Music with a Year of Study Abroad (BMus)

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 2023 and this page will be updated by end of October 2023 to reflect the changes.

Our undergraduate programmes allow you to specialise and develop your own musical interests.

This is a four-year full-time degree, consisting of 120 credits a year. Each year in Cardiff is divided into an autumn and a spring semester and has a modular structure. Most Cardiff modules are worth 10 or 20 credits Depending on where you spend your year abroad, the semester and module structure may differ in Year 3 of the programme.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2017/18 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2017.
 

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2023/2024 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2023.

Year one

Year 1 provides the foundations for you to take advantage of the creative and intellectual benefits of higher education.

We firmly believe that having a solid grounding in music theory and analysis will equip you to tackle many of the complexities involved in all other modules on the BMus programme, and therefore BMus students must take the required year-long core module Elements of Tonal Theory. We also have a range of elective core choices in year 1 where you must choose at least one of the following three year-long modules: Writing about Music, Case Studies in Music History or Music as Culture.

Studying at least one of these will provide you with much needed support in historical and stylistic awareness of musical genres and traditions (Western and Non-Western, Popular, Jazz and Film Music, as well as Music Theatre) and developing an ability to write and talk confidently, fluently and critically about music.

Other optional modules are offered in composition (solo instruments and small ensembles), practical musicianship (solo performance), practical portfolio (ensembles, conducting, aural training), and techniques in jazz and popular music.

To complement your academic study, you are actively encouraged to join the university-led core ensembles if you choose not to formally take them as academic modules.

Year two

In year 2, you have the opportunity to consolidate your strengths while maintaining activity in a breadth of disciplines, choosing your modules from at least three of four groups:

• Analytical & Critical Skills
• Composition & Production
• Practical Musicianship
• Musicology & Placement

Our year 2 modules on the Business of Music are designed to help you better understand different branches of the music profession and give an opportunity for a short work placement in an area related to music or the arts, in the spring semester.

In year 2, you’ll be extensively introduced to research-led teaching.

Year three: Sandwich year

The intercalated year will be a stand-alone year, in which students pursue, at a partner university, modules in music related or different from those in their Cardiff degree programme. The curriculum abroad will equate exactly to 120 Cardiff University credits and will be assessed according to the norms established at that partner university.

Year four

You choose again from at least three of the four subject groups (outlined under year 2), and have the opportunity to study up to two of the five major project modules: Dissertation, Project in Ethnomusicology, Project in Music Analysis, Composition 3 (Composition Portfolio) and the public Recital module, available exclusively to BMus students.

Year 4 modules continue to focus on research-led teaching.

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.