeen is the ideal environment and location to study music, with 500 years of musical history and heritage and a vibrant cultural identity, which celebrates the traditional while embracing the modern.

In Music Studies, you can develop your interests and abilities in music through courses in performance, composition, theory, musicianship and history of music, taking advantage of the outstanding quality of our teachers, instruments and facilities and many opportunities to perform.

In addition to a career in music, the academic skills you will develop will open opportunities in education, history and heritage, or applied in another sector such as media or business and internationally.

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme.

What You'll Study

Year 1

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Academic Writing for Language & Literature (AW1008)
  • Making History (HI1027)
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)
  • Introduction to Music Studies (MU1026)
• Optional Courses:
  • Select AT LEAST ONE of the courses listed below, subject to the necessary pre-requisites:
    • Performing and Composing 1 (MU1027)
    • Performing and Composing 2 (MU1527)
    • Introduction to Music Theory and Harmony (MU1557)
    • Writing About Music (MU1528)

Year 2

• Optional Courses:
  • Select 60 credit points from available level 2 courses in History, 30 credit points from Music courses at level 2 and 30 credit points from courses of choice.
  • Plus further courses of choice to make up 120 credit points.
  • Analysing Music (MU2055)
  • Introduction to Ethnomusicology (MU2057)
  • Global Music History (MU2558)
  • Scottish Folklore and Oral Traditions (EF2501)

Year 3

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Thinking History (HI356J)
• Optional Courses:
  • Plus 60 credit points of level 3 History courses, which may include one of the following approved courses.
  • Plus, select 30 credit points from level 3 courses in Music.
  • NOTE: You are required to gain a total of 150 credit points in History across levels 3 and 4, and a total of 90 credit points in Music across levels 3 and 4.
  • Architecture and Power (AH3014)
  • Painting in Tudor and Early Stuart England (AH3517)
  • Film and Music (FS3017)
  • History of Medicine (ME33HM)
  • Music, Health and Wellbeing (Public Engagement) (ME33PE)
  • Eurovision: Media, Memory, Euphoria & Identities (FS3535)

Year 4

• Optional Courses:
  • Select ONE of the following dissertation options:
    • Dissertation in History (HI4516)
    • Dissertation in Music (MU4049) AND History in Practice II (HI4518)
  • Also, select ONE History Special Subject (listed below), plus further credit points from level 3 or 4 courses in Music to gain 60 credits in the discipline.
  • NOTE: You are required to gain a total of 150 credit points in History across levels 3 and 4, and a total of 90 credit points in Music across levels 3 and 4. You are required to gain a minimum of 90 credit points from level 4 courses.
  • Undergraduate Dissertation in History (HI4516)
  • Dissertation in Music (MU4049)
  • History in Practice (HI4518)
  • Film and Music (FS4017)
  • Literature and Music (EL45HC)
  • Special Sub.: Britain and Revolutionary Russia 1917 - 1924 (HI4012)
  • Special Sub: the Child as Subject in the British World (HI401F)
  • Spec Sub: Court Society in Late Medieval Europe (C. 1300 – C. 1500) (HI401G)
  • Special Sub:european Constitutional Monarchies in the Long 19thcentury (HI4023)
  • Special Subject: History of the Israeli Palestinian Conflict (HI4025)
  • Special Subject: Myths of the North (HI4026)

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

• Individual Projects
• Lectures
• Research
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:

• Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course.
• Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course.
• Written examinations at the end of each course.

The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.

Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Why Study History with Music Studies?

Why History

• Particular strengths in Irish and Scottish studies, Scandinavia, late medieval/early modern period, and research centres studying global empires, history and philosophy of science, technology and medicine, and Russian and Eastern European history.
• The inspiration of our beautiful historic campus in Old Aberdeen, where King’s College Chapel, begun in 1495 by University founder Bishop Elphinstone, is a treasure-house of history and religious turbulence.
• Major international treasures including 7,000 early printed books, the magnificent 12th century Aberdeen Bestiary, large Jacobite collection, works of the Scottish Enlightenment, and fascinating local records dating from the middle ages.
• A packed campus programme of student and public events, exhibitions, seminars, invited speakers and the annual WayWord literary festival.
• Spectacular, award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, combining top-class study facilities with state-of-the-art technology, and an online catalogue giving you access to thousands of books and millions of journal articles on the web.

Why Music

• Our academic staff are internationally recognised experts in composition, performance, musicology, music education and music and communities, including royal composer Paul Mealor and other rising stars.
• The University has a full Symphony Orchestra, Chamber and Chapel choirs with growing international reputations, Choral and Opera Societies, and consorts and ensembles across all instruments.
• Specialist facilities include state-of-the-art studios for electroacoustic music, as well as a collection of historic instruments including a 1771 Kirkman harpsichord.
• Excellent performance venues and opportunities, with our early sixteenth-century Chapel often used for services and performances of sacred and concert music, with a magnificent Aubertin organ - the first in the UK.
• Opportunities to perform at ceremonies, graduations, recitals, and the annual WayWORD literary festival for talented students in Scottish traditional and classical instruments, and vocalists.
• The prestigious Ogston Music Prize, and a range of scholarships and special support for students with outstanding talent.
• Three state-of-the-art Electroacoustic Composition studios as well as a number of Music Technology workstations.
• Aberdeen city known as a lively centre for music, with links to the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Aberdeen City Music School, North East of Scotland Music School, and the region's growing Sound festival.
• Masterclasses with leading musicians and the annual WayWORD literary festival which showcases Aberdeen talent, internationally acclaimed choirs, orchestras and musicians.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

• SQA Highers:
  • Standard: AABB
  • Minimum: BBB
  • Adjusted: BB
• A LEVELS:
  • Standard: BBB
  • Minimum: BBC
  • Adjusted: CCC
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

Fees and Funding

• England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,535
• EU / International students: £20,800
• Self-funded international students commencing eligible undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a £6,000 tuition waiver for every year of their programme.
• Home Students: £1,820

Careers

There are many opportunities at the University of Aberdeen to develop your knowledge, gain experience and build a competitive set of skills to enhance your employability. This is essential for your future career success. The Careers and Employability Service can help you to plan your career and support your choices throughout your time with us, from first to final year – and beyond.

• More information on employability at the University of Aberdeen
• More information on the Careers and Employability Service

Our Experts

You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni draws together comparable information in areas students have identified as important in making decisions about what and where to study. You can compare these and other data for different degree programmes in which you are interested.

History with Music Studies at University of Aberdeen

To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.

Make an informed choice.

See course info

link opens in new tab

Get in Touch

Contact Details

Address

University of Aberdeen University Office Regent Walk Aberdeen AB24 3FX

Email Us Call Us +44 (0) Enquire Now Using an online form

Social Media

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel