BMus (Hons) Music

This creative degree reflects the diversity and excitement of music in the 21st century and gives you the opportunity to mix many kinds of performance, composition, research and professional studies. It is ideal for students with experience and/or interest in one or more of these areas: classical music, jazz, sound art, experimental music, traditional music or musical theatre. 

• In the first year you’ll explore different musical styles and approaches to study through a range of compulsory practical and critical modules. 
• Later, you'll be able to choose from our wide range of more specialised modules in performance, production, composition, songwriting, sonic art, music industries, global musics, popular music, music in film and media.  
• You’ll have lots of opportunities to perform, including in professional and student-led ensembles and groups such as Vocal Ensemble, Jazz Workshop, Contemporary Music Ensemble, Laptop Ensemble, Chamber Choir and Steel Pan Group. PureGold, our annual music festival, celebrates the music created and performed at Goldsmiths. 
• We're within easy reach of central London’s many venues, concert halls, opera houses and research libraries, providing a great international focus. 
• You’ll be set up for the world of work. Employers look for initiative-driven graduates who can work well with others, lead their own projects, think creatively and adapt quickly to new ideas. This degree will help you develop these skills. 
• We attract instrumental and vocal teachers of the highest quality, with many of our staff also performing internationally and teaching at the major music conservatoires. 
• Performance modules include one-to-one tuition on your main instrument/voice, as well as ensemble coaching, performance lectures and masterclasses from top musicians and other industry professionals. 

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Maria Krivenski.

We accept the following qualifications:

A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
International Baccalaureate: 33 points overall with three HL subjects at 655
UAL Extended Diploma: Merit overall
Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject-specific modules
Scottish qualifications: BBBBC (Higher) or BBC (Advanced Higher)
European Baccalaureate: 75%
Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H2 H2

Additional requirements

A music qualification is recommended (e.g. UAL Extended Diploma, BTEC, A-level), but we will also consider those with substantial experience in performing, composition or theory.

It will be advantageous if you have had some experience of reading and writing music notation. This may be as part of formal learning or personal study.

If you have achieved a graded exam in Music Theory, or have studied notation at school or college, please add this to your personal statement. However, this is not essential for application to the programme. 

Selection process

International qualifications

We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.

Alternative qualifications

See our full list of undergraduate entry qualifications.

Careers for those with a music degree

Many of our graduates choose careers in fields related to their musical knowledge, such as:

• Teaching
• Performing
• Arts administration
• Music librarianship
• Publishing and retailing
• Record companies and production
• Technical work in radio or television

Statistically, music graduates demonstrate very good employment rates, because they are often highly trained in the kinds of transferable skills employers are seeking, such as individual motivation, team working and effective communication.

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.

Skills

You will develop specific musical skills including:

• Performance
• Composition
• Use of music technology
• Knowledge of a range of historical, contemporary, popular and world styles of music, and the debates and practices surrounding them
• Critical listening and score analysis

You'll also develop a wide range of key skills through both the practical and academic content of your degree, including:

• Communication (including public speaking, developing and presenting an argument, note taking, report writing)
• Analytical thinking
• Awareness of social, political and cultural processes
• Awareness of social and cultural difference
• Ability to take creative approaches
• Attention to detail
• Team work and collaborative practice
• The ability to undertake detailed research