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University of Southampton · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Music Bachelor's degree at Southampton
BA (Hons) Music at Southampton. Whether your interests lie in performance, composition, technology or teaching, the course is structured to let you pursue what draws you to music in the first place, while building the academic and practical grounding to take that…
BA (Hons)
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Years
Part-time
Study mode
On campus
Location
About this course
On this BA Music degree you'll make & study music you're passionate about. Prepare to become a music teacher, or work in fields like performance or technology. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Music is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Southampton. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Music & Performing Arts, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 10 modules
- Common Practice Tonality FundamentalsCore
- Music Production FundamentalsCore
- Music in Context 1Core
- Music in Context 2Core
- Performance Fundamentals 1Core
- The (Undergraduate) Learning CurveCore
- Composition FundamentalsCore
- Ensemble Performance FundamentalsCore
- Music sources and transmissionCore
- Performance Fundamentals 2Core
Year 2 26 modules
- Humanities Study Abroad Preparation ModuleCore
- Music Education and Social JusticeCore
- Sounding Equality: A Sustainable Music HistoryCore
- Year Abroad Report Module for Humanities StudentsCore
- Year in EmploymentCore
- 19th Century Italian Opera: Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and VerdiCore
- Adventures in Musical ResearchCore
- Composition WorkshopCore
- ConductingCore
- Ensemble Performance 1Core
- Film Music CompositionCore
- Global Hip HopCore
- Jazz TheoryCore
- Music Therapy 1: FundamentalsCore
- Music and Sound Production 1Core
- Music in the Community with Bournemouth Symphony OrchestraCore
- Orchestration and ArrangingCore
- Performance Tuition (Single Study)Core
- Second Year Performance RecitalCore
- Sonic Performance LabCore
- The American MusicalCore
- The Art of SongCore
- The Business of MusicCore
- The Producer as Composer: digital sound & songwriting in practiceCore
- Them Changes: Composing and arranging for jazz and jazz influenced genres.Core
- “To Sweeten my bitterness”: Love, sex and gender in medieval musickingCore
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course is built around a set of core strands that run through the degree: core theory, which gives you the analytical and historical grounding to understand music as a discipline; research & methods, developing the skills to investigate musical questions rigorously; and applied practice, where you put ideas into action through performance, composition or production work. Alongside these, you'll encounter specialist options such as areas linked to performance, composition or music technology, allowing you to shape the degree around your own musical interests. An independent project gives you the space to pursue a piece of substantial work of your own devising, while professional skills modules help translate your musical training into the kinds of competencies employers and further study routes look for, from communication and project management to the practicalities of working in creative or educational settings.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who already spends a good deal of time making music, whether that's performing, composing, producing or arranging, and wants a structured way to deepen that practice alongside serious academic study. If you're the sort of person who enjoys picking apart how a piece of music works as much as playing it, and who's curious about the history, theory and technology behind the sounds you love, you'll find plenty here to get your teeth into. Studying part-time means it also works well for those balancing music-making, teaching work or other commitments with degree-level study, and who want to progress at a pace that fits around real life. Expect a mix of independent musical exploration and more formal academic work: reading and writing about music, developing your own compositions or performances, and gradually building towards a project that's entirely your own. It suits people with clear ideas about where they want music to take them, whether that's the classroom, the stage, a studio, or somewhere in the music industry they haven't quite pinned down yet, as much as those still figuring out which of those paths appeals most.
Careers & job market
Graduates from Music & Performing Arts courses nationally have gone on to a range of destinations, from teaching and performance to technical and industry roles. According to Graduate Outcomes data, 90% of graduates from Music & Performing Arts courses across the UK were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with 55% of working graduates in highly skilled roles or further study. Nationally, starting salaries (measured 15 months after graduation) for this field range from £20,000 to £28,000, though these figures reflect the sector as a whole rather than any guaranteed outcome for a specific graduate. Looking further ahead, national earnings data shows a range of £15,725–£22,200 after three years and £19,975–£28,200 after five years, figures that vary considerably depending on the specific career path taken, whether that's teaching, freelance performance, composition, music technology or another route entirely. Around 85% of students on these courses nationally continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed their studies.
University & format
The University of Southampton is a public, research-intensive Russell Group university founded in 1862, with a total student population of 21,335. It was and holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. This BA (Hons) Music degree is offered in English and can be studied part-time, allowing you to fit degree-level study around other commitments. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships, details of which are available on its funding pages, so it's worth checking what you might be entitled to before you apply.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Published entryABB-BBB typical offer
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Contextual offersPublished by this provider
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
PlacementPublished placement option
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Open daysOpen days and visits
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
2026 entryLive availability check
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of ABB. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check Southampton's official course page for the current offer.
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask Southampton whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£24,800 / yr
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Southampton →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
Check providertuition used per year, no published course home fee, total not estimated
total borrowing, course length not published
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Funding matched to this course
All Southampton funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
electrical engineering students
Check eligibility →Global Talent in Adult Nursing Scholarship£5,000 off tuition fees
international students studying eligible undergraduate or postgraduate master's in adult n
Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Music & Performing Arts graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in music & performing arts · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Music & Performing Arts nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£20,000 – £28,000
After 3 years LEO
£15,725 – £22,200
After 5 years LEO
£19,975 – £28,200
national rangeaxis £14,500 – £29,500
National figures for Music & Performing Arts graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Music & Performing Arts graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
90%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Music & Performing Arts courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Music & Performing Arts graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Orchestras & ensembles
- Schools & conservatoires
- Studios & venues
- Media & freelance
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Music & Performing Arts graduates.
Music Tech Beta Liaison & Support SpecialistinMusic Brands, Inc.Music QTSColmore Education Recruitment LtdMusic Teachers in HuddersfieldAcademicsMusic Rights Operations & Data Services LeadPPLMusic Engagement Officer - Alternative Provision · Coventry MusicMusiceducationukMusic Audio & Tech Support Desk SpecialistMandarin RecruitmentLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Southampton
All students25,785
International35.1%
Aged 25+17%
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
Students178,755
Aged 25+15.7%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Southampton
941 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 308Anti Social Behaviour 121Shoplifting 106Public Order 79Criminal Damage Arson 75
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Music & Performing Arts right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Southampton from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £24,800 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Southampton offers the Global Talent in Adult Nursing Scholarship (£5,000 off tuition fees) for international students, see Scholarships above.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Southampton and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Southampton
Music & Performing Arts at other universities
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated foundation year)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated year in professional practice)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama & Theatre StudiesAberystwyth University
BA (Hons) Creative Industries Futures (including Foundation Year)ACMCommon questions
What are the entry requirements?
Set by Southampton. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates earn?
See the career and earnings data for Music & Performing Arts below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
What will it cost me?
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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