Program Overview

Music and East Asian Studies BA

The Music and East Asian Studies BA program is designed for students who wish to combine their passion for music with the study of East Asian culture. This four-year course allows students to develop their musical skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the languages, histories, and societies of East Asia.

Course Description

The program is offered by the School of Languages, Arts and Societies and provides students with the opportunity to perform, compose, and write about music while developing their language skills and understanding of East Asian culture. Students will spend their third year studying in an East Asian country at one of the university's six partner institutions.

Modules

The course includes a range of modules, such as:

• Digital Skills for Music
• History of Western Music
• Key Questions in East Asian Studies
• Inventing East Asian Traditions
• Composition
• Popular Music Studies
• Music in a Global Context
• Performance
• Music Analysis
• Psychological Foundations of Music
• Korean for Non-Specialists 1
• Japanese for Non-Specialists 1
• Chinese for Non-Specialists 1
• Thinking Cross-culturally in East Asian studies
• Arts, History and Culture in China, Japan and Korea
• Politics, Economy and Society in China, Japan and Korea

Learning and Assessment

Students will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, interactive classes, and tutorials. Assessment will be based on coursework, including essays, journals, compositions, recordings, and group projects, as well as assessed performances.

Entry Requirements

The standard entry requirements for this course are:

• A Levels: ABB; BBB
• A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification: BBB, including Music + B in a relevant EPQ
• International Baccalaureate: 33, with 5 in Higher Level Music; 32 + Grade 8 in either Practical (ABRSM/Trinity/Rockschool/LCME or equivalent) or Performance (ABRSM/ARSM/Rockschool/Trinity) + Grade 5 Theory (ABRSM/Trinity/LCME)
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDD in Music
• BTEC Diploma: DD + B in A Level Music; DD in Music + B at A Level
• Scottish Highers: AAABB, including Music; AABBB + Grade 8 in either Practical (ABRSM/Trinity/Rockschool/LCME or equivalent) or Performance (ABRSM/ARSM/Rockschool/Trinity) + Grade 5 Theory (ABRSM/Trinity/LCME)
• Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels: B + AB, including Music; B + BB + Grade 8 in either Practical (ABRSM/Trinity/Rockschool/LCME or equivalent) or Performance (ABRSM/ARSM/Rockschool/Trinity) + Grade 5 Theory (ABRSM/Trinity/LCME)
• Access to HE Diploma: Award of the Access to HE Diploma in Music, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit

Graduate Careers

Graduates of the Music and East Asian Studies BA program will have a range of career opportunities, including:

• Artist management
• Audio programming
• Composition
• Concerts coordination
• Instrument repair
• Marketing and communications
• Music research
• Music promotion
• Music therapy
• Orchestral management
• Professional performance
• Publishing
• Sound engineering
• Teaching

Fees and Funding

The tuition fees for this course are:

• Home students: £9,535 (2025 annual tuition fee)
• Overseas students: £26,820 (2025 annual tuition fee) There are also additional costs, such as sheet music and instrument purchase or rental, that students should consider.

Placements and Study Abroad

Students will spend their third year studying in an East Asian country at one of the university's six partner institutions. This will provide them with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and language of the country and to develop their skills and knowledge in a real-world setting.

University Rankings

The University of Sheffield is ranked as a world top-100 university and has a strong reputation for research and teaching excellence. The Department of Music is ranked 3rd in the UK for music, and the School of Languages, Arts and Societies is ranked 1st in the Russell Group for teaching on its courses.