What is music?
The study of music at Nottingham provides skills for a range of future career paths. Composers and performers can pursue dedicated pathways throughout the three years of their course, developing the practical expertise gained in their specialist tuition with complementary modules examining different periods in musical history, early music notation, analytical skills, and sound technology and recording. Students interested in careers in education and arts administration can take innovative modules in music and ethics, music and cities, and community music programmes. There is plenty of room to experiment with different subjects, allowing your own interests to develop and mature as you go along. All music students, however, will graduate with an enviable array of highly developed skills adaptable to any work environment, including skills in research and data analysis, public presentation, project management, teamwork, communication and IT. In addition, you will be able to participate in over twenty student ensembles, benefit from workshops with professional musicians, and gain valuable work experience through our music internships.
How will I study?
Teaching takes the form of lectures, seminar classes and individual consultative tutorials, and is supplemented by workshops and master classes with professional musicians. In the first year you will receive an average of 12 contact hours per week.
All first-year music students who take the performance module will receive a course of free instrumental or vocal lessons from one of our specialist instrumental teachers. If you choose the performance modules in years two and three you will receive an increased amount of tuition and give two examined recitals each year.
Extensive facilities
The department is housed in modern purpose-built accommodation overlooking the boating lake on University Park Campus. Specialist music facilities include an on-site music library (including listening booths, a large collection of sound recordings and a video and DVD archive), a computer laboratory and a recording studio, teaching and practice rooms, a lecture theatre, an orchestral-size Rehearsal Hall, and the Djanogly Recital Hall, where professional and student concerts are presented throughout the year. The department owns a varied collection of orchestral and early instruments. Group coaching and/or tuition is available on some of these instruments.
Studying abroad
We offer opportunities to study abroad in Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden and the United States.
Career prospects
All music graduates leave the University with a broad portfolio of transferable skills, prepared for a variety of careers both within and outside music. Many students choose to continue their musical studies at a higher level by taking postgraduate degrees at Nottingham and elsewhere which lead to research qualifications. Other students follow postgraduate composition or performance courses and develop careers as professional practitioners. Some students take conversion courses in law and medicine or opt for vocational teacher-training.
Recent graduates have secured jobs as arts administrators, school teachers, instrumental and vocal teachers, composers, arrangers, musical directors, orchestral and solo performers, business systems analysts, conference and events coordinators, sales representatives, trade union officers, general office assistants and sales and retail assistants.
Application interview
Offers are usually made without interview. Students with non-standard entry qualifications, including mature students, may be invited to an interview.
Open days
UCAS visit days for students offered a place are normally held from late January to March. You are welcome to visit at other times – please contact us or for dates of our open days visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/opendays
UCAS visit days for students offered a place are normally held from late January to March. You are welcome to visit at other times – please contact us or for dates of our open days visit