Music BMus (Hons) • City, University of London

This course is for 2021/22 entry. 2022/23 entry is also available.

Key information

Experience conservatoire-level tuition, with all the benefits of a university setting. We offer an inspiring environment to make music, with outstanding facilities and performance opportunities. Indulge your passion for music whilst developing valuable skills for a range of modern, music-related careers.

Start date

September 2021

UCAS code

W300

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years with placement or study abroad year

Institution

City, University of London

Location

Northampton Square

Entry requirements

Below is a list of countries with information on each about which qualifications we accept.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, we will require evidence of English language proficiency. Minimum requirements are:

IELTS:

6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.

PTE Academic: 59 overall with a minimum of 59 in each component.

English language programmes

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner, INTO City, University of London offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree. Find out more about:

Apply now

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Course overview

This degree provides an exciting, global and interdisciplinary approach to the study of music, blending theory, practice and performance.

City’s wide range of ensembles - including classical, contemporary, jazz and world music - conduct regular concerts and a summer festival, providing you with opportunities to perform and discover world-class musicians.

Learn in a highly energised department, with internationally recognised staff who share your devotion to music
Study with leading music professionals and performers, many of whom also teach at the leading London conservatoires
Enjoy 20 hours of 1-2-1 solo instrumental/vocal tuition each year
Train in facilities that include advanced recording and composition studios, and performance and practice spaces
Prepare for a range of music-related careers through optional modules in sound recording, music business, music education and more
Gain exciting new perspectives on music and its relationships with culture, technology and society through a close study of classical, popular and world music
Follow in the footsteps of students who have undertaken a placement year with Les Miserables, London Philharmonic, and other organisations.

Structure

Course content

This three-year BMus degree includes academic study, performance, practise and music tuition delivered by acknowledged specialists in their fields.

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Placements

Year 1

Gain a firm foundation in music with a core curriculum that includes solo and ensemble performance, Western classical, popular and world music, musicianship, critical listening, tonal harmony, composition and music technology.

Year 2

Develop your knowledge of musical analysis and take part in ensemble performances. Choose from a range of elective modules in musicology, ethnomusicology, popular music studies, performance, composition and applied music studies.

Analysing Music (30 credits)

Further develop your knowledge of musical form and practice as you apply a range of contemporary and historical techniques of music analysis.
Practical Musicianship 2 (15 credits)

Develop practical and theoretical musical skills through your own work as well as group activities.
Global Perspectives: London’s Musical Communities (15 credits)

Explore the impact of globalisation on music, focusing primarily on London’s diverse musical communities, through a range of musical traditions, styles and genres from around the world.
Work Placement (15 credits)

Develop your employability skills whilst developing valuable ‘hands-on experience’ in the sector of your choice.
Performance 2 (30 credits)

Develop your understanding and skills under the guidance of a professional, specialist instrumental or vocal tutor.
Performance 2A (15 credits)

Deepen your understanding and skills under the guidance of a professional, specialist instrumental or vocal tutor. Includes an end-of-year recital and a short portfolio.
Composition: Studio (15 credits)

Enhance skills in the use of studio equipment for sound recording, digital signal processing and mixing, and then apply these techniques in the creation of imaginative new works.
Composition: Instrumental and Vocal (15 credits)

Completion of three works for varying instrumental and vocal resources. Engage your creative imagination with technical discipline.
Composition: Moving Images (15 credits)

Using both live and electronic resources, create soundtracks for three audio-visual projects over the course of two terms.
Web Design and Digital Storytelling (15 credits)

This module enables you to develop your own multimedia blog project and populate it with narrative content tailored to a specified target audience.
Fifty Shades of Red. Russia in the Twentieth Century (15 credits)

Introduction to political, social, and cultural developments in modern Russian history. Considerations to how the Soviet experiment influenced the history of Russia and the world, and how we should relate to it today.
Modern Germany (15 credits)

This module will introduce you to the major events and principal problems in German history in the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries.
The American Century (15 credits)

This course charts the international rise of the United States and critically assesses the perception of the twentieth century as the “American century”.
Creative Writing Workshop (15 credits)

Explore the practice of creative writing; develop your own writing portfolio through understanding of the practices of the creative writer, and be encouraged to explore the key elements of imaginative and dramatic writing.
Orchestral and Instrumental Studies (15 credits)

Explore the development of orchestration in Western Art music, from the mid-eighteenth century to the present day.
Sound, Music and the Moving Image (15 credits)

Explore the use of music and sound in combination with moving images from a variety of historical, creative, theoretical and cultural perspectives.
Performance Practice (15 credits)

This elective module deals with the study of historical performance practice of Western Music and its potential applications for performance today.
Nineteenth-Century Opera (15 credits)

Explore the breadth and diversity of nineteenth-century opera from the 1820s until the end of the century, taking in German, Italian, French and Russian developments.
Global Popular Musics (15 credits)

Introduction to a wide range of popular music styles and genres from around the world and explores current issues around popular music in a global context.
Interdisciplinarity and Collaborative Process (15 credits)

Develop critical and analytical understanding of working concepts and processes across a range of practices and media, and to examine the nature of interdisciplinary and intermedia collaboration.
Electronic Dance Music (15 credits)

Investigate a number of dance music scenes that have emerged from the last four decades and up to the present day.
Rhythm (15 credits)

Explore the phenomenon of rhythm from theoretical, historical, and analytical perspectives.
Sound, Art and Technoculture (15 credits)

Examine the evolution of sound in the arts, and of sound as embedded in technoculture and within collaborative and transdisciplinary work.
Lieder (15 credits)

This module looks at one of the most important genres of Western concert and Hausmusik: the art song for (usually) a single singer accompanied by a piano.
Principles of Music Education (15 credits)

Introduction to the key concepts that underpin musical learning and teaching.
Video Game Music (15 credits)

In this module you will investigate video game music and the emergent field that studies it: ludomusicology. It will combine historical, technical and analytical approaches to explore a range of video game music and cultures across many genres, platforms and eras.
Jazz (15 credits)

This module will take you through the critical developments in the history of jazz, considering the music’s attributes and styles within cultural, geographic, and social contexts. This will be complemented by a practical element comprising performance, musicianship, transcription and composition.
Music in East Asia

This module explores the music of East Asia, primarily in China, Korea and Japan. It will also discuss the relationship between music and other aspects of East Asian society, including culture, politics, religion, and other artforms and media such as theatre, dance, and cinema.
Romantic Aesthetics (15 credits)

This interdisciplinary module investigates the aesthetics and ideologies associated with the Romanticism movement from the late-eighteenth to mid-nineteenth centuries in Europe. You will explore manifestations of Romanticism in music, visual art and literature from the English-speaking world, France, Germany, Italy and Russia.

Year 3

Undertake a major project to showcase your skills and expertise. Pursue your personal musical interests with further elective modules selected from our incredibly diverse list.

Major Project: Dissertation (30 credits)

Nominate a topic that can be researched in greater depth under the supervision of a member of academic staff, leading to the submission of a dissertation of 7,500–8,000 words.
Major Project: Composition (30 credits)

Advance your compositional skills and understanding through the completion of a portfolio of creative work, supported by specialist one-to-one supervision.
Major Project: Performance 3 (30 credits)

This is an opportunity to advance your skills and understanding through the completion of a portfolio of creative and/or technical work accompanied by a critical commentary.
Composition: Studio (15 credits)

Students will enhance their skills in the use of studio equipment for sound recording, digital signal processing and mixing, and then apply these techniques in the creation of imaginative new works.
Composition: Instrumental and Vocal (15 credits)

Through the completion of three works for varying instrumental and vocal resources, you will engage your creative imagination with the technical discipline needed to convey ideas to performers via musical notation.
Composition: Moving Images (15 credits)

Create soundtracks for three audio-visual projects over the course of two terms using live and electronic resources.
Global Perspectives: London’s Musical Communities (15 credits)

Explore the impact of globalisation on music, focusing primarily on London’s diverse musical communities, through a range of musical traditions, styles and genres from around the world.
Performance 3A (15 credits)

Enables student performers to expand and deepen their understanding and skills under the guidance of a professional, specialist instrumental or vocal tutor.
Ensemble Performance (15 credits)

Enhance knowledge and understanding of ensemble repertoire and to develop professional and practical musical skills in ensemble performance, and in collaborative musical practice with others.
Place and Space (15 credits)

Develop an understanding of the different techniques writers have used to represent place and space, and of the role ideas of place, space and landscape play in the wider culture.
Fifty Shades of Red. Russia in the Twentieth Century (15 credits)

Introduction to political, social, and cultural developments in modern Russian history. Considerations to how the Soviet experiment influenced the history of Russia and the world, and how we should relate to it today.
Modern Germany (15 credits)

This module will introduce you to the major events and principal problems in German history in the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries.
The American Century (15 credits)

This course charts the international rise of the United States and critically assesses the perception of the twentieth century as the “American century”.
Creative Writing Workshop (15 credits)

Explore the practice of creative writing; develop your own writing portfolio through understanding of the practices of the creative writer, and be encouraged to explore the key elements of imaginative and dramatic writing.
Disruptive Divas, Riot Grrrls and Bad Sistas: A History of Women in Popular Music (15 credits)

Introduction to concepts of gender history and politics as well as to the historical study of popular culture. Examine the changing roles of men and women in the popular music industry.
Orchestral and Instrumental Studies (15 credits)

Explore the development of orchestration in Western Art music, from the mid-eighteenth century to the present day.
Sound, Music and the Moving Image (15 credits)

Explore the use of music and sound in combination with moving images from a variety of historical, creative, theoretical and cultural perspectives.
Performance Practice (15 credits)

This elective module deals with the study of historical performance practice of Western Music and its potential applications for performance today.
Nineteenth-Century Opera (15 credits)

Explore the breadth and diversity of nineteenth-century opera from the 1820s until the end of the century, taking in German, Italian, French and Russian developments.
Global Popular Musics (15 credits)

Introduction to a wide range of popular music styles and genres from around the world and explores current issues around popular music in a global context.
Interdisciplinarity and Collaborative Process (15 credits)

Develop critical and analytical understanding of working concepts and processes across a range of practices and media, and to examine the nature of interdisciplinary and intermedia collaboration.
Electronic Dance Music (15 credits)

Investigate a number of dance music scenes that have emerged from the last four decades and up to the present day.
Rhythm (15 credits)

Explore the phenomenon of rhythm from theoretical, historical, and analytical perspectives.
Sound, Art and Technoculture (15 credits)

Examine the evolution of sound in the arts, and of sound as embedded in technoculture and within collaborative and transdisciplinary work.
Lieder (15 credits)

This module looks at one of the most important genres of Western concert and Hausmusik: the art song for (usually) a single singer accompanied by a piano.
Principles of Music Education (15 credits)

Introduction to the key concepts that underpin musical learning and teaching.
Video Game Music (15 credits)

In this module you will investigate video game music and the emergent field that studies it: ludomusicology. It will combine historical, technical and analytical approaches to explore a range of video game music and cultures across many genres, platforms and eras.
Jazz (15 credits)

This module will take you through the critical developments in the history of jazz, considering the music’s attributes and styles within cultural, geographic, and social contexts. This will be complemented by a practical element comprising performance, musicianship, transcription and composition.
Music in East Asia

This module explores the music of East Asia, primarily in China, Korea and Japan. It will also discuss the relationship between music and other aspects of East Asian society, including culture, politics, religion, and other artforms and media such as theatre, dance, and cinema.
Romantic Aesthetics (15 credits)

This interdisciplinary module investigates the aesthetics and ideologies associated with the Romanticism movement from the late-eighteenth to mid-nineteenth centuries in Europe. You will explore manifestations of Romanticism in music, visual art and literature from the English-speaking world, France, Germany, Italy and Russia.
Micro-Placement (15 credits)

The micro-placement module is an exciting way to gain professional experience via short summer placements with a wide range of London-based employers. The programme aims to give you real-life exposure to the business environment and enhance your employability skills.

Placements

You can apply to take a sandwich year working in a placement between years two and three of the degree as part of the school's Integrated Professional Training Programme.

It is also possible to spend one term on the study abroad scheme and one term in a work placement in the UK. Alternatively, the Erasmus Plus Scheme enables students to spend a year working in Europe.

Download course specification:

BMus Music

Teaching and assessment

Your course will be delivered by passionate academics who are internationally recognised as leaders in their fields – and dedicated to helping you succeed in your studies. To maximise the amount of attention given to you on the BMus Music programme, we offer a considerable amount of tuition in small groups and individually. This enables you to tailor your work to your own interests as much as possible.

Your learning, teaching and assessment will take the form of a combination of the following:

Lectures
Student-focused group discussions
Individual tutorials
Seminars by visiting professionals
Workshops for composition and performance with visiting ensembles and ensembles in residence, including with musicians in residence
Private performance tuition (for solo performers)
Ensemble rehearsals and performances.
Studio-based composition/recording work.
Guided listening and reading.
Independent study and library research.
Written examinations.
Oral presentations.
Ethnographic fieldwork assignments.
Project work.

Individual Instrumental/Vocal Tuition

If you pursue solo performance, you will receive instrumental or vocal tuition at the Department of Music with highly accomplished professionals who are active in and around London and many of whom also teach at leading conservatoires in the city.

Concerts and the summer festival

Throughout the year, we host public lunchtime concerts and evening recitals as well as a summer festival, featuring performances from a host of world-class musicians to inspire you. Students also perform at these events, so you will have the opportunity to gain professional performance experience.

The BMus course also includes regular performance workshops led by professional musicians. Students participate through both performing and giving peer feedback. This builds a supportive and co-operative culture and helps familiarise students with the experience of performing in front of other musicians.

Assessment methods

Throughout the three years of the music degree, assessment is by a combination of project-based or practical and creative work, and examinations or coursework. You will receive a considerable amount of tuition in small groups and individually to maximise contact and enable you to tailor your work to your personal interests.

Marks obtained in your second and third years will contribute to your final degree award.

Coursework and examinations are typically worth 30% of the overall module mark, and the end-of-module project worth 70%, although this varies across modules. Composition and creative practice modules are assessed by portfolio, and performance modules are assessed by final recital and interim components.

Percentage of the course assessed by coursework

The balance of assessment by examination, practical examination (including recitals, ensemble performance and oral presentations) and assessment by coursework, extended project work, portfolio and dissertation will depend on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessment, based on choices made by students in 2019/20 is as follows:

Assessment

Year 1

Written examination: 20%

Practical: 25%

Coursework: 55%

Year 2

Written examination: 16%

Practical: 30%

Coursework: 54%

Year 3

Written examination: 4%

Practical: 39%

Coursework: 57%

Overall workload

Most contact hours will take the form of a mixture of lectures, seminar presentations, workshops and tutorials, depending on the nature of the module. This programme will include an average of 12 contact hours per week. In addition, you will be expected to undertake 23 independent study hours per week. Approximate study time, based on choices made by students in 2019/20 is as follows:

Workload

Year 1

Scheduled learning: 25%

Independent learning: 75%

Year 2

Scheduled learning: 18%

Independent learning: 82%

Year 3

Scheduled learning: 15%

Independent learning: 85%

Fees and funding

Fees for year 2021/22

£9,250

Overseas/EU

£15,160

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2021/ 22 academic year only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase, which is normally 2%.

Funding options

Explore up-to-date information about funding options, available financial support and typical living costs.

Fee waivers are available for this course.
Means tested support is available for 2021/22 entry.

Performance scholarships

We offer performance scholarships for entering instrumentalists and vocalists that are renewable each year of study subject to satisfactory academic progress. Twelve scholarships, each worth up to £2,000, are available.

The scholarships will typically be offered to advanced performers beyond Grade-8 level. Our scholarships include two piano-accompanist scholarships of £2,000, and ten of £1,000 each, including up to 5 vocal/choral scholarships.

Future finance loans

Future Finance offers students loans of between £2,500 and £40,000 to help cover tuition fees and living expenses. All students and courses are considered. All loans are subject to credit checks and approval for further details please visit our finance pages.

Additional expenses

Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses.

Career

City Music alumni work for a wide range of organisations including the BBC, Royal Opera House and Sony.

Recent graduates have gone on to become music teachers, music managers, and music marketing specialists.

City’s BMus degree also provides professional skills that are transferrable to a wide range of professions beyond music.

Some of our alumni have gone into careers in finance, marketing, management, media production (television, radio, theatre), digital industry and events organisation among other areas.

Many pursue further study at postgraduate level, including Masters degrees in sound art, and applied performance.

Placement opportunities

BMus students have recently undertaken placements at:

Brains and Hunch
British Harpischord Society
Les Misérables, The Queen's Theatre (Sound Department)
Live Music Now
London Ear Festival
London Philharmonic Orchestra (Education and Community Department)
MTV
Record of the Day
Richmond Music Trust
The Roundhouse
Songlines Magazine
Southwark Cathedral
Wired4music/Sound Connections
A large number of schools, colleges and community music organisations.

How to apply

Applications for degree courses must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Apply now

You can apply through your school or college using the Apply system, which enables you to submit your application directly to the UCAS website.

www.ucas.com

You can apply to up to five universities or institutions on the form. The UCAS code for City, University of London is C60.

Please take care to enter the correct course code when applying, particularly for subjects with a Foundation year or with BEng (Hons) and MEng (Hons) or BSc (Hons) and MSci (Hons) options.

UCAS has implemented an 'invisibility of choices' policy so that, on the initial application and while you are receiving decisions, each institution can see only their entry and not those of other institutions you have chosen. This ensures that your application for a course at City is considered solely on your academic and personal qualities.

You should submit your completed application form to UCAS with a £23 application fee. If you want to apply to City, University of London only, you can make a single choice application at a reduced rate of £12.

For enquiries about the admissions process at City, please contact our Admissions Office

Complete the Admissions enquiry form

Call: +44 (0)20 7040 8716.

Telephone lines are currently open between 10am - 3pm.

If your enquiry is about admission to a particular course, please use the contact details provided on the course page.

When to apply

Your application for entry in September 2021 should arrive at UCAS between September 2020 and 29^th January 2021. Applications that arrive after 29^th January 2021 will be considered only at City's discretion.

Contacting UCAS

Website: www.ucas.com

Address: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ

Telephone:

from inside the UK 0871 468 0468
from outside the UK +44 (0)871 468 0468

For callers with hearing difficulties:

from inside the UK use the Text Relay service on 18001 0871 468 0468
from outside the UK dial +44 151 494 1260 (text phone) and then ask the operator to dial 0871 468 0468.

Facilities

The Music department has outstanding facilities for performance, sound recording and composition.
City is home to a Balinese Gamelan Ensemble; an ornate orchestra of sonorous bronze gongs and metallophones.
You can take advantage of a wide range of facilities including: Advanced recording and composition studios, Professional performance space, Computer laboratories, Rehearsal rooms and Practice rooms.
Our recording studio is equipped to deliver multitrack recording and mixing to a professional standard. Our composition studios include four surround studios (8.1/5.1).
All rooms are spectrum-analysed, soundproofed and acoustically treated to a very high standard.