The music programme is designed for students who aspire to work in music. The curriculum provides students with technical skills in composition, music technology, or performance. You will learn from academics whose experience ranges from the Middle Ages to the present day and worldwide.
Studying musical texts, practices, cultures, and institutions will allow you to look into history, sociology, ethnology, and philosophy that span a wide variety of periods and places. You can choose from various performance opportunities, including jazz, choirs, orchestras, pop, and world music ensembles.
Graduates of the program work as opera singers, concert artists, composers, orchestral musicians, music coaches or teachers, freelancer instrumentalists, or music leaders. The average base salary of a master’s in music in the UK is £29,000 per year, while top artists earn around £72,000 per year.
Here is a list of top music universities in the UK:
Rank |
University |
1 |
Royal College of Art |
2 |
University of the Arts London |
3 |
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) |
4 |
Parsons School of Design at The New School |
5 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
6 |
Aalto University |
6 |
Pratt Institute |
8 |
Politecnico di Milano |
9 |
Design Academy Eindhoven |
Top Music University in the UK: Bachelor of Music
Some of the top universities in the UK offer an undergraduate degree in music. The course duration is generally 4 years, while some universities offer a 3-year program. The tuition fee for a year of a bachelor's degree in music ranges from £17,000 to £32,000.
University |
Program |
Course duration |
Royal College of Music |
Bachelor of Music (Hons) |
4 years |
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland |
Bachelor of Music (Honours) |
4 years |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
Bachelor of Music (Honours) |
4 years |
Royal Holloway University of London |
Bachelor of Music |
3 years |
University of Cambridge |
BA in Music (Honours) |
3 years |
University of Oxford |
BA in Music |
3 years |
University of Huddersfield |
Bachelor of Music (Honours) |
3-4 years |
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance |
Bachelor of Music (Hons) Composition / Performance / Jazz |
4 years |
Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) |
Bachelor of Music with Honours |
4 years |
Goldsmiths, University of London |
Bachelor of Music with Honours in Popular Music |
3 years |
Entry Requirement:
Academic Requirement:
- Completion of higher secondary education with a minimum score of 70 to 75%.
- If the secondary education of a particular country is not recognized, one may apply with an SAT score or an IB score along with higher secondary education.
English Language Requirement:
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall, with at least 6.0 in individual components.
- A TOEFL score of 85 to 93 overall, with at least 20 in each component.
- A PTE score of 58 to 63 overall, with at least 58 in listening and speaking.
Top Music University in the UK: Bachelor of Music (Tuition fees)
University |
Tuition fee |
Royal College of Music |
£25,990 |
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland |
£19,314 |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
£23,120 |
Royal Holloway University of London |
£22,700 |
University of Cambridge |
£30,537 |
University of Oxford |
£32,480 |
University of Huddersfield |
£15,000 |
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance |
£23,390 |
Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) |
£24,700 |
Goldsmiths, University of London |
£17,890 |
Top Music University in the UK: Master of Music
Universities that offer undergraduate music degrees also offer master's degrees in music. In the United Kingdom, Master of Music programs is available to students who want to study part-time, full-time, or via distance education. Master of Music programs in the United Kingdom last at least one year and involve coursework, practicals, and research.
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The course typically lasts one to two years, though some universities offer a nine-month program. A year’s tuition for a master's degree in music ranges from £18,000 to £28,000.
University |
Program |
Course duration |
Royal College of Music |
Master of Music in Performance |
2 years |
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland |
Master of Music |
1-2 years |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
Master of Music in Composition |
2 years |
Royal Holloway University of London |
Master of Music |
1 year |
University of Oxford |
Master of Studies in Music (Composition) |
9 months |
University of Huddersfield |
Master of Arts in Music by Research |
1 year |
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance |
Master of Music |
2 years |
Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) |
Master of Music |
2 years |
Goldsmiths, University of London |
Master of Music in Popular Music |
1 year |
Entry Requirement:
Academic Requirement:
An undergraduate degree in the cognate subjects of music, music production, or audio technology with a score of 60% to 70% or equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment
English Language Requirement:
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 in individual components.
- A TOEFL score of 88 to 100 overall, with at least 22 in listening and writing.
- A PTE score of 62 to 67 overall, with at least 64 in each component.
Top Music University in the UK: Master of Music (Tuition fee)
University |
Tuition fee |
Royal College of Music |
£27,200 |
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland |
£19,635 |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
£23,120 |
Royal Holloway University of London |
£18,800 |
University of Oxford |
£28,560 |
University of Huddersfield |
£16,000 |
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance |
£23,300 |
Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) |
£24,700 |
Goldsmiths, University of London |
£20,250 |
Top Music University in the UK: PhD in Music
A PhD degree in music is a 3–4 year course depending upon the prior qualification of the applicant. The tuition fee ranges from £14,000 to £24,000 per year. As a terminal degree, a PhD in music qualifies its recipient for teaching and research positions at universities, colleges, and conservatories.
University |
Courses |
Course duration |
Royal College of Music |
Doctor of Music |
3 or 4 years |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
Doctorate in Music |
3-4 years |
Royal Holloway University of London |
Ph. D in Music |
4 years |
University of Cambridge |
PhD in Music |
3-4 years |
University of Oxford |
Doctor of Philosophy in Music |
3-4 years |
University of Huddersfield |
PhD in Music |
3 years |
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance |
PhD in Music |
4 years |
Goldsmiths, University of London |
PhD in Music |
3-4 years |
Academic Requirement:
- A bachelor's degree in a related field.
- Taught post-graduate degree in music with an overall average score of 65% or higher.
- The ability to demonstrate a close familiarity with existing theoretical and practical aspects of music.
English Language Requirement:
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall, with at least 7.0 in writing.
- A TOEFL score of 88 to 100 overall, with at least 26 in writing.
- A PTE score of 61 to 67 overall, with at least 69 in each component.
Top Music University in the UK: PhD in Music (Tuition fee)
Student Life in the UK
University |
Tuition fee |
Royal College of Music |
£18,075 |
Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
£14,320 |
Royal Holloway University of London |
£21,500 |
University of Cambridge |
£27,048 |
University of Oxford |
£26,940 |
University of Huddersfield |
£16,000 |
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance |
£14,810 |
Goldsmiths, University of London |
£15,820 |
Top Music University in the UK: Scholarships
Some of the need-based and merit-based scholarships awarded to international students in the UK are listed below:
University |
Awards |
Amount |
Royal College of Music |
ABRSM Scholarships |
Full tuition fee + £5000 per year |
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland |
Music Scholarships |
£2,500 per annum |
Royal Holloway University of London |
International Future Leaders Scholarship |
£6,000 |
Music Scholarships |
£300 |
|
University of Huddersfield |
Merit-based scholarships |
Up to £4,000 |
Goldsmiths, University of London |
Bert Jansch Foundation Award |
£1000 |
Academics at Risk Scholarship |
£15,000 |
Top Music University in the UK: Scope
Graduates of the program work in various fields, both within and outside of music. You can work freelance or contract as a music producer, music therapist, composer, musician, music teacher, special effects technician, sound engineer, singer, or concert artist.
Experienced individuals or those with a PhD in music are hired for teaching and research positions at universities, colleges, and conservatories. The average salary for a bachelor's degree in music in the UK is £26,000 annually.
Role |
Range of Salary |
Average Salary |
Lecturer / Speaker |
£22k - £32k |
£26,169 |
Sound Engineer |
£19k - £39k |
£26,597 |
Talent Acquisition Manager |
£24k - £43k |
£32,500 |
Private music teacher |
£23k - £50k |
£34,211 |
Music therapist |
£32k - £39k |
£38,522 |
Music Director |
£24k - £54k |
£38,245 |
Musician or Singer |
£13k - £55k |
£26,024 |