Search

Chat With Us

    Music Industries
    Go to University of Glasgow
    University of Glasgow

    Music Industries

    University of Glasgow

    University of Glasgow

    flag

    United Kingdom, Glasgow

    University RankQS Ranking
    78

    Key Facts

    Program Level

    Master by Course Work

    Study Type

    Full Time

    Delivery

    On Campus

    Campuses

    Gilmorehill

    Program Language

    English

    Start & Deadlines

    Next Intake Deadlines19-Sep-2026
    Apply to this program

    Go to the official application for the university

    Duration 12 month(s)
    Tuition Fee
    GBP 27,720  / year
    Next Intake 19-Sep-2026

    Music Industries

    About

    This programme provides an opportunity to explore the music industries with a focus on popular music from the perspectives of history, research methods and theory, contemporary debates, and the place of music within cities and urban planning. Making the most of the city of Glasgow and its vibrant popular music ecosystem, which includes a rich network of venues, festivals, and small to medium music businesses, this degree is distinctive for its emphasis on understanding the music industries through the lens of music cities, and how Glasgow’s identity as a UNESCO City of Music operates in relation to other global music cities.

  • Our approach is multidisciplinary: we employ a variety of academic approaches and draw upon the University's expertise in a range of disciplines including sociology, cultural studies, musicology, and politics.
  • You will be studying in the city of Glasgow, with its vibrant and exciting music scene—the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music—an unbeatable location for the programme.
  • Glasgow boasts a tremendous variety of music venues that showcase an array of genres, styles, and scenes. Among the world-leading establishments are the OVO Hydro, the Royal Concert Hall, and a vast network of grassroots locations. Explore a map of the city's music venues created by staff and students.
  • The city is also home to a wide range of music businesses and organisations, including festivals, venues, promoters, recording studios, labels, and media companies. Explore a directory of the city's music organisations created by staff and students.
  • You will benefit from access to our facilities including a number of study spaces, practice rooms, an audio lab, studios, and the University’s concert hall.
  • You will have the opportunity to contribute to the Glasgow Music City website, created and maintained by students and staff from the Music Industries programme. It is a forum for new ideas, research and debates about working in music, as well as the relationship between cities and their music.
  • Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Music or Law or Journalism or Business or Media and Creative Industries or Musicology or any subject across arts and humanities or social sciences. We may also accept degrees in other subjects.

    A question-based personal statement is required. Please download and complete the personal statement template, and submit it with your application.

    English Program Requirements

    For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

    International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

    • 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 7.0
    • IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
    • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

    Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme

    TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)

    • 100 overall with Reading 24; Listening 24; Speaking 23; Writing 27
    • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements, this includes TOEFL mybest.

    Pearsons PTE Academic

    • 66 overall with no subtest less than Reading 68; Listening 66; Speaking 65; Writing 82
    • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

    Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

    • 185 overall, no subtest less than 185
    • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

    Oxford English Test

    • 8 overall with no subtest less than 8
    • ests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

    LanguageCert Academic SELT

    • 75 overall with no subtest less than 75
    • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

    Password Skills Plus

    • 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 7.0
    • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

    Trinity College Tests

    • Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEIII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests
    • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

    University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

    Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

    Alternatives to English Language qualification

    • Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
      • students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
    • Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
      • students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.

    For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

    Pre-sessional courses

    The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

    • direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
    • essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
    • flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

    For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

    We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

    • Heriot Watt
    • Kingston Upon Thames
    • Middlesex University
    • Manchester University
    • Reading University
    • Edinburgh University
    • ST Andrews University
    • UCL
    • Durham

    For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

    Career

    The programme opens opportunities to enter and develop your career or business in the music (or related media and creative) industries. The programme will provide you with:

  • Experience of the music industries and access to music industry personnel via a range of assessments, including reports, podcasts, video essays, and your dissertation.
  • Critical methods of evaluating music industry research produced by different stakeholders (e.g. academics, lobbying groups, and policymakers) on both a local and global level.
  • Knowledge of the key theoretical, historical, and methodological debates in music industries and popular music research.
  • Previous graduates work in a range of roles across the music and media industries, including for Sony Music Germany, PRS/ICE Services, BBC Studios, WMA, and Channel 4. More locally, graduates work for Soma Recordings, the Scottish Music Industry Association, 432 Presents, PCL, and Last Night From Glasgow. Others have continued in academia to PhD level and gone on to hold posts at the University of Glasgow and University of the West of Scotland in both cultural policy and music, while many others are self-employed or freelance artists, educators, and music entrepreneurs.

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee

    GBP 27,720 

    Application Fee

    GBP  
    University of Glasgow

    Music Industries

    University of Glasgow

    [object Object]

    United Kingdom,

    Glasgow

    Similar Programs

    Other interesting programs for you

    Find More Programs
    Wishlist