Music, BA (Hons)

Music permeates our lives, influencing individuals and society through personal enjoyment, intellectual engagement, celebration, mourning, and political expression. At the University of Nottingham, students begin with foundational studies in music across various styles, genres, cultures, and traditions. They then tailor their degree by specialising in areas like musicology, performance, composition, or technology, or by exploring diverse modules such as Early Music, Race, Musical Theatre, Conducting, or Studio Recording. Collaboration is encouraged through interdisciplinary projects and staff initiatives, supported by dedicated facilities for composing, rehearsing, performing, recording, and experimenting. Performance opportunities abound, including student ensembles, on-course groups, university-wide orchestras and choirs, and engagement with the local music scene.In the first year, core modules cover theory, history, repertoire, world music, and popular music, with options to pursue personal interests or modules from other disciplines. The second and third years offer flexibility to deepen expertise, including professional placements and pathways in musicology, performance, composition, and technology. Students may also undertake a dissertation on a chosen topic with staff guidance.

In year one you will consolidate and deepen your knowledge of music with core modules in theory, history, repertoire, world music and popular music. You can also start exploring your special interests with optional music modules. Alternatively, widen your horizons with a module from another subject or building language skills. In year two you get a totally free choice to build on existing interests and/or explore new ones. You can also gain professional experience with our Work Placement module. Many year two modules are also offered as year three options. You can specialise further with pathways in musicology, performance, composition and music technology. The optional dissertation module allows you write a longer piece of work on a topic of your own choosing, supported by a member of staff.