Music

Music as a university discipline encompasses far more than performance or composition alone. It is an intellectual and creative field that draws on musicology, music theory, analysis, performance studies, ethnomusicology, and the history of music across cultures and periods, as well as providing opportunities for practical creative work. University music education aims to develop musicians who are not just technically capable but who understand the historical, cultural, and theoretical dimensions of the art they practise, and who can engage critically and creatively with music in all its forms.

At the University of Durham, this three-year full-time programme is designed for musicians who want both intellectual depth and practical development. You will study the history and analysis of Western classical music alongside other musical traditions, engage with music theory and composition, and develop your performance practice within a musically rich university environment. The programme includes a foundation year for students who would benefit from additional preparation before the main degree, as well as a sandwich year with a work placement and a year abroad, providing exceptional scope for professional and international experience.

The placement year might involve work in a music organisation, arts administration body, or related professional context, while the year abroad allows you to study at a partner institution and encounter musical culture and education in a different country.

Durham music graduates go on to careers as performers, composers, conductors, music teachers, arts administrators, music journalists and critics, music therapists, and researchers. The breadth of the programme and the quality of the intellectual environment it provides are assets across this wide range of professional paths. Postgraduate study in performance, composition, musicology, or music education is also a well-trodden path for Durham music graduates seeking to develop their practice or expertise further.