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Music

  • Bachelor of Music (with Honours)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 27 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Main Site - Cardiff
Awarded by:
Cardiff University (Prifysgol Caerdydd)
More about Cardiff University

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Our undergraduate courses allow you to specialise and develop your own musical interests whilst acquiring a solid, broad-based education in aesthetics, analysis, composition, ethnomusicology, music history and performance.

The BMus is the ideal choice if you would like to concentrate on music. Of all our courses it offers the most in-depth study, allowing you to spend all your time specialising and studying music. It also enables you to take the specialist 30-credit options of Composition and / or Public Recital in year three (options which are not available on our BA or BSc courses).

Home to the arts, Cardiff is a great location for the study of music in the UK. The city has a professional opera company, Welsh National Opera, and a professional symphony orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The School of Music enjoys a fruitful relationship with both organisations that allows, for instance, students to attend dress rehearsals and buy cut-price tickets for concerts.

We offer a number of instrumental and vocal entrance scholarships. You do not need to apply for these scholarships as you will be automatically considered when applying through UCAS. Visit the School of Music’s website for more information.

You are expected to have gained or shown evidence of working towards Grade 8 in one or more instruments or voice at the time of your application. You may be considered if you are not taking A-level Music but have Grade 8 Practical and Grade 7/8 Theory and are studying appropriate subjects at A-level.

Distinctive features

The distinctive features of the course include:

  • instrumental tuition which is fully funded by the School of Music on your principal study instrument

  • Business of Music modules which offer a short work placement

  • composition workshops, performance masterclasses, the University concert series, the John Bird lectures presented by visiting academics and the careers talks which provide many opportunities for contact with active music professionals

  • major composition and public recital options in year three

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site - Cardiff

Study options

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

Start dates

  • 27 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:
C15
Campus name:
Main Site - Cardiff
Points of Entry:
Year 1

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:
C15
Campus name:
Main Site - Cardiff

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
AAB-BBB

Must include Music.

Applicants without an A-level in Music will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate levels of music performance and theory skills (such as Grade 6/7 Music Theory).

T Level

Acceptance of T Levels for this programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic School. Consideration will be given to the T Level grade/subject and grades/subjects achieved at GCSE/Level 2.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

GCSE/National 4/National 5

You must have or be working towards:

  • English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
  • GCSE Maths grade C/4 or equivalent qualification (subject and grade). If you are taking A-level Maths (or equivalent), GCSE Maths is not required. Core Maths may also be accepted in place of GCSE Maths.

Extended Project
A

For applicants taking the EPQ qualification, an A in the EPQ can be recognised to lower the entry requirements by a single grade. For example an AAB offer would be “AAB from 3 A levels or ABB from 3 A levels and a grade A in the EPQ”. Please note that any subject specific requirements must be met.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
34-31

34-31 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 5 in HL Music.

Applicants without HL Music will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate levels of music performance and theory skills (such as Grade 6/7 Music Theory).

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

The Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales will be accepted in lieu of one A level at the A level grades specified, excluding any subject specific requirements.

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

in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Music.

Applicants without a BTEC in Music will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate levels of music performance and theory skills (such as Grade 6/7 Music Theory).

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

The Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in lieu of one A Level at the A Level grades specified, excluding any subject specific requirements.

You must have or be working towards grade 8 Music Practical in an instrument or voice.

Upon receipt of your UCAS application, we will invite you to attend one of our applicant days, typically held from November to February. These days give you an opportunity to attend talks, take part in workshops, and explore our facilities alongside the wider campus.

As part of your visit you will be invited to a meeting with members of our School team. This will be an opportunity for us to engage with you in a relaxed and informal conversation which is designed to help us get to know you better, to understand your musical interests, and for you to ask any questions you may have for us. During this meeting you will be invited either to perform a short piece of unaccompanied music on your principal instrument or voice or—for those whose interests lie more in composition or musicology—to bring along a composition for discussion, or suggest a musical work or topic about which to have an informal chat. This is followed by a short discussion about your musical interests. This element of the applicant day will be assessed and taken into consideration when we are making a decision on your application as a whole.

While the final decision on whether you receive an offer to study with us will be based on both your UCAS application and your individual meeting with us, we aim to make the whole experience as welcoming, enjoyable, and supportive as we possibly can.

We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.

We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.

Additional entry requirements

Audition
Interview
Institutions Own Test (IOT)
Test 2.

English language requirements

All applicants are expected to have demonstrable English language skills. Most courses ask for GCSE English grade C/4 or equivalent, but some courses ask for GCSE English grade B/6 or equivalent.https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/international/english-language-requirements/undergraduate

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 Cardiff we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, as part of this our contextual admissions policy aims to widen participation and improve access to Higher Education (HE).

For more information on Cardiff University contextual admissions, including how applications are scored and how we use that score, please see our website.

Learn more on the Cardiff University 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
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£9790
EU & International£24700

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

Fees stated are for the 2026/7 academic year.

Tuition fees cover all reasonable costs required to complete the stated programme. Optional study trips, placements, or equipment are at your own cost. Tuition fees exclude living costs such as accommodation, subsistence and travel.

UK and Islands:

The University may increase fees as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. We will notify you of changes by the end of June in the preceding academic year.

EU, EEA, and Switzerland:

Unless eligible for UK fee status, fees will align with international fees. Check eligibility at: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student-advice/fees/full-list-of-categories-for-he-in-wales/

International:

Fees are fixed for the programme duration. Further details are available at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/international/funding-and-fees

Sponsorship information

Scholarships and bursaries

Cardiff University has many scholarships on offer to our prospective students. Please see our website at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/funding/scholarships for further information.

Related courses

At Cardiff University

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