Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Music and Philosophy

Entry requirements


A level

A,B,B

Including Music. If no A Level Music then we may also ask for a Pass in ABRSM Graded Theory Grade 5 or Trinity, Rockschool or LCM.

Access to HE Diploma

D:24,M:21

Pass Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at L3 of which 24 credits must be at Distinction and 21 at Merit.  12 Level 3 credits should be from Music and achieved at Distinction. ABRSM Grade 5 Theory must also be achieved.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

D3,M2,M3

Preferably to include Music but if no Music then we may also ask for a Pass in ABRSM Graded Theory Grade 5 or Trinity, Rockschool or LCM.

Extended Project

A

If you have already achieved your EPQ at grade A you will automatically be offered one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject. If you are still studying for your EPQ you will receive the standard course offer, with a condition of one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject if you achieve an A grade in your EPQ.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE requirements - English grade C (numeric grade 4).

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

32

Preferably to include Music Higher Level 5 points but if no Music then we may also ask for a Pass in ABRSM Graded Theory Grade 5 or Trinity, Rockschool or LCM.

BTEC Diploma DD + B at A Level Music. Music alternative must be provided if not studying A Level Music

BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/ National Extended Certificate D + A Levels BB in Music. Music alternative must be provided if not studying A Level Music

National Extended Diploma DDD in Music or other subject combination provided Music requirement is met.

Scottish Advanced Higher

A,B

This qualification is only acceptable alongside Scottish Higher grades ABBBB. Music preferred but if no Music then we may also ask for a Pass in ABRSM Graded Theory Grade 5 or Trinity, Rockschool or LCM.

Scottish Higher

A,B,B,B,B

This qualification is only acceptable alongside Scottish Advanced Higher grades AB. If no Music then we may also ask for a Pass in ABRSM Graded Theory Grade 5 or Trinity, Rockschool or LCM.

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

A-B

This qualification is accepted alongside other UoN accepted qualifications such as A Levels, preferably to include Music but if no Music then we may also ask for a Pass in ABRSM Graded Theory Grade 5 or Trinity, Rockschool or LCM.

UCAS Tariff

104-141

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subjects

Music

Philosophy

If you're a keen musician who wants to explore the exciting world philosophy offers then this is the course for you.

Contemporary composers Philip Glass and Steve Reich both have philosophy degrees. And renowned philosopher Schopenhauer considered music the highest art, playing the flute his whole life.

You'll study each subject separately but equally. The first year gives you a good grounding in both subjects. In your second and third years, you have free choice in both. This allows you to follow your interests and construct your own degree.

**Music**
Our music department has particular specialities in musicology, performance, composition and technology and the purpose-built facilities support your choices. There are spaces to compose, rehearse, perform, record and experiment!

You are spoilt for choice if you want to carry on playing an instrument. There are opportunities across all genres - both on-campus and as part of the city's dynamic music scene.

**Philosophy**
The philosophy department offers an unusually diverse range of modules. Explore traditional topics along with emerging areas such as environmental and social philosophy.

You'll also get to explore across Western, Indian and Chinese traditions.

Uniquely, you will also work with professionals such as lawyers and journalists. They'll help you apply your new philosophical skills to a range of careers.

You do not need any previous academic experience in philosophy to do this course.

**Combine with other subjects**
You may also combine Music and Philosophy with other subjects in our Liberal Arts BA.

Modules

The first year has a set of core modules that gives everyone a common understanding of both subjects. You can also choose options across both areas - start exploring subjects you've never experienced before or develop topics you've an existing interest in.

The second and third years are fully optional. You can choose individuals modules that grab your interest or build a portfolio of studies that focusses on a particular theme. The final year dissertation is your opportunity to produce a longer piece of work that can combine both subjects into a single project.

Throughout the course you have opportunities to study subjects outside of Music and Philosophy and develop language skills with our Language Centre.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£26,250
per year
International
£26,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University Park Campus

Department:

Department of Music

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

75%
Music
82%
Philosophy

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Music

Teaching and learning

79%
Staff make the subject interesting
92%
Staff are good at explaining things
83%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
83%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

63%
Library resources
83%
IT resources
87%
Course specific equipment and facilities
67%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

94%
UK students
6%
International students
57%
Male students
43%
Female students
87%
2:1 or above
21%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
B
B

Philosophy

Teaching and learning

85%
Staff make the subject interesting
93%
Staff are good at explaining things
89%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
59%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

74%
Library resources
83%
IT resources
79%
Course specific equipment and facilities
55%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

97%
UK students
3%
International students
37%
Male students
63%
Female students
93%
2:1 or above
9%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
B
B

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Music

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£17,500
med
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education
60%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

18%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
12%
Teaching and educational professionals
7%
Business, finance and related associate professionals

Philosophy

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£19,198
med
Average annual salary
97%
high
Employed or in further education
45%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

20%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
9%
Public services and other associate professionals
8%
Teaching and educational professionals

Although there aren't a lot of jobs around for professional philosophers, philosophy degrees are a relatively popular option, with more than 2,000 students graduating in a philosophy-related subject in 2015 - a little down on previous years, but still healthy. Nearly a quarter of philosophy graduates take a postgraduate qualification, and it's a relatively common subject at both Masters and doctorate level — so if you think academic life might be for you, think ahead about how you might fund further study. For those who go into work, philosophy grads tend to go into teaching, accountancy, consulting, journalism, PR, housing, marketing, human resources and the arts while a few go into the computer industry every year, where their logical training is highly rated.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Music

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£15k

£15k

£22k

£22k

£26k

£26k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Philosophy

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£19k

£19k

£26k

£26k

£30k

£30k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
Durham University | Durham
Music and Philosophy
BA (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 136-160
Nearby University
Coventry University | Coventry
Philosophy
BA (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112

Share this page

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here