Music

Why study with us

Challenge yourself academically and musically while studying in our dynamic School of Music. Our degree offers excellent professional preparation, providing you with the tools you need to succeed after graduation.

Research excellence

90% of our research environment is considered conducive to producing world-leading or internationally excellent research (REF 2021).

Work with professional musicians

Workshops, masterclasses and seminars are given by visiting composers, musicologists and performers.

Specialist pathways

Tailor your studies to your career aspirations, choosing from Performance, Composition, Music Studies or Music Education.

Music (MA)

Full time, Part time

Challenge yourself academically and musically while tailoring the programme, and its rich opportunities, to meet your ambitions for the future.

Composition (PhD, MPhil)

Full-time, part-time

To offer knowledge and expertise for a career in professional music composition.

Music (PhD, MPhil)

Full-time, part-time

You may specialise in composition, musicology or performance, presenting work in one of three different formats: a thesis, a portfolio of compositions with commentary, or a performance recital with supporting thesis.

Musicology (PhD, MPhil)

Full-time, part-time

To offer knowledge and expertise for a career in higher education and writing about music.

Performance (PhD, MPhil)

Full-time, part-time

To offer knowledge and expertise for to pursue further research, teaching, and professional performance.

Our videos

The School of Music

Our staff and students explain why the School of Music is such a great place to study.

The School of Music has such a positive learning environment where those around you are always encouraging. I particularly like how the Music Studies pathway covers such a broad range of topics and areas of music, and how our classes are often led by specialists in a certain area. At the same time, the course allows us to tailor assignments to our own research interests and we get numerous opportunities to share our research with staff and other students.

Maya Morris Music (MA)

Learn more about us

Cardiff is a musical city

Cardiff is home to the Welsh National Opera, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and a major BBC production centre. The city has many live music venues, from the world-class Wales Millennium Centre to small, independent spots.

Research excellence

We are ranked 2nd among UK university music departments for the quality of our research environment (REF 2014).

Master’s degree in Music

Our master’s degree in Music offers both practical and lecture-based learning which will challenge you both musically and academically. You can tailor your studies to your career goals and ambitions, choosing to study a pathway in Composition, Performance, Music Education or Music Studies.

Postgraduate research opportunities

Our PhD programmes will help you improve your skills as a composer, performer or musicologist. You’ll have the freedom to investigate your chosen specialism in depth, attending conferences, workshops and masterclasses while also working with researchers, composers and performers.

Rigorous musical training within a lively and imaginative liberal arts environment

In our purpose-built building we have all the facilities you need to succeed in your studies. We have lecture theatres with modern lecture-capture technology, seminar rooms, more than 25 practice rooms, ensemble rooms, electro-acoustic studios and a 250-seat concert hall.