“Where words fail, music speaks.” – Hans Christian Andersen
Music is not just an art form; it is the universal language that transcends boundaries, cultures, and generations. For students who dream of living and breathing melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, the UK is nothing less than a grand stage.
Whether your heart beats for performing on stage, composing masterpieces, or diving deep into the theory of music, the UK offers the perfect platform to pursue your dreams.
Studying music here is not just about learning scales or mastering techniques. It is about discovering discipline, creativity, and perseverance. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a musician’s journey. Learning an instrument, singing, or producing music demands dedication, yet the satisfaction of mastering a piece is similar to striking the right chord in life itself.
UK universities not only polish your technical skills but also let you explore genres ranging from classical to jazz, pop, contemporary, and experimental. With specialisms in performance, composition, musicology, and production, students find themselves in an environment where passion meets profession.
Want to study Music in the UK? Book a Free Consultation with ScholarshipKart. Our expert counsellors help you discover the right universities and the right course that align with your passion and career ambitions. Start your application and begin your journey toward a world-class music education today!
Let’s explore the best universities and colleges in the UK to study music, guided by rankings, reputation, and the sheer rhythm of opportunity.
Top Universities and Colleges for Music in the UK
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
At the very heart of London, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama is nothing short of a musical haven. Recognised as one of the most prestigious music schools in the UK, the Guildhall places performance and practical musicianship at its core.
Suggested course: BMus (Hons)
International Fees: £26,490
The Bachelor of Music (BMus) programme is designed for those who want to live and breathe performance, composition, or electronic music. The course places heavy emphasis on Principal Study, which takes up two-thirds of the programme. Students receive:
30 plus hours of individual tuition per year with leading musicians and composers.
Over 100 hours of weekly departmental classes, workshops, and ensemble rehearsals allow exposure to different techniques and performance practices.
Masterclasses with international artists.
Specialisms include Classical Performance, Jazz, Composition, Electronic Music, and Vocal Studies. Students are encouraged to create original projects, collaborate across genres, and even experiment with new sound technologies.
A unique feature is Guildhall’s close partnership with the Barbican and London Symphony Orchestra, ensuring students don’t just train, they perform on some of the grandest stages in Europe.
Practice makes perfect, and Guildhall ensures its students practice not just in rehearsal rooms but also on some of the grandest stages in Europe and London. The degrees are awarded by the Privy Council.
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey strikes the perfect balance between tradition and innovation. Ranked among the UK’s finest, Surrey’s BMus (Hons) in Music allows students to explore genres from classical to jazz, contemporary, pop, and musical theatre.
Suggested course: Music BMus (Hons)
International fee: £23,700
The programme isn’t just about theory. It is about doing, performing, and creating. Students join orchestras, choirs, and ensembles, building teamwork and stage presence.
Surrey’s programme reflects its reputation for versatility. Students take core modules in:
Performance and Composition (throughout all years).
Music Theory and Analysis (learning the architecture of music).
Music History and Cultural Contexts (spanning medieval to modern).
Improvisation and Creative Practice.
In the final year, students complete an individual large-scale project. This could be a recital, a portfolio of compositions, or a dissertation on music research.
The four-year version of the degree includes a Professional Training Year, where students gain industry experience at music companies, theatres, or media outlets, an advantage in today’s competitive creative sector.
Surrey also runs student ensembles (jazz bands, choirs, orchestras) that perform regularly, giving practical exposure.
At Surrey, you learn that it is not all about hitting the right note, but about playing with heart.
Royal Academy of Music – University of London
The Royal Academy of Music is a name that resonates with prestige. Its Composition course is especially celebrated, focusing on creative and commercial aspects and offering students exposure to concert music, film, TV, staged productions, and electronic music.
Suggested course: Bachelor of Music (Honours) – Composition
International fee: £29,900
Students have access to an excellent performance environment and are mentored by some of the established and finest contemporary composers, with a strong emphasis on project-based learning and collaboration.
Students work on:
Concert works (symphonies, chamber music, operas).
Media music (TV, film, and game scoring).
Electronic music (sound design, electroacoustic works).
Core training includes:
Analytical skills: understanding contemporary and 20th-century repertoire.
Collaboration projects with performers, filmmakers, and choreographers.
Professional workshops with ensembles that perform student works.
By the end, students develop their own unique compositional voice, supported by tutors who are internationally active composers themselves.
With individual attention and diverse specialisations, the Royal Academy shapes composers who are not only technically skilled but also visionary.
Studying here feels like finding your own voice in a choir of legends. The University of London awards the degrees.
University of Oxford
Oxford combines musical heritage with academic depth. At Oxford, music is explored through reading, listening, performing, and composing, giving students a truly immersive learning experience.
The course encourages creativity across all dimensions, whether working with acoustic or electronic music, collaborating with world-class professionals, or engaging with local communities.
Students not only develop their ability to create music individually and collectively but also learn to analyse how a piece functions internally and how it connects to its wider genre and cultural context.
The programme introduces you to music in its many forms and settings, including western classical traditions, popular and contemporary styles, global, world, and traditional musics and community-based music practices.
Through this broad exposure, music is always studied in relation to the society and culture from which it emerges, ensuring a deep understanding of its meaning and impact.
Suggested course: BA Music
International fee: £46,600
The BA in Music covers genres across cultures, from Western classical to global traditions, allowing students to explore music as both an art and a science. The course is heavily academic yet deeply creative. The programme covers:
Foundations in the Study of Music (Year 1): First-year students are grounded in Foundations of Music, history, theory, analysis, stylistic composition, arranging, transcription and listening.
Optional pathways in Years 2–3: By the second and third year, the flexibility to pursue electives such as ethnomusicology, composition, music technology, extended essays, and performance recitals gives Oxford’s programme a truly global dimension.
Critical Listening and Musical Analysis modules sharpen listening and research skills.
Students also have access to Oxford’s music libraries, instruments, ensembles, and chapel choirs. The university’s collegiate system means every student becomes part of a vibrant community with endless performance opportunities.
Studying music at Oxford is like walking in the footsteps of giants, yet leaving behind your own echoes.
Royal College of Music – University of London
With students mentored by professors from leading orchestras, the Royal College of Music (RCM) is a temple for aspiring performers.
Suggested course: Bachelor of Music (BMus)
International fee: £31,300
Its BMus programme blends solo, chamber, and ensemble performance with academic study. This course combines practical performance training with academic study. Students take:
One-to-one lessons on their principal instrument.
Ensemble training in orchestras, opera groups, and chamber music.
Classes in music history, theory, analysis, and professional skills.
Specialisms include Vocal Studies, Keyboard, Strings, Brass, Percussion, Composition, and Conducting.
The sheer number of performance opportunities ensures that RCM students are stage-ready long before graduation.
The RCM is renowned for its state-of-the-art recording studios and concert venues, ensuring students are industry-ready. All the world is a stage, and RCM makes sure its graduates are ready to own it.
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield stands out for its BMus Music with Foundation Year. The course offers a supportive foundation year for students who need academic preparation and is designed to strengthen their academic base before they dive deep into performance and theory.
Suggested course: BMus Music with Foundation Year
International fee: £26,820
The core BMus covers:
Practical modules: solo performance, ensemble work, and conducting.
Composition and Music Technology: including studio production and digital music.
Music History and Analysis: from classical to contemporary global traditions.
From lectures to seminars, from rehearsals to independent projects, Sheffield’s supportive environment makes it perfect for students seeking gradual yet strong progression into the world of music.
Sheffield is also home to thriving student societies, including choirs, jazz collectives, and orchestras, which allow students to test their skills in front of audiences.
Sheffield embodies the spirit of slow and steady wins the race.
University of Cambridge
Cambridge has a legacy of shaping musical greats. At Cambridge, the study of music spans a wide range of fascinating areas, encouraging you to explore fresh perspectives on diverse styles and genres.
The Faculty of Music combines history, analysis, composition, and performance, while offering cutting-edge resources such as a professional concert hall, music library, and dedicated studios.
Suggested course: BA (Hons) Music
International fee: £35,358
The course is designed to help you strengthen your abilities in critical thinking, musical analysis, performance, and composition, preparing you to engage with music both creatively and intellectually. Core modules include:
Music History and Analysis (medieval to present).
Harmony, Counterpoint, and Composition.
Performance Studies (solo recitals, chamber music).
Screen and Media Composition.
Facilities include:
West Road Concert Hall for professional-level performances.
A music computing lab and sound studios.
Extensive music libraries.
Students also join world-famous ensembles such as the Cambridge University Musical Society.
For students, this is a chance to blend tradition with innovation in the city of dreaming spires.
University of Manchester
The MusB, first introduced in 1891, is the longest-established taught music degree in the UK and is ranked among the very best.
The course blends classical training with modern innovation and is offered in a vibrant, modern city alive with creativity and musical energy.
Suggested course: MusB Music
International fee: £28,500
Manchester’s programme is highly flexible. Students combine core academic training with specialist options. The programme allows you to shape your studies around your own strengths and passions, with opportunities to delve into your desired areas while also discovering entirely new directions for your musical journey. Modules include:
Performance and Recitals.
Conducting and Ensemble Leadership.
Composition (including film scoring and technology).
Musicology and Analysis.
Ethnomusicology and music theory
A highlight is the cutting-edge NOVARS Research Centre, which specialises in digital technologies in sound, electroacoustic music, and cutting-edge music tech.
Students are encouraged to develop their unique voice in composition while exploring cutting-edge possibilities using the advanced facilities of the NOVARS studios.
Studying here is like striking a perfect chord between heritage and modernity.
Durham University
Durham is home to one of the most vibrant collegiate music scenes in the UK, with choirs, orchestras, and student societies performing regularly. Set in a stunning location, music degrees inspire you to build your creative, practical, and critical skills within a leading music department.
The courses encourage fresh ways of thinking about music, supported by research-led teaching and staff expertise spanning areas such as nineteenth- and twentieth-century Western music, Indian and Korean traditions, popular music, music technology, conducting, music psychology, opera, analysis, and contemporary composition.
Durham also offers a lively performance scene, with opportunities in six orchestras, choirs, theatre productions, contemporary music ensembles, and more.
Suggested Course: BA Music
International Fees: £28,500
Durham’s BA in Music is highly academic and internationally respected. Modules include:
Musicology and Analysis.
Composition (classical and contemporary).
Ethnomusicology (study of global music traditions).
Performance options with recitals.
Your journey begins with a broad introduction to musical disciplines in the first year. By the second year, you can tailor your studies through a wide choice of modules that reflect your own interests. In the final year, you will undertake an independent project, whether a musicological dissertation, a composition portfolio, or a techniques portfolio, to showcase your specialism.
Bangor University
At Bangor University, music students are nurtured in a creative and close-knit community.
The university offers a warm and dynamic music-making community, with opportunities to join ensembles such as the Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Chamber Choir, String Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Music Society, and Musical Theatre Society.
Options range from composition and electronic music to historical studies and performance.
Suggested course: BA (Hons) Music
International fee: £19,000
Bangor offers both BA and BMus routes. The BA provides flexibility across disciplines, while the BMus is performance-focused. Students can study:
Performance and Ensemble Work.
Composition and Electronic Music.
Historical Studies and Musicology.
Students regularly perform and attend events in renowned venues, including Pontio – the University’s Arts and Innovation Centre, the historic Prichard Jones Hall, and the intimate chamber space of Powis Hall.
Facilities include fully equipped practice rooms, studios, and performance spaces, designed to support both learning and creativity.
Bangor is known for its supportive faculty and Music Performance Scholarships. Teaching is led by internationally recognised experts across a wide spectrum of fields, from early, classical, popular, and Welsh music to composition, sonic arts, interactive performance, and critical music editing.
Bangor proves that sometimes the best music is found in small yet vibrant settings.
Other Prestigious Universities
King’s College London (KCL)
Suggested Course: BA (Hons) Music
KCL’s course is research-led, with strengths in historical musicology, performance, and cultural studies. Students can study:
Performance and Composition.
History of Music (Renaissance to Modern).
Music Philosophy, Ethnomusicology, and Popular Music Studies.
KCL is also deeply embedded in London’s cultural scene, offering partnerships with professional organisations and venues.
Royal Holloway, University of London
Suggested Course: BA (Hons) Music
Royal Holloway’s course is flexible, allowing students to tailor modules to interests. Options include:
Performance (instrumental, vocal).
Composition and Music Technology.
Musicology and Popular Music Studies.
Its beautiful campus near London offers access to both a close-knit academic community and the capital’s music scene.
University of Bristol
Suggested Course: BA (Hons) Music
Bristol’s course is research-intensive, with modules such as:
Performance and Composition.
Film and Media Music.
Historical Studies and Cultural Musicology.
Bristol benefits from a thriving arts scene, allowing students to perform and collaborate beyond the classroom.
University of Birmingham
Suggested Course: BMus (Hons) Music
Birmingham’s Barber Institute of Fine Arts provides world-class facilities. Modules include:
Orchestral and Choral Performance.
Composition and Music Technology.
Musicology and Analysis.
Students perform in ensembles ranging from classical orchestras to jazz groups. The course also integrates professional placements and partnerships.
University of Glasgow
Suggested Course: BMus / MA Music
Glasgow offers two options: the BMus (focused on performance/composition) and the MA Music (broader and flexible). Modules include:
Scottish Traditional Music.
Composition and Sound Technology.
Performance and Ensemble Studies.
Musicology and Cultural Studies.
Glasgow’s strong link to Scotland’s heritage makes it unique for students interested in traditional as well as contemporary music.
Careers in Music
A degree in music from the UK is more than a qualification; it is the launchpad of a career. Graduates step into roles as:
Musicians, performers, and composers
Recording artists or music producers
Sound engineers and technicians
Teachers and academics
Arts administrators and publishers
UK-trained musicians often find themselves well-prepared to jump straight into global stages, recording studios, and classrooms.
Final Note
Studying music in the UK is not merely an academic pursuit. It is a journey of soul, sound, and self-discovery. Whether you find your calling in the historic halls of Oxford and Cambridge, the buzzing stages of London’s Guildhall and RCM, or the creative communities of Manchester and Bangor, the UK offers the right note for every aspiring musician and students are given every chance to explore, create, and shine.
Whichever university or course you choose, remember that every master was once a beginner. With the right training, dedication, and opportunity, UK music graduates don’t just chase dreams; they orchestrate them into reality.
In the end, life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it. And in the UK, students are given the finest keys to create their own timeless symphonies.
Find Your Perfect Music Path with ScholarshipKart
Aspiring musicians, are you ready to turn your dream into reality? From application and visa guidance to unlocking the best scholarship opportunities, ScholarshipKart ensures your journey to studying Music in the UK is seamless and stress-free.