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History and Music

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
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More about Royal Holloway, University of London

Course options

2026-2027
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Course summary

This joint degree allows you to combine a passion for history and music. Through your history studies, you will be able to start satisfying your curiosity about the past, acquire an understanding of specific periods and problems, and make discoveries. At the same time, you will develop a deeper understanding of music.

Studying History is exciting and rewarding; it encourages you to appreciate the human experience in other places and at other times. Exploring what people have felt, thought and done in the past expands our self-awareness.

Our internationally renowned academics are developing the very latest thinking on historical problems, and this cutting-edge knowledge informs the curriculum and will enhance your learning experience. By studying History at one of the largest and most influential departments in the country you will be able to choose from an exceptionally broad range of subjects, enabling you to spread your studies across the medieval and modern worlds, from Ancient Rome through to modern China, from Saladin through to Margaret Thatcher.

Studying Music at Royal Holloway allows you to tailor your studies to your own interests and passions. We have expertise spanning traditional, modern and world music. Through studying musical texts, practices, cultures and institutions you will explore issues in history, sociology, ethnology, and philosophy covering an exceptional geographical and chronological range. You will also be able to gain practical skills in composition, music technology and performance.

You will join a music department that is among the very best in the country, and the only one to hold a prestigious Regius Professorship. You will have access to well-equipped studios and recording facilities as well as incredible performance spaces including the Windsor Auditorium, Boilerhouse Theatre, Victorian Picture Gallery and College Chapel. Our department is well-connected with valuable music industry contacts that you can take advantage of, such as Wigmore Hall, the BBC Proms, and the Royal Opera House.

Modules

Please refer to our website for information: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/history/history-and-music/

Assessment method

Your course will be assessed by a combination of examinations and in-course assignments in the form of essays or presentations.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

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:
VW13
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
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
14 January

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:
VW13
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

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 pass Grade 7 in Music Theory. 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.

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

BTEC must be in a relevant subject, plus A level Music with Grade B or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

Access to HE Diploma - D: 27 credits M: 15 credits

Pass with at least 27level 3 credits at Distinction, and the remaining level 3 credits at Merit, plus evidence of A-Level standard Music proficiency grade B or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical at Pass .

Scottish Higher - AABBB

B in Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

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

BTEC must be in a relevant subject, plus A-Level Grade B including Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

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

Plus A-Levels Grades BB including Music grade B or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) - D*DD

BTEC must be in a relevant subject, plus A level Music with Grade B or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF) - D*D

BTEC must be in a relevant subject, plus A-Level Grade B including Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

Scottish Advanced Higher - ABB - BBB

B in Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points

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

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

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

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H2, H3, H3, H3

Including Higher Level Music with H3 or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical

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.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

We require English and Mathematics at grade 4/C.

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 BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted 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

LocationFeeYear
EU£26800Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535*Year 1
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Scotland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1
International£26800Year 1

* 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

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £9,535

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £26,800

Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course.

*The tuition fee for Home (UK) undergraduates is controlled by Government regulations. This figure is the fee for the academic year 2025/26 and is shown as a guide. The fee for the academic year 2026/27 has not yet been announced.

**This figure is the fee for EU and international students on this course in the academic year 2026/27.

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

*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2026/27 academic year. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.

Sponsorship information

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

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