The Master’s degree in music program modules explores music as an evolving subject, covering repertories from Western art music through to electronic, popular, audio-visual, non-Western, and contemporary repertoires. The Master of Music can be academic or practice-based, depending on the university.

Studying a music program in the UK exposes international students to a culturally diverse and music-filled environment. A Master's degree in the UK is usually a 1-2 year course offered by some of the UK’s top universities.

The tuition for the program is anywhere in the range of £11,000 to £30,000 per year. The average salary after a graduate degree in music in the UK is £29k per year.

A Master's degree in music equips graduates to take up careers in music, such as journalism, teaching, broadcasting, librarianship, historically informed performance, contemporary composition, and arts administration. These skills will prepare graduates to enter the professional world with high-demand skills.

Why pursue a Master’s degree in music in the United Kingdom?

• Widely recognized courses offer broad career perspectives in and outside the UK.
• Several scholarships and other funding opportunities exist.
• In the United Kingdom, a master's degree in information technology can lead to lucrative careers such as self-managed musicians, part of the publishing, copyright, and synchronization sector, agents or managers, music supervisors, digital marketers for the music business, artists and repertoire representatives, etc.

Top Universities for Master in Music in the UK

Several top universities in the UK offer Master’s degrees in music. It is commonly available as a MA in Music or MMus Music. The MA in Music is an academic rather than a practice-based degree. If you want to study composition or performance, please explore the MMus programs and their pathways.

Bachelor of Music in the UK

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Master’s of Music in the UK: Tuition fees

The cost of studying for a master’s degree in music in the UK for international students is as follows:

University-Specific Entry Requirements

Bath Spa University

• English Language Proficiency requirements are:
• IELTS: Overall 6.5 or 7.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in listening, speaking, reading and writing.
• TOEFL IBT: A total score of 75, with a minimum score of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking, and 17 in writing.
• PTE: 58 overall, with at least 51 in each of listening, speaking, reading and writing
• Academic requirements: A secure technical foundation (undergraduate) in instrument, voice, or conducting.

Falmouth University

• Possibilities for meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements include:
• IELTS:  Minimum score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in reading, writing, speaking and listening 
• Academic requirements:  An undergraduate degree with a GPA of 2.2 or above or equivalent experience.

Oxford Brookes University

• English Language Proficiency requirements are:
• IELTS: Overall 6.5 with 6.0 in each component.
• Academic requirements:  an honours degree, a postgraduate diploma or an equivalent qualification in a related field.

Leeds Beckett University

• Possibilities for meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements include:
• IELTS: Overall 6.0, Minimum of 5.5 in each sub-test.
• Academic requirements:  A second class honours degree in the cognate subjects of music, music production or audio technology, or a second class honours degree in a non-cognate subject supported by evidence of an aptitude for the subject applied for, or have equivalent experience or training, usually from within the work environment.

Goldsmiths, University of London

• English Language Proficiency requirements are:
• IELTS: Overall 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 in other sub-tests.
• Academic requirements:  an undergraduate degree of at least upper second-class standard in Music or an equivalent subject. 

University of Westminster

• English Language Proficiency requirements are:
• IELTS: Overall 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and speaking and 5.5 in reading and listening 
• TOEFL iBT: 88 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 21 in writing, 18 in reading and 20 in speaking.
• PTE: minimum 59 in each component.
• Academic requirements: An upper second class honours degree (2:1) or a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in a relevant degree or with relevant experience

University of Hertfordshire

• Possibilities for meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements include:
• IELTS: Overall 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in any band) 
• TOEFL IBT: Overall 79 with band scores of 18 in reading, 17 in writing, 17 in listening, and 20 in speaking.
• PTE:  58 (with no less than 42 in any one band)
• Academic requirements: A Bachelor Degree in Music / Music Technology or equivalent professional experience.

University of St Andrews

• Possibilities for meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements include:
• IELTS: Overall 7.0, Minimum of 6.5 in each sub-test.
• TOEFL IBT: Overall 94, Minimum of 20 in listening, 19 in reading, 24 in writing and 20 in speaking.
• PTE: Overall 65, Minimum of 58 in each sub-test.
• Academic requirements:  A 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree and relevant experience in theology or music.

Tileyard Education

• Possibilities for meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements include:

• IELTS: Minimum overall score of 6.0.
• Academic requirements: A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or an appropriate equivalent, i.e. a professional qualification, from a recognized British or overseas institution or at least 3 years of industry experience.

Royal Northern College Of Music (RNCM)

• Possibilities for meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements include:
• IELTS: Overall 6.0, with no less than 5.5 in each component.
• Academic requirements:  A good honours degree or equivalent (commonly in Music: FHEQ Level 6).

The Institute Of Contemporary Music Performance

• Possibilities for meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements include:
• IELTS (Academic) – Grade B2 Overall and in each area (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)
• Cambridge English – First (FCE) B2 or Advanced (CAE) C1 or Proficiency (PAE) C2.

Trinity College London – Integrated Skills in English (ISE) at ISE II (B2) or higher.

• Academic requirements: An undergraduate music degree or a notable experience in the music industry.

University of Southampton

• English Language Proficiency requirements are:
• IELTS: Overall 6.5 with a 6.0 in all aspects.

University of Birmingham

• English Language Proficiency requirements are:
• IELTS: Overall 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band.
• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
• (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills

Master’s of Music in the UK: Scholarships

Different types of scholarships, awards, fellowships, and bursaries are available to international students in the UK. Several universities also have departmental scholarships, which are reserved for music students only. Some scholarships offered to international students at different universities are listed below.

It might be too expensive to pursue a degree in music, especially in a country as pricey as the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, many scholarships for international students in the UK might help ease the financial burden. 

Aside from pursuing scholarships for overseas students, students can also seek financial assistance. They can work part-time or apply for loans while studying in the UK.

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Master’s of Music in the UK: Scope

As a music graduate, composing, performing, and teaching are just three of the ways you can develop your music career. Potential career choices include, but are not limited to:

• Music producer
• Music therapist
• Musician
• Private music teacher
• Secondary school teacher
• Sound designer
• Sound engineer
• Sound technician, broadcasting/film/video
• Special effects technician

Likewise, some top recruiters for music graduates are:

• BAFTA
• Splash Damage Videogame Company
• Video Feet Media Company
• Focusrite
• SampleMagic
• Dynamic Music
• Extreme Music (Sony)
• Grand Chapel Studios
• iZotope