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Music

  • Bachelor of Music (with Honours)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 20 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
More about Royal Holloway, University of London

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Music shapes how we express ourselves, connect with others and make sense of the past, present and future. Study BMus Music at Royal Holloway to explore, perform, and compose in a huge range of styles, from classical to jazz, world to popular music.

How does music influence identity, culture and history? And how can musicians innovate in today’s fast-moving industry? You’ll explore these questions and more through a mix of performance, composition and academic study.

This course gives you the freedom to experiment, as well as the option to specialise. Develop your skills in workshops, ensembles and collaborations with other disciplines like drama and media arts. You’ll have access to facilities like Steinway pianos and professional-standard recording studios.

Supporting your creative growth

  • Build skills in performance, composition and analysis, exploring popular, classical, jazz, and world traditions

  • Join ensembles including choirs and orchestras, an Andean band, a Gamelan, and Korean percussion, or start your own band

  • Join a thriving community with a diverse range of students, regular professional performances, and scholarship opportunities

Where music can take you

You’ll learn in small groups from staff who are world-leading researchers and professional musicians.

Graduates pursue careers in performance, composition, education, arts management, media industries and beyond. Music graduates are valued for their creativity, teamwork, attention to detail, and strong critical thinking skills.

We sometimes make changes to our courses to improve your experience. If this happens, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Modules

Course Modules

Core Modules

Year 1

You will take eight from the following:

  • Theory and Analysis

  • Fundamentals of Music Theory

  • Creative Composition Techniques

  • A Very Short History of Music

  • Introduction to Historical Musicology

  • Introduction to World Music

  • Contemporary Debates in Music

  • Solo Performance

  • Creative Ensemble Performance

  • Introduction to Composing with Music Technology

Year 2
  • All modules are optional
Year 3

  • Special Study: Dissertation

  • Special Study: Theory and Analysis

  • Special Study: Solo Performance

  • Special Study: Composition

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

Year 1
  • All modules are core
Year 2

  • Bach: Context and Reception

  • Baroque Performance Practice

  • The ‘Classical’ Canon and ‘Popular' Culture since 1945

  • Composing with Technology 1

  • Composing with Technology 2

  • Composition Portfolio

  • Contemporary Music Performance

  • Creative Project in Composition, Performance and Technology

  • Digital Tools for Music Studies

  • Ensemble Performance

  • Introduction to Jazz: Theory, Practice and Contexts

  • Issues in Sound, Music and the Moving Image

  • Korean Percussion Performance

  • Late Beethoven

  • Mahler and Viennese Modernism, 1897-1918

  • Mozart's Operas

  • Musical Aesthetics

  • Music and Gender

  • Music and Video Games

  • Music Pedagogy

  • Music, Power and Politics

  • Music and Society in Purcell's London

  • Popular Music and Musicians in Post-War Britain and North America

  • Practical and Creative Orchestration

  • Practical Conducting (Choral and Orchestral)

  • Practical Performance I

  • Solo Performance

  • The String Quartets of Dmitri Shostakovich

  • Wagner's Ring

Year 3

  • Bach: Context and Reception

  • Baroque Performance Practice

  • Composing with Technology 1

  • Composing with Technology 2

  • Composition Portfolio

  • Contemporary Music Performance

  • Creative Project in Composition, Performance and Technology

  • Digital Tools for Music Studies

  • Ensemble Performance

  • Introduction to Jazz: Theory, Practice and Contexts

  • Issues in Sound, Music and the Moving Image

  • Korean Percussion Performance

  • Late Beethoven

  • Mahler and Viennese Modernism, 1897-1918

  • Mozart's Operas

  • Musical Aesthetics

  • Music and Gender

  • Music and Video Games

  • Music Pedagogy

  • Music, Power and Politics

  • Music and Society in Purcell's London

  • Popular Music and Musicians in Post-War Britain and North America

  • Practical and Creative Orchestration

  • Practical Conducting (Choral and Orchestral)

  • Practical Performance 2

  • The Music Film

  • The String Quartets of Dmitri Shostakovich

  • Wagner's Ring

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/music/music/

Assessment method

The BMus has a modular structure, whereby students take 12 course units at the rate of four per year.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and instrumental/vocal lessons. Private study and preparation are essential parts of every course, and you will have access to many online resources and the University’s comprehensive e-learning facility, Moodle. When you start with us, you are assigned a Personal Advisor to support you academically and personally.

Assessment is carried out by a combination of examinations, which take place in the summer term, along with written papers, extended essays, assessed coursework, portfolios of compositions and other practical work, and performance recitals.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Bachelor of Music (with Honours) • Full-Time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 20 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
W302
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Royal Holloway, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W302
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
ABB-BBB

Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required.
Socio-economic factors which may have impacted an applicant’s education will be taken into consideration and alternative offers may be made to these applicants.
Required:
Music A-Level or Grade 7 in Music Theory Plus Grade 7 Music Performance (where applicants are unable to take Grade 7, video evidence may be acceptable)
Applicants without A-level grade A in Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory may be eligible for the Intensive Theory entry. This requires Music GCSE grade A/7 or equivalent, plus performance at Grade 7 level. In term 1 you will be required to take Fundamentals of Music Theory, an intensive music literacy course.
Students wishing to take Solo Performance options will need to be of Grade 8 level in performance at point of entry.

If you are studying two A-level subjects, you may still be eligible for entry to the Music BMus (single honours), if you are able to provide evidence of your ongoing commitment to music.
For this pathway, the standard offer is AB including music. We require candidates to be performing to Grade 8 ABRSM standard, to have studied music theory to Grade 5 ABRSM level, and have a substantial record of musical performance or other musical achievements, which they should detail in their Personal Statement.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
AABBB

Including Music or Grade 7 in Music Theory with Pass plus Grade 7 Music Performance.

Access to HE Diploma
Distinction: 27

and the remaining level 3 credits at Merit, plus evidence of A-Level standard Music proficiency grade B equivalent or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical at Pass .

GCSE/National 4/National 5

We require English Language and Mathematics at grade 4 (C).

Scottish Advanced Higher
ABB-BBB

Including Music or Grade 7 in Music Theory with Pass plus Grade 7 Music Performance.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DD

BTEC in a relevant subject, plus A-Level Grade B in Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 Music Performance.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 32

6,5,5 at Higher Level OR 32 points overall including Music at Higher Level or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 Music Performance.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDM

in a relevant subject, plus evidence of A-Level standard Music proficiency, Grade B equivalent or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 Music Performance

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H2H2H3H3H3

H2, H2, H3, H3, H3 at Higher Level including Music at Higher Level or with Grade 7 Music Theory at Pass and Grade 7 Music Performance/

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
D

Plus A-Level A-Levels Grades BB including Music or Grade 7 Music Theory at Pass plus Grade 7 Music Performance.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

Requirements are as for A-levels where one non-subject-specified A-level can be replaced by the same grade in the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Applicants with the Cambridge Pre-U are strongly encouraged to apply to Royal Holloway. Offers will be made on the basis of equivalent A-Level grades as can be found on the Royal Holloway website.

Combinations of qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, please contact us on admissions.enquiries@rhul.ac.uk to discuss your situation.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Royal Holloway, we know every student approaches university with different experiences and backgrounds. We look at each application individually, and different factors can affect the exact offer a student receives. For instance, our contextual offer scheme means students from disadvantaged socio-economic background can receive a different offer. For full details please see our website.

Learn more on the Royal Holloway, University of London website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
EU & International£28500*
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland & Channel Islands£9790*

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Other essential costs: Students are recommended to purchase a laptop before starting their course, to assist with their studies. The optional residential field courses incur an extra fee.

*The tuition fee for Home (UK) undergraduates is controlled by Government regulations. This figure is the fee for the academic year 2026/27 and is shown as a guide. The fee for the academic year 2027/28 has not yet been confirmed.

*This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2026/27 and is shown as a guide. The fee for the academic year 2027/28 has not yet been confirmed.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually for all students. For further information see fees and funding: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/fees-and-funding/

Sponsorship information

Scholarships and bursaries 2

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/undergraduate/feesandfunding/bursariesandscholarships/home.aspx

Related courses

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