Study music in the context of its modern application rather than historical period on our full-time Music BA (Hons) degree in Cambridge. Choose to study abroad for one semester, and get support to find work placements. Immerse yourself in our performance culture and prepare for a career as a professional musician, composer, music technologist or teacher.
Full description
You feel like you’re not simply a student but an active member of a musical community.
Will Crosby
BA (Hons) Music
Join a course that scored 100% for Overall Satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2018 and 2019
Study music in the context of its modern application, rather than by historical periods
Prepare for a career in an industry that grew by 2% in 2017 to contribute a record £4.5 billion to the economy – up by £100 million on 2016 (uk.music.org).
Make the most of Cambridge’s diverse music scene, from classical to UK rap, and our links to local networks such as Cambridge Arts Network and Cambridge Live
Perform at venues on-campus and around Cambridge such as Cambridge Junction and ARU's Academy, as well as festivals including the Big Weekend and Cambridge Folk Festival
Immerse yourself in our industrious student community - collaborate on projects such as music videos and film or computer game soundtracks
Get individual vocal or instrumental training from tutors of international repute
Use all our facilities to develop your music, experiment with different styles and techniques and discover new skillsets.
Study abroad for one semester, and apply for funding to help cover the cost
On our BA (Hons) Music degree, you’ll discover a wealth of new music, along with critical approaches to heighten your understanding and appreciation. Our focus on ‘learning by doing’ will strengthen your performance skills, and help you put this theory into practice.
Rather than studying music by its historical period or geographical location, you’ll consider its application to particular fields in working life, such as film, technology and education. This will allow you to explore its relationship to other art forms and disciplines, and to wider society as well, giving you a modern context for all your musical knowledge that you can transfer easily to a future career.
To help you progress as a musician or vocalist, you’ll receive individual instrumental or vocal tuition from visiting tutors of international repute. Your performance skills will be developed through weekly workshops, with regular feedback on your progress.
You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to perform in public venues across Cambridge and beyond, including regular concerts by Anglia Ruskin Orchestra and Chorus and our on-campus band evenings.
You’ll even have the chance to join the Cambridge University Musical Society, the Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra, or one of the many chapel choirs and college orchestras, following an audition.
Our close links with venues and other companies, such as Cambridge Junction and international music management company Hazard Chase, will give you the chance to make contact with industry leaders before you graduate.
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Level 3 (foundation year)
Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education
Year one, core modules
Music Performance 1
Music in Context 1
Music, Technology and Entrepreneurship
Composition 1
Introduction to World Musics and Ethnomusicology
Year two, core modules
Music in Context 2
Composition 2
Orchestration
Music Performance 2
Entrepreneurship for Music 2: Placement
Music for the Moving Image
Year two, optional modules
Principles of Music Therapy
Live Performance
Year three, core modules
Major Project
Collaborative Project Development (Music)
Collaborative Project (Music)
Professional Music Practice 1
Professional Music Practice 2
Game and Film Soundtracks
Combined with your own specialisms, the practical and vocational skills you’ll gain from our Music course will help you stand out in the music industry. Many of our recent graduates now enjoy successful careers as performers, composers, technologists, arts administrators and music teachers.
But you will also be well equipped for any role that requires quick thinking, self-reliance, imagination, and teamwork.
If you have an interest in arts therapy, you could go on to take our MA Music Therapy after you graduate.
We work with employers to make sure you graduate with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need. They help us review what we teach and how we teach it – and they offer hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through work-based projects, internships or placements.
In your final year, we’ll help you find a work placement that interests you, whether it’s music education, instrumental teaching, artist management, music marketing, recording and studio work, film composition or events management.
Find out more about our placements and work experience, or the faculty's employability support.
Insurance – Single: 300 GBP per year
