Music Schools and Programs in The United Kingdom

Music Studies in The United Kingdom

Music can be studied in two kinds of institution in the United Kingdom. University music departments teach the subject as an academic discipline, combining history, analysis, composition, technology and performance. Conservatoires, in the words of UCAS, provide performance-based higher education, and train instrumentalists, singers and composers for the profession. The choice between them depends on how much of the week a student wants to spend on an instrument and how much on writing, research and other subjects.

SpainExchange lists 25 institutions in the United Kingdom with music programmes, almost all of them universities. London has three, Manchester two, and the rest are spread over cities such as Southampton, York, Bristol, Sheffield, Newcastle upon Tyne, Cardiff, Edinburgh and St Andrews.

How the degrees are organised

The bachelor's degree is called BA Music or BMus (Bachelor of Music), and in England it normally takes three years. Courses combine core modules with options, so students shape their own route:

• At King's College London, the three-year Music BMus leads to advanced work in four areas: history of music, ethnomusicology, performance and composition. Students with ABRSM Grade 8 in a classical or jazz instrument or voice can study performance with a teacher from the Royal Academy of Music, with which King's has a partnership
• The University of York's three-year BA Music integrates practical music-making, musicology, analysis and music technology, and supports students with a bursary for instrumental or vocal lessons
• The University of Southampton's three-year BA Music covers performance, composition and music production, music history and music education
• The University of Surrey offers Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) as a BMus or BSc, a four-year course with a placement year that combines technical audio, recording practice and music

Conservatoires teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Conservatoires UK represents eleven of them, among them the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Leeds Conservatoire and the Royal Northern College of Music. After the bachelor's degree, universities and conservatoires offer master's degrees in fields such as performance, composition and musicology.

Admission and language

University applications go through UCAS, with up to five choices. For entry in 2027, the equal consideration date for most courses is 13 January 2027; for the universities of Oxford and Cambridge it is 15 October of the year before. Conservatoire applications use a separate service, UCAS Conservatoires: applicants can choose up to six courses, the application fee for the 2027 entry cycle is £34.50, and for most courses there is an audition or interview, or a recording or portfolio to send.

Universities also look at musical level. Southampton asks for A-level Music and Grade 8 in a practical music exam or an equivalent standard, which it checks through an audition in person or by video. The University of Oxford accepts Grade 7 or above in ABRSM Music Theory together with three A-levels as one of its routes. Applicants from other school systems should ask each department how it assesses their qualifications and playing level.

Courses are taught in English. York, for example, asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component for its BA Music, and the Student visa requires English equivalent to CEFR level B2 for degree-level study.

Costs and visa

International fees differ between universities. For 2027 entry, York charges £27,800 per year for the BA Music and Surrey £24,600 for the Tonmeister course; home students pay £10,050 at both. Instrument costs, sheet music and, at some schools, individual lessons can add to the budget, so check what the fee includes.

Students who need a visa apply for a Student visa once a licensed student sponsor has offered them a place. The application costs £558 from outside the UK, plus the healthcare surcharge (GOV.UK, checked 8 October 2026).

Careers

A music degree is not a regulated qualification, and graduates take many routes. York lists careers in performance, production, education, arts administration, community music, journalism and composition. The Oxford Faculty of Music names teaching, performance and arts administration among the popular destinations, and notes that many students continue with performance studies at conservatoires in the UK and abroad. After an eligible course, the Graduate visa allows a stay of 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a university music degree and a conservatoire?

Universities teach music as an academic subject with options in performance and composition. Conservatoires provide performance-based training and select students mainly by audition.

Do I need an audition for a university music degree?

It depends on the university. Southampton asks for Grade 8 in a practical exam or an equivalent standard shown in an audition; other departments set their own conditions.

How do I apply to a conservatoire?

Through UCAS Conservatoires, with up to six course choices and an application fee of £34.50 for 2027 entry.

How long does a bachelor's degree in music take?

Three years at King's College London, York and Southampton. Courses with a placement year, such as Surrey's Tonmeister course, take four.