Mathematics and Music (BA)
- Subject areas: Mathematics, Music
- UCAS code: GW13
- Next intake: September 2024
- Duration: 3 years
- Mode: Full time
Why study this course
Your instrument of choice
Realise your full potential through fully-funded instrumental tuition.
State of the art facilities
Abacws, the new home for Maths, features dedicated spaces for student project work, spaces open to industrial partners and a Trading Room.
Music industry insights
Connect with musicians through composition workshops; performance masterclasses and concert series.
Personalised support
Access both academic and non-academic advice from your tutor; benefit from supervised computer labs and daily drop-in sessions.
Music business placement
Explore what the music business has to offer with a placement.
This Joint Honours degree programme enables students to combine the study of Music and Mathematics.
The time spent on each subject is effectively equal, enabling you to benefit from developing your musical understanding and skills while studying the fascinating and challenging subject of Mathematics. You will be encouraged to actively pursue your own areas of interest through the highly flexible modular courses.
Home to the arts, Cardiff is a great location for the study of music in the UK. The city has a professional opera company, Welsh National Opera, and a professional symphony orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The School of Music enjoys a fruitful relationship with both organisations that allows, for instance, students to attend dress rehearsals and buy cut-price tickets for concerts.
You are expected to have gained or shown evidence of working towards Grade 8 in one or more instruments or voice at the time of your application. You may be considered if you are not taking A-level Music but have (or are working towards) Grade 7/8 Theory and are studying appropriate subjects at A-level.
Subject area: Mathematics
Subject area: Music
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
AAB-ABB. Must include grade A in Maths and grade B in Music.
Applicants without an A-level in Music will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate levels of music performance and theory skills (such as Grade 6/7 Music Theory).
Where skill levels cannot be determined by alternative qualifications, you may be invited to audition.
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application.
- Eligible students will be given an offer at the lower end of the advertised grade range.
- Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional points in the selection process or be guaranteed interview/consideration.
Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.
International Baccalaureate
34-32 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 6 in HL Maths and Music.
Applicants without HL Music will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate levels of music performance and theory skills (such as Grade 6/7 Music Theory).
Where skill levels cannot be determined by alternative qualifications, you may be invited to audition.
Baccalaureate Wales
From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other essential requirements
You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
- GCSE Maths grade C/4 or equivalent qualification (subject and grade). If you are taking A-level Maths (or equivalent), GCSE Maths is not required. Core Maths may also be accepted in place of GCSE Maths.
- grade 8 Music Practical in an instrument or voice.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with a minimum of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 69 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement, including the ability to travel to outside of the UK or to undertake a placement/studies outside of Cardiff University
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
BTEC
DD in a BTEC Diploma in Music and grade A in A-level Maths.
Applicants without BTEC Music will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate levels of music performance and theory skills (such as Grade 6/7 Music Theory).
Where skill levels cannot be determined by alternative qualifications, you may be invited to audition.
T level
Acceptance of T Levels for this programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic School. Consideration will be given to the T Level grade/subject and grades/subjects achieved at GCSE/Level 2.
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Interview or selection process
Where skill levels cannot be determined by alternative qualifications, you may be invited to audition.
Tuition fees for 2024 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £9,000 | None |
| Year two | £9,000 | None |
| Year three | £9,000 | None |
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2024/25 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £22,700 | None |
| Year two | £22,700 | None |
| Year three | £22,700 | None |
Learn more about our tuition fees
Financial support
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Additional costs
Course specific equipment
Other than your principal study instrument, you will not need any specific equipment.
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Course structure
We are currently working with our students to update and improve the content of this course. The information shown below reflects the current curriculum and is likely to change. The review of the course is expected to be completed by August 2024 and this page will be updated by end of October 2024 to reflect the changes.
This is a three-year full-time degree, consisting of 120 credits a year, split equally between the two Schools.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2024/2025 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2024.
Year one
In Music, year one provides you with the foundations to take advantage of the creative and intellectual benefits of higher education. You will receive instruction in analysis, harmony and counterpoint, history of music, composition and practical musicianship.
To complement your academic study, you are actively encouraged to join the University Choir or Orchestra and other ensembles.
In Mathematics, year one currently consists of four compulsory modules. These are Foundations of Mathematics I, Vectors and Matrices, Foundations of Mathematics II and Elementary Differential Equations.
Note that in both subjects some modules are 'prerequisites', providing essential preparation for more advanced modules if you wish to pursue them in later years.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary Differential Equations | MA1001 | 10 credits |
| Foundations of Mathematics I | MA1005 | 20 credits |
| Foundations of Mathematics II | MA1006 | 20 credits |
| Linear Algebra I | MA1008 | 10 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Composition 1A | MU1113 | 20 credits |
| Techniques in Jazz and Popular Music | MU1201 | 20 credits |
| Composition 1B | MU1213 | 20 credits |
| Elements of Tonal Theory | MU1311 | 20 credits |
| Writing About Music | MU1312 | 20 credits |
| Music as Culture | MU1320 | 20 credits |
| Case Studies in Music History | MU1321 | 20 credits |
| Practical Portfolio I | MU1322 | 20 credits |
| Practical Musicianship 1 | MU1325 | 20 credits |
Year two
In Music, courses are more advanced and you will focus on more specialist topics, choosing from four groups: Composition and Electroacoustic Studies, Written and Practical Musicianship, Analytical and Critical Skills, and Historical Studies.
Our year two modules on the Business of Music I/II are designed to help you better understand different branches of the music profession and give an opportunity for a short placement in an area related to music or the arts, either in one block or as a series of regular workplace visits.
In Mathematics, please see the module list to see the specifics of individual modules available.
Note that Statistics as a subject area is not available to students taking Music.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Calculus of Several Variables | MA2001 | 10 credits |
| Complex Analysis | MA2003 | 10 credits |
| Series and Transforms | MA2004 | 10 credits |
| Linear Algebra II | MA2008 | 20 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Real Analysis | MA2006 | 10 credits |
| Vector Calculus | MA2301 | 10 credits |
| Modelling with Differential Equations | MA2320 | 10 credits |
| From Palaces to Proms: A History of Performance Practices (1700-1890) | MU2124 | 20 credits |
| The Business of Music 1 | MU2141 | 20 credits |
| Composition 2A | MU2142 | 20 credits |
| Formal Functions in the Classical Tradition | MU2157 | 20 credits |
| Orchestration | MU2161 | 20 credits |
| Reading Film Sound | MU2181 | 20 credits |
| Music in France Since 1900 | MU2212 | 20 credits |
| Composition 2B | MU2233 | 20 credits |
| Studio Techniques 1 | MU2235 | 20 credits |
| Ethnomusicology 2: Music in Cross-Cultural Perspective | MU2271 | 20 credits |
| The Business of Music 2 | MU2272 | 20 credits |
| Analysing 20th Century Music | MU2291 | 20 credits |
| Practical Portfolio 2 | MU2301 | 20 credits |
| Practical Musicianship 2 | MU2361 | 20 credits |
Year three
In Music, you choose again from the four subject groups, and may one of the three major academic projects: Dissertation, Project in Ethnomusicology, or Project in Music Analysis.
You may complete a short composition portfolio (Composition IV) and/or an ‘open’ recital in front of examiners and an invited audience only (Practical Musicianship IV).
There are no core modules for Mathematics in year three.
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
In Music you will be taught by academic staff with expertise across composition, performance, musicology, ethnomusicology, and popular music.
Instrumental tuition is fully funded by the School on your principal study instrument if you are taking a Practical Musicianship module. This includes accompaniment at your final recital. You will receive 24 half-hour lessons over the course of the year.
We use a range of teaching and learning styles, including lectures, small-group seminars and workshops, individual tutorials, ensemble instrumental tuition, rehearsals and independent study.
Mathematics is based on lectures supported by examples classes (and laboratory classes where appropriate). In all years the classes are used to discuss both theoretical concepts and essential mathematical techniques. You are encouraged to undertake additional reading outside of timetabled classes and fully engage with and reflect upon the assessments that take place. Feedback on progress is typically provided through a combination of discussion in class, written comments on submitted work and review of outline solutions to problems. You are encouraged to discuss any queries related to specific modules with individual lecturers.
How will I be supported?
For Music at the start of each year you will be given a guide to module aims, learning outcomes, methods of assessment, module syllabuses, and reading and listening lists. Your allocated personal tutor will be able to provide advice and guidance on module choices and you will have regular meetings with them.
For the final-year projects you will have a supervisor to monitor progress and provide individual consultations by arrangement.
In Mathematics there are scheduled academic tutorials for all core modules in Year One, and you will also be assigned a Personal Tutor who can offer pastoral advice, guidance and support. There is also a daily drop-in service based in the School where you can ask any maths-related question.
You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion circles.
The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.
How will I be assessed?
Methods of assessment vary from module to module and may include essay assignments, presentations, extended projects, performances, and written exams.
Many mathematics modules include written examinations that take place at the end of the Autumn or Spring Semester, with some also having an element of continuous assessment. This may include problem solving exercises, written reports, computer programs or presentations. Please see the module descriptions for further details.
What skills will I practise and develop?
You will acquire and develop a range of valuable skills, both discipline specific and more generic ‘employability skills’, such as:
- advanced literacy
- computer literacy
- applying logical and analytic thinking to problems
- oral and written communication skills
- coping with uncertainty/complexity
- creativity and innovative thinking
- leadership, teamwork and self-management, embedded in practical musical activities
- identifying, recording and communicating your relevant career attainments
Careers and placements
Career prospects
School of Music
The skills developed within a music degree help our students to progress to a wide range of careers, both within and beyond the music profession.
Employability skills are embedded in modules at the School of Music so that you will learn both music-specific and academic skills that are transferable to other domains, especially the workplace. Our second-year modules on the Business of Music are designed to help you better understand different branches of the music profession and provide an opportunity to undertake a short placement in a music-related or arts-related area.
Our annual series of talks on Careers in Music offer a great chance to meet professionals active in a range of fields such as performance, music education, music journalism, arts and artist management, production and licensing, and composing for media.
School of Mathematics
The Mathematics degree programmes will equip you with specialist numerical skills and develop your capacity for logical and analytical thought. These are qualities which are in demand across a broad range of stimulating and rewarding careers.
In addition to the formal teaching on the programme the School of Mathematics also has significant engagement with the Careers Service and Employers. This includes a Careers Management Skills Programme, numerous company presentations held in the School, presentations by students returning from industry, and a range of sponsored prizes awarded for academic achievement.
Placements
Year two modules on the Business of Music I/II give an opportunity for a short placement, either in one block or as a series of regular workplace visits.
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.
