Music

Program Overview

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Music

Be inspired in a beautiful location to develop your creative, practical and critical skills in a top-class department. This degree will challenge you to think about music in new ways.

Start Dates

• September 2026
• September 2025

Degree Type

BA

Course Length

3 years full-time

Location

Durham City

UCAS Code

W300

Typical Offers

• A Level: AAB, including a B in Music. ABRSM Grade 6 Theory is acceptable in lieu of A level Music alongside 3 A levels.
• BTEC: DDD, plus Music requirements as above.
• International Baccalaureate: 36, with 665 in higher level subjects, including Music requirements as above.

Course Details

BA Music combines the traditional and the modern in the study of music, exploring diverse genres from the past and present and developing exciting new approaches in musicology, composition (acoustic and electroacoustic), analysis, ethnomusicology, psychology of music, and performance.

The department is located at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Durham City – an extraordinarily beautiful place. But it is the juxtaposition of ancient and cutting-edge that makes Durham so unusual and inspiring; within the old buildings we strive to forge fresh interpretations and create exciting new music, using state-of-the-art technology.

Our teaching is research-led and enhanced by distinctive staff specialisations that include nineteenth- and twentieth-century Western music, Indian and Korean music, popular music, music technology, conducting, psychology of music, opera, analysis, and contemporary composition.

We also have a variety of music-making taking place at Durham such as six orchestras, choral singing, theatrical productions, contemporary music and much more.

You can apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four.

The first year of the course is designed to introduce a broad range of disciplines and approaches. In the second year, there is a much greater choice of modules to allow you to pursue your own interests.

The final year of this course is structured around an independent project, which can take the form of a musicological dissertation, a composition portfolio, a techniques portfolio (pastiche compositions) or a 40-minute solo recital.

Course Structure

Year 1 Modules

Core Modules:

• Historical Studies 1: introduces the historical study of the Western art music tradition, covering music from the baroque to late classical periods. A number of representative musical works from the period are explored and you will deepen your knowledge of those works and the contexts of their composition and reception, while also acquiring skills foundational to the practice of historical musicology.

Optional Modules:

• Historical Composition Techniques
• Composition 1: Twentieth Century Innovations
• Introduction to Ethnomusicology
• Analysis 1: Elements of Tonal Theory and Practice
• Performance 1: Practice through History (with recital/essay)

Year 2 Modules

Core Modules:

• Historical Studies 2: encourages a research-based approach to key issues in Western music between the early romantic period and the mid-twentieth century. The module will also develop an understanding of the dominant trends in musical life in the period, from performance, reception and aesthetics.

Optional Modules:

• Creative Music Technology
• Performance 2: Practice as Research
• Composition 2: New Directions in Art Music
• Orchestration
• Advanced Historical Composition Techniques
• Theory and Analysis
• Studies in the History of Opera
• World Music Traditions
• Studies in Popular Music

Year 3 Modules

Core Modules:

• Dissertation, Portfolio of Compositions, Techniques Portfolio (pastiche compositions) or Performance Project: The final year of this course is structured around an independent project, which can take the form of a musicological dissertation, a composition portfolio, a techniques portfolio (pastiche compositions) or a performance project requiring a 40-minute solo recital.

Optional Modules:

• The Music of India
• Contemporary Music Performance
• Advanced Ethnomusicology: Themes and Issues
• Music Theology
• Studies in Symphonic Analysis
• Time and Rhythm
• Words and Music
• Music and Politics in France, 1789–1815
• Techniques Portfolio
• Psychology of Music

Additional Pathways

Students can apply to be transferred onto either the with Year Abroad or with Placement pathway. Places on these pathways are in high demand and if you are chosen your studies will extend from three years to four or four to five depending on course.

Learning

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials (including one-to-one supervision), as well as instrumental or vocal tuition and performance and composition workshops.

For each module, lectures will introduce you to the broad questions and current issues in music. Seminars and tutorials will give you the opportunity to engage with the topics in small groups. Instrumental or vocal lessons will help you develop your abilities as a performer, while composition seminars and workshops will allow you to explore approaches to composing. Practical training in both generic study skills and music-specific skills such as using notation software, recording equipment and transcribing music are embedded within the core modules.

Assessment

Modules are assessed by a variety of means, including continuous assessment, examinations and recitals.

Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on the development of independent research skills. Teaching methods and coursework are designed to help you achieve this; for example, you will receive reading lists, assignments, presentation briefs and online materials to direct your research in preparation for seminars.

In your third year you will undertake a major project which can be a dissertation, composition portfolio or a solo recital.

Entry Requirements

• A level offer: AAB, including a B in Music. ABRSM Grade 6 Theory is acceptable in lieu of A level Music alongside 3 A levels.
• Contextual offer: BBB/ABC, including a B in Music. ABRSM Grade 6 Theory is acceptable in lieu of A level Music alongside 3 A levels.
• BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DDD, plus Music requirements as above.
• IB Diploma score: 36, with 665 in higher level subjects, including Music requirements as above.

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• Grade 7 or 8 in first instrument is advisable but by no means essential.
• Keyboard skills are advisable (but not absolutely essential) as they aid score reading and analysis.
• We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements.
• You are welcome to apply if you are taking resits. Resitting your qualification(s) will not negatively affect your application.
• We are willing to consider applications for deferred entry.
• If you have any questions regarding the entry requirements for this programme, please contact us.

Fees and Funding

The fees for this academic year have not been confirmed yet.

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full-time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase expected to rise throughout the programme of study.

Career Opportunities

We are one of the very best music departments in the UK, with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. Our students benefit from passionate guidance from our staff and alumni, as well as support from our Careers and Enterprise Centre.

Our students graduate with a range of skills which open up many opportunities for employment or further study. Graduates from the Department have gone on to work in diverse careers in the music industry and beyond, including education, music teaching, arts administration, broadcasting, music production, artist management and journalism.

Department Information

The Department of Music is a vibrant and welcoming community focused on hosting and supporting enriching musical experiences. Join us and develop your creative, practical and critical skills in one of the best music departments in the UK.

Durham is one of the leading university music departments in the UK, offering innovative courses that are informed by our internationally recognised research. When you study with us you will be encouraged to engage actively with music, both familiar and unfamiliar, as we challenge you to think about the subject in new ways.

Our curriculum strikes a distinctive balance between breadth and depth, covering perspectives from history, theory, ethnography, psychology as well as composition and performance.

The curriculum will challenge you intellectually, stimulate your curiosity and equip you with the skills to produce an independent project that engages with the latest research in your chosen area of study. In the first year, teaching will revolve around six foundational areas. As you progress through the course there will be increasing choice and flexibility, including study options from other departments. To further develop your skills, we offer the opportunity to spend a year studying at an overseas music department or on a work placement.

By the end of your studies, you will be equipped with the theoretical, practical and independent research skills necessary for further study or future employment.

Rankings

• 3rd The Complete University Guide 2025
• 8th The Guardian University Guide 2025
• 2nd The Times and Sunday Time Good University Guide 2025

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see our department web pages.

Facilities

We are located at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Durham City, right next to Durham Cathedral and Palace Green.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

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Overview:

• BA Music combines traditional and modern approaches to the study of music.
• Explores diverse genres from past and present.
• Encourages new approaches to musicology, composition (acoustic and electroacoustic), analysis, ethnomusicology, music and science, and performance.

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Objectives:

• Develop creative, practical, and critical skills in a top-class department.
• Challenge students to think about music in new ways.

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Description:

• Located at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Durham City.
• Features a juxtaposition of ancient and cutting-edge approaches to music.
• Utilizes state-of-the-art technology to forge fresh interpretations and create new music
• Research-led teaching enhanced by distinctive staff specialisations.

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Outline:

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Structure:

• Year 1: Introduces a broad range of disciplines and approaches.
• Year 2: Greater choice of modules to pursue specific interests.
• Year 3 (4 if adding placement/year abroad): Independent project in the form of a dissertation, composition portfolio, techniques portfolio, or solo recital.

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Course Content:

• Historical Studies
• Composition
• Analysis
• Performance
• Ethnomusicology
• Music and science
• Orchestration
• Advanced historical composition techniques
• Studies in the History of Opera
• World Music Traditions
• Studies in Popular Music
• The Music of India
• Contemporary Music Performance
• Advanced Ethnomusicology: Themes and Issues
• Music Psychology
• Studies in Symphonic Analysis

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Modules (Examples from recent years, not exhaustive):

• Historical Composition Techniques
• Introduction to Ethnomusicology
• Analysis: Elements of Tonal Theory and Practice
• Performance 1: Practice through History
• Creative Music Technology
• Performance 2: Practice as Research
• Orchestration

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Assessment:

• Continuous assessment
• Examinations
• Recitals
• Emphasis on independent research skills development
• Reading lists, assignments, presentations, and online materials provided to direct research
• Major project in third year: Dissertation, composition portfolio, or solo recital

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Teaching:

• Lectures, seminars, tutorials (including one-to-one supervision), instrumental/vocal tuition, performance and composition workshops.
• Keyboard skills are encouraged but not essential to aid in score reading and analysis.

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Careers:

• 90% of 2020-21 graduates are in paid employment or further study 15 months after graduation.
• 94% of those in employment are in high-skilled positions with an average salary of £27,500.
• Career opportunities include:
• Education/music teaching
• Arts administration
• Broadcasting
• Music production
• Artist management
• Journalism

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Other:

• Optional placement or year abroad pathways in second year.
• International students who don't meet entry requirements can complete an International Foundation Year pathway program.

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The tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved. The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government. The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).