BA
Music and Philosophy BA (Hons)
Be inspired in a beautiful location to develop your musical knowledge, while opening your mind to the fascinating world of philosophy.
How to apply Apply via UCAS
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
BA
UCAS Code
WV53
Course length
3 years full-time
Typical offer
AAB
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £ per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £ per year
Overview
The BA Music and Philosophy enables you to pursue your interest in both disciplines and explore the fascinating intersection between them. You will be part of two particularly vibrant departments. Located at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durham offers the perfect juxtaposition of the ancient and the cutting-edge. We pride ourselves on combining the traditional and the modern in the study of music, exploring diverse genres from the past and present and developing exciting new approaches in musicology, composition, psychology of music, analysis, ethnomusicology and performance. As part of the philosophy element of the course, you will examine the broad divisions of philosophy, delving into metaphysics and theory of knowledge on the one hand, and moral philosophy on the other. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four.
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
BA
UCAS Code
WV53
Course length
3 years full-time
Typical offer
AAB
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £ per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £ per year
What you'll study
In the first year you will take a variety of core and optional modules designed to give you a broad overview of the disciplines and approaches of each subject. In the second year, there is an increased emphasis on the development of critical and analytical skills and the modules will specialise more strongly in particular areas. The third year of this course is structured around an independent project, which can take the form of a composition portfolio, public performance recital or dissertation (in either music or philosophy).
Core modules
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Ethics and Values
provides a structured introduction to moral philosophy, including applied ethics, by exploring key moral concepts and showing how they influence moral practices and theories.
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Historical Studies 1
introduces the historical study of the Western art music tradition, covering music from the baroque to late classical periods. A number of representative musical works from the period are explored and you will deepen your knowledge of those works and the contexts of their composition and reception, while also acquiring skills foundational to the practice of historical musicology.
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Knowledge and Reality
introduces philosophical problems in epistemology (the study of knowledge), and metaphysics (the study of reality and ourselves).
Optional modules
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In recent years optional modules have included: Introduction to EthnomusicologyAnalysis 1: Elements of Tonal Theory and PracticeHistorical Composition TechniquesComposition 1: 20th Century InnovationsPerformance 1 – with recital/with essayReading PhilosophyScience, Medicine and SocietyBeing Human: An Introduction to Post-Kantian Philosophy
Core modules
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Philosophy, Music and Improvisation
introduces the relationship between music and philosophy and explores the philosophical issues to which music gives rise, how music may illuminate some of those issues, and how philosophy may illuminate the understanding of music.
Optional modules
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In recent years optional modules have included: Historical Studies 2World Music TraditionsStudies in Popular MusicCreative Music TechnologyEarly Modern PhilosophyMoral TheoryFundamentals of LogicHistory, Science and Medicine.
Core modules
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Aesthetics
provides a grounding in the philosophy of art and literature by introducing some historically important texts as well as more recent work.
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Portfolio of Compositions,
Public Performance Project or Dissertation (in either music or philosophy).
Optional modules
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In recent years optional modules have included: Portfolio of CompositionsContemporary Music PerformancePerformance 3: Recorded Performance ProjectPsychology of MusicBiomedical Ethics: Past and PresentHistory and Philosophy of PsychiatryPhilosophical Issues in Contemporary Science
Learning
You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials, and performance and composition workshops. The number and balance of these activities will change over the degree as you develop your knowledge and abilities as an independent learner. For each module, weekly lectures will introduce you to the broad questions and current issues. Seminars/tutorials will give you the opportunity to engage with topics introduced in lectures, discuss key issues in small groups, and explore musical and philosophical works. Instrumental/vocal lessons will help you develop as a performer, while composition seminars/workshops will allow you to explore approaches to composing. Study skills and practical training in areas like notation software, recording equipment and transcribing music are embedded within the modules.Assessment
Modules are assessed by a variety of means, including continuous assessment, examinations and recitals. Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on the development of independent research skills. Teaching methods and coursework are designed to help you achieve this; for example, you will receive reading lists, assignments, presentation briefs and online materials to direct your research in preparation for seminars. In your third year you will undertake a major project which can be a dissertation, composition portfolio or a solo recital.Entry requirements
Fees & Funding
Choose which fees you want to see:
Home / Island students
£ per year
International / EU Students
£ per year
Home / Island students
Part Time - £ per year
International / EU Students
Part Time - £ per year
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Find out moreDepartment Information
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Durham is one of the leading university music departments in the UK, offering innovative courses that are informed by our internationally recognised research. When you study with us you will be encouraged to engage actively with music, both familiar and unfamiliar, as we challenge you to think about the subject in new ways. Our curriculum strikes a distinctive balance between breadth and depth, covering perspectives from history, theory, ethnography, psychology as well as composition and performance. The curriculum will challenge you intellectually, stimulate your curiosity and equip you with the skills to produce an independent project that engages with the latest research in your chosen area of study. In the first year, teaching will revolve around six foundational areas. As you progress through the course there will be increasing choice and flexibility, including study options from other departments. To further develop your skills, we offer the opportunity to spend a year studying at an overseas music department or on a work placement. By the end of your studies, you will be equipped with the theoretical, practical and independent research skills necessary for further study or future employment. For more information see our department pages.
Read moreFacilities
We are located at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Durham City, right next to Durham Cathedral and Palace Green.
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Concert room and practice spaces
Our students have access to a beautiful concert room serving as an ideal venue for performances by students and visiting musicians. Four fully equipped practice rooms are available for individual practice and group rehearsals, with additional practice spaces available across the University.
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Music production
We also have three studios with music production equipment that ranges from early analogue to current digital technology. Our recording studio comprises a control room and up to three recording rooms, with state-of-the-art equipment.
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Laboratories
We also have an audio-visual documentation and analysis laboratory, a music and science lab and a fully equipped music technology workshop.
Find out more -
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Philosophy is an ancient and diverse discipline that is fundamental to our understanding of what it is to be human. Amongst the most prestigious departments in the UK, at Durham we pride ourselves on our excellence in teaching and research and we are committed to the pursuit of philosophical knowledge and understanding. Our distinctive, research-led approach to learning means that our undergraduate courses are constantly shaped in line with research and to reflect contemporary study in the area. We offer a range of single and joint honours degrees with flexible pathways to suit your interests and career aspirations. As well as covering more traditional areas of philosophy, such as ethics and values, philosophical traditions and moral theory, our curriculum also highlights the relevance of philosophy to current issues in the world. This includes modules relating to the ethics of science and medicine. You can further develop your skills and experience with the opportunity to spend a year studying overseas or on a work placement. For more information see our department pages.
Read moreFacilities
The Department of Philosophy is located at Old Elvet in the picturesque city of Durham. We occupy a listed building in this ancient part of the city, near the medieval Elvet Bridge, and within easy walking distance of the Students’ Union, the colleges and Durham’s historic centre with its Castle and Cathedral.
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Events
Undergraduate students are invited to attend the Department’s extensive programme of research-related activities, including weekly lectures and seminars, many of which are given by renowned UK and overseas philosophers. Recent visitors have included Amie Thomasson, Noam Chomsky and Peter Singer.
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Find out more -
Career Opportunities
Of those UK/EU students who graduated in 2022-23
84%
£24,626
81%
HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk
Employability
More Information
At Durham you will engage actively with music both familiar and unfamiliar and be challenged to think about music in new ways. Our research-led teaching allows you to work closely with internationally renowned experts, who support and encourage you to develop independent study skills.
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