City

What you'll study

The BMus (Hons) combines practical musicianship with academic study and creative technologies. Core areas include solo and ensemble performance, aural and keyboard skills, harmony and analysis, music history and ethnomusicology, composition, and music technology and production. Students typically follow a mixture of weekly one-to-one tuition, ensemble rehearsals, practical labs and seminars.

• Performance — individual lessons, chamber and large ensemble work, concert projects and recital preparation.
• Musicianship — aural training, sight-reading, improvisation and functional keyboard skills to support performance and composition.
• Composition and creative practice — techniques in acoustic and electroacoustic composition, graphic scores and collaborative projects.
• Musicology and analysis — study of Western art music, popular music studies, world musics, and critical approaches to musical meaning and context.
• Music technology — recording, mixing, sound design, MIDI sequencing and live electronics using industry-standard software and studio facilities.
• Research project — a capstone dissertation, recital with commentary, or an extended composition/portfolio demonstrating independent research and creative synthesis.

Assessment is typically a mix of performances, coursework, written essays and a final-year major project. Optional modules allow students to tailor their pathway towards performance, composition, academic study or music production, and there are opportunities for collaborative work with other departments and local cultural organisations.

Entry requirements

Successful applicants will normally hold a recognised secondary school qualification (for example A-levels, Scottish Highers, or International Baccalaureate) or an equivalent qualification. Admission normally requires a demonstrable level of practical ability on a chosen instrument or voice and evidence of musicianship; applicants are usually required to submit an audition or portfolio and may be invited to an interview.

• Practical audition or portfolio showcasing recent work in performance or composition.
• Demonstrated musicianship — schools/grades, theory training or practical experience are advantageous.
• Evidence of English language proficiency where required by the university.
• Some applicants present formal music qualifications (instrumental grades, theory certificates) but the selection is based on the overall strength of artistic potential and academic suitability.

Career prospects

Graduates from the BMus go into a wide range of music and related careers. Common destinations include professional performance, composition for media, music production and sound engineering, teaching (often after completing a postgraduate teaching qualification), arts administration, community and outreach music leadership, and further academic study at postgraduate level.

The degree also prepares students for roles that draw on transferable skills — project management, digital content creation, creative entrepreneurship and events production — making alumni attractive to cultural organisations, broadcasters, recording studios and independent creative businesses.

Why study at City

Studying music at City places you in central London with direct access to a vibrant professional music scene, concert venues, recording studios and cultural organisations. The department provides individual tuition, small-group teaching and a breadth of performance opportunities supported by practice facilities and music technology studios.

City’s emphasis on combining practical training with critical study and professional development helps students build both artistic excellence and employability. Strong links across the city’s creative industries, opportunities for collaborative projects and industry-focused guest teaching give students practical pathways into careers in performance, composition, production and beyond.