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BA

Music BA (Hons)

Be inspired in a beautiful location to develop your creative, practical and critical skills in a top-class department. This degree will challenge you to think about music in new ways.

How to apply Apply via UCAS

Course details

Start date

Degree Type

BA

UCAS Code

W300

Course length

3 years full-time

Typical offer

AAB

Tuition Fees

  • Home (Full-time): per year
  • Overseas (Full-time): per year

Overview

BA Music combines 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 (acoustic and electroacoustic), analysis, ethnomusicology, psychology of music, and performance. The department is located at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Durham City – an extraordinarily beautiful place. But it is the juxtaposition of ancient and cutting-edge that makes Durham so unusual and inspiring; within the old buildings we strive to forge fresh interpretations and create exciting new music, using state-of-the-art technology. Our teaching is research-led and enhanced by distinctive staff specialisations that include nineteenth- and twentieth-century Western music, Indian and Korean music, popular music, music technology, conducting, psychology of music, opera, analysis, and contemporary composition. We also have a variety of music-making taking place at Durham such as six orchestras, choral singing, theatrical productions, contemporary music and much more. You can 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

W300

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

The first year of the course is designed to introduce a broad range of disciplines and approaches. In the second year, there is a much greater choice of modules to allow you to pursue your own interests. The final year of this course is structured around an independent project, which can take the form of a musicological dissertation, a composition portfolio, a techniques portfolio (pastiche compositions) or a 40-minute solo recital.

Core modules

  • 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.

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: Historical Composition TechniquesComposition 1: Twentieth Century InnovationsIntroduction to EthnomusicologyAnalysis 1: Elements of Tonal Theory and PracticePerformance 1: Practice through History (with recital/essay).

Core modules

  • Historical Studies 2

    encourages a research-based approach to key issues in Western music between the early romantic period and the mid-twentieth century. The module will also develop an understanding of the dominant trends in musical life in the period, from performance, reception and aesthetics.

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: Creative Music TechnologyPerformance 2: Practice as ResearchComposition 2: New Directions in Art MusicOrchestrationAdvanced Historical Composition TechniquesTheory and AnalysisStudies in the History of OperaWorld Music TraditionsStudies in Popular Music.

Core modules

  • Dissertation, Portfolio of Compositions,

    a Techniques Portfolio (pastiche compositions) or a Performance Project The final year of this course is structured around an independent project, which can take the form of a musicological Dissertation, a Portfolio of Compositions, a Techniques Portfolio (pastiche compositions) or a Performance Project requiring a 40-minute solo recital.

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: The Music of IndiaContemporary Music PerformanceAdvanced Ethnomusicology: Themes and IssuesMusic TheologyStudies in Symphonic AnalysisTime and RhythmWords and MusicMusic and Politics in France, 1789–1815Techniques PortfolioPsychology of Music

Learning

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials (including one-to-one supervision), as well as instrumental or vocal tuition and performance and composition workshops. For each module, lectures will introduce you to the broad questions and current issues in music. Seminars and tutorials will give you the opportunity to engage with the topics in small groups. Instrumental or vocal lessons will help you develop your abilities as a performer, while composition seminars and workshops will allow you to explore approaches to composing. Practical training in both generic study skills and music-specific skills such as using notation software, recording equipment and transcribing music are embedded within the core modules.

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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).

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Department Information

  • 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.

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    Facilities

    We are located at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Durham City, right next to Durham Cathedral and Palace Green.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • Laboratories

      We also have an audio-visual documentation and analysis laboratory, a music and science lab and a fully equipped music technology workshop.

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Career Opportunities

Of those UK/EU students who graduated in 2022-23

84%

are in paid employment or further study

£24,626

is the average salary.

81%

are in highly or medium skilled employment

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

We are one of the very best music departments in the UK, with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. Our students benefit from passionate guidance from our staff and alumni, as well as support from our Careers and Enterprise Centre.  Our students graduate with a range of skills which open up many opportunities for employment or further study. Graduates from the Department have gone on to work in diverse careers in the music industry and beyond, including education, music teaching, arts administration, broadcasting, music production, artist management and journalism.

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.

Learn more about why the department of Music is a great place to study

Your next steps

Apply via UCAS

  • Institution code: D86

  • UCAS code: W300

Apply now

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