- UCAS course code
- W302
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Music (MusB)
MusB Music
An unrivalled combination of academic excellence and conservatoire-standard performance.
Duration: 3 years
Year of entry: 2026
UCAS course code: W302 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Study abroad
Scholarships available
- Typical A-level offer: AAB including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: ABC including specific subjects
- UK refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 35 points overall with 6,6,5 at HL including specific subjects
Overview
Course overview
- The UK's Number 1 Department for Music (Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024).
- Study solo performance with our outstanding roster of professional instrumental and vocal teachers.
- The MusB is the UK's longest-running taught music degree (established in 1891), set in a 21st-century cosmopolitan city bursting with music and creativity.
- Find your own voice in composition and make use of the latest technology in the stunning NOVARS studios.
- Tailor the course to your own strengths and interests, and discover something entirely new in ensemble performance, conducting, film composition, musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory.
- Make music and gain vital employability skills in our ambitious and inclusive student-led music societies.
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 509 2871
- ug-music@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/music/
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: About us
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
A-level
AAB normally including A in Music.
In lieu of A Level Music, we will accept ABRSM Grade 5 Theory as evidence of equivalent theoretical understanding. Applicants who have not followed the ABRSM route are invited to contact ug-music@manchester.ac.uk to ask about alternative arrangements for assessing theoretical understanding.
Students wishing to pursue solo performance units should normally have ABRSM Grade 8 or equivalent on an instrument or voice (preferably at Distinction) Applications who have not followed graded exams are invited to contact us to submit a video alternative for consideration.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
A-level contextual offer
ABC normally including grade A in Music.
Please see the standard A Level requirements for more information about acceptable alternative qualifications.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
Contextual offers are available for applicants who:
- live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
- live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
- have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
UK refugee/care-experienced offer
ABC normally including A in Music.
Please see the standard A Level requirements for more information about acceptable alternative qualifications.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:
- have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
- have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
International Baccalaureate
34 points overall. 6,6,5 in Higher Level subjects including 6 in Music.
Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.
GCSE/IGCSE
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 6 or B in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and 4 or C in Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification
Other entry requirements
Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Country-specific entry requirements
English language requirements
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade B/6, or;
IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each component, or;
An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found here .
English language test validity
Fees and funding
Fees
Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
- Find out more from student finance
- Eligible UK students can apply for bursaries and scholarships
- Funding for EU and international students is on our country-specific pages
- Many students work part-time or complete a student internship
Application and selection
How to apply
Home-schooled applicants
Non-standard educational routes
Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences. Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.
The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to. Further information for mature students can be found here ( http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/mature-students/ )
How your application is considered
Applications are considered on the basis of an assessment of past and predicted academic achievements, musical experiences and achievements, the academic reference and personal statement. Where instrumental or other music awards are taken, or due to be taken, it is helpful for these to be detailed in the relevant space on the UCAS form.
Skills, knowledge, abilities, interests
Associated Board (or equivalent examinations) grade VIII, preferably at Distinction, on an instrument or voice.
Returning to education
We welcome applications from mature students and will consider them on an individual basis. We usually interview mature applicants with non-standard qualifications.
Deferrals
Deferrals are normally allowed; however, we do ask applicants to let us know as early as possible if they are intending to defer. This helps us to adjust the number of offers we make, in order to achieve the required number of students in a given year.
Re-applications
Transfers
Students wishing to transfer from other Universities will be considered on merit, providing we have enough places to accommodate them. Enquiries should be made to the admissions administrator for the subject (see contact details). We will require transcripts and a reference from your tutor.
Course details
Course description
MusB Music was the first taught course of its kind in the UK, and it was a co-educational course from the start. But it certainly isn't stuck in the past!
The MusB today is diverse in content and flexible in structure, enabling you to choose the course units that interest you the most.
It allows you to build upon existing interests while discovering new forms and traditions of music and new ways of understanding, performing, and creating music.
The course offers excellence in Performance , Composition and Musicology , incorporating specialisms in Music, Culture and History, Music Theory and Analysis, Applied Music, and Ethnomusicology.
Our course content is regularly updated based on our research to reflect the latest findings in music scholarship.
You will also receive support in preparing for the workplace; our graduates go on to work in the music profession, the creative industries and beyond.
You will learn from internationally recognised academics and a roster of professional instrumental and vocal tutors drawn from Manchester and the wider north-west.
Our teaching and music-making takes place in the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama.
You will rehearse, take masterclasses and perform in the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall and can get your hands on the latest digital audio technology in the award-winning NOVARS studios for electroacoustic music and interactive media.
You will also benefit musically, academically, and socially from the extensive music-making and management opportunities provided by the Music Society , the Choral Programme and the department , with 100+ concerts and events taking place each year.
And this is to say nothing of the diversity of music to be experienced in cosmopolitan Manchester, a global and highly connected city for the performing arts with a rich heritage of professional and amateur music-making.
Special features
"The electro-acoustic and sound design courses have definitely been a highlight, as you learn new skills from scratch that have obvious real-world uses.
"The performance module has also stood out for me because the individual instrumental lessons have been outstanding."
Sarah Keirle / 2017 graduate
You will benefit from a combination of academic excellence and conservatoire levels of performance at Manchester.
You will receive 18 lessons each year in one-to-one practical tuition on your first study (when taken for credit).
On our Conducting programme there are 6-7 student positions in the Music Society and 4 in University Chorus, all mentored by Rob Guy, Head of Conducting.
The Music Society and the Martin Harris Centre (including the superb Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall) presents many events annually.
We have many practice rooms, 13 with pianos, and specialist percussion and keyboard rooms.
Composition training
We have six full-time composers with expertise in a range of styles, encompassing instrumental and vocal, interactive media, electroacoustic and film music composition with teaching focused on originality and professional training.
Your work will be performed by fellow students in composition courses throughout the degree. You can also benefit from our dedicated studio, with ProTools suite for electroacoustic composition, film composition and interactive media.
Musicological expertise
From early music to jazz, string quartets to African pop, we have expertise in a vast array of areas, including music theory and analysis, sketch study, reception studies, performance studies, aesthetics, critical theory, cultural studies, community music and ethnomusicology.
Placement year option
Apply your knowledge in a real-world context through a placement year in Year 3, enhancing your employment prospects, career goals and building networks.
Study abroad
You may apply to study abroad for one semester during Year 2.
Teaching and learning
Our research-based teaching places students at the heart of the learning process, enabling you to ask complex, original questions and to apply different methods for answering them.
We understand that making the step up to university study can be quite a challenge, especially if you have limited experience of independent study. We offer a range of support to help you make the transition:
- In Year 1, all Music students are assigned to a small tutorial group which meets most Mondays during term-time. The group is run by your academic tutor and provides you with an opportunity to try out new ideas and receive feedback on your progress.
- All academic staff run two weekly consultation hours, where the office door is open for any question relating to your studies, progress or university life.
- We also host an active peer support network, including weekly study sessions organised and run by Year 2 and 3 students.
You'll be encouraged to develop knowledge and skills beyond your course, including extra-curricular opportunities with the Music Society. These range from performance and rehearsal to concert management and marketing.
Instrumental tuition is provided by the University for your first instrument or voice.
Prominent players from outside the University provide this tuition, and include visitors from the Halle Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Northern College of Music.
Eighteen hours of one-to-one tuition is provided per year, with 20 hours in the third year.
Expert performers provide coaching on our ensemble performance units.
You'll be encouraged to attend our weekly programme of Thursday research forums, including performance and composition masterclasses.
You'll also be encouraged to develop knowledge and skills beyond your course, including extra-curricular opportunities with the Music Society.
These range from performance and rehearsal to concert management and marketing.
Coursework and assessment
Coursework is regularly assigned and assessed either continually or at the end of the semester, depending on the course units taken.
You will have opportunities to take classes in which presentations may count as an assessed element.
Many of our students choose to present a formal recital for assessment on their instrument.
Course content for year 1
Gain a thorough grounding in all the fundamental areas of musical training: performance, composition, analysis and music theory, musicology and ethnomusicology, and most importantly make connections through synergies between studies in these areas. In the second semester you can choose from a range of optional units in addition to core units
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC10011 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| MUSC10311 | 10 | Mandatory | |
| MUSC10312 | 10 | Mandatory | |
| MUSC10511 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| MUSC10512 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| MUSC10600 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| MUSC10022 | 10 | Optional | |
| MUSC10112 | 10 | Optional | |
| MUSC10212 | 10 | Optional |
Course content for year 2
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC20011 | 20 | Optional | |
| MUSC20061 | 10 | Optional | |
| MUSC20072 | 20 | Optional | |
| MUSC20112 | 10 | Optional | |
| MUSC20321 | 20 | Optional | |
| MUSC20362 | 10 | Optional | |
| MUSC20512 | 20 | Optional | |
| MUSC20561 | 20 | Optional | |
| MUSC20600 | 20 | Optional | |
| MUSC20610 | 10 | Optional | |
| Displaying 10 of 18 course units for year 2 | |||
| Display all course units for year 2 | |||
Course content for year 3
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC30011 | 20 | Optional | |
| MUSC30300 | 40 | Optional | |
| MUSC30400 | 40 | Optional | |
| MUSC30502 | 20 | Optional | |
| MUSC30510 | 20 | Optional | |
| MUSC30520 | 40 | Optional | |
| MUSC30540 | 20 | Optional | |
| MUSC30600 | 40 | Optional | |
| MUSC30711 | 20 | Optional | |
| SPLA31081 | 20 | Optional |
Course content for year 4
Following graduation from the MusB, students on the Joint Course with Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) complete the GRNCM at the college.
What our students say
'My experience at The University of Manchester gave me a well-rounded musical education and provided me with the skillset needed to continue on my chosen path towards a career in performance.
'The fantastic instrumental tuition won me a place with a scholarship at the institution of my choice.
'The endless performance opportunities outside of the degree gave me not only ample experience, but they also allowed me to get involved with the organisation of concerts and events, furthering my understanding of our industry.'
'I left university with the skills and a very large amount of experience needed to forge a career in orchestral management.
'Manchester is excellent at giving students responsibility and experience, which is often highlighted to me by how many different Manchester graduates I bump into in my career - The University of Manchester is an astonishingly successful furnace for arts leaders.'
Facilities
The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama
Home to Music and Drama at Manchester, this purpose-built creative facility includes:
- The Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall - an acoustically designed auditorium seating up to 350 people
- The Lenagan Library - our dedicated performing arts library
- The John Thaw Studio Theatre - a flexible, fully equipped performance space with seating for 150 people
- Specialist rehearsal and newly renovated (2021) practice spaces, including Steinway and Boston pianos, early keyboard, percussion, drum kits, amplifiers and ensemble space.
NOVARS boasts state-of-the-art facilities for composition and performance, including award-winning electroacoustic composition studios.
Studios are equipped with digital recording equipment (Yamaha, Emagic, Akai, Alesis, Max/MSP and GRM technology), as well as Apple Mac workstations and the latest ProTools software in the Undergraduate Studio.
We own many specialist percussion and keyboard instruments, including a chamber organ, harpsichord, Gamelan Degung and a five-octave marimba.
We also own a full suite of replica Baroque instruments, and we offer tuition and performance opportunities on these instruments as part of the Baroque Orchestra concerts which we present every year.
Find out more about our Music facilities and learning facilities across the wider University
Disability support
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants from the Disability Support Office: disability@manchester.ac.uk
Careers
Career opportunities
"The course offers the chance to work with other students and staff in organisational roles.
"Time management, working independently, coordinating large groups of people, meeting deadlines, writing reports and programming concerts are all things I will take on to further work."
Abigail Kitching / 2017 graduate
Our course provides excellent training for a host of careers, both within the Music industry and beyond.
Employers will recognise that you are dedicated, creative, versatile, an excellent team player, highly organised, can work independently, and have exceptional powers of concentration. Graduate career destinations include:
- Digital Content Producer, BBC;
- VoiceLab Manager, Southbank Centre;
- NHS Graduate Management Scheme;
- Accountant, PricewaterhouseCoopers;
- Music Supervisor, PlayNetwork;
- Account Manager, Saatchi & Saatchi;
- Composer, Faber Music;
- Executive Director, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) .
Manchester has a proud history of producing graduates who have gone on to careers as professional musicians; many of our alumni and recent graduates have established successful careers as freelance performers, composers and artistic directors.
With our strengths in this area, many students choose the MusB as a platform for postgraduate training at one of the leading conservatoires.
Read the testimonials below, search our graduate profiles and find out more on our careers and employability page.
The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.
At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.