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Music and English

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
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More about Royal Holloway, University of London

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2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

This Joint Honours course combines the practical and theoretical study of Music with the study of English literature.

Studying Music at Royal Holloway allows you to tailor your studies to your own interests and passions.

We have expertise spanning traditional, modern and world music. Through studying musical texts, practices, cultures and institutions you will explore issues in history, sociology, ethnology, and philosophy covering an exceptional geographical and chronological range. You will also be able to gain practical skills in composition, music technology and performance.

You will join a music department that is among the very best in the country, ranked third in the UK for research quality (REF 2014) and the only music department in the country to hold a prestigious Regius Professorship.

From Beowulf to the Booker Prize, English offers you the opportunity to study the full historical range of literature in English as well as the latest developments in the field, and even to pursue your own creative writing.

You can discover the earliest works in English, deepen your knowledge of Shakespeare, find out what is great about Renaissance literature, darken your view of the 18th century, and unpack the Victorians. The course's structure allows you to develop a sound understanding of key periods, genres, authors, and ideas as well as choosing from a huge range of options. You can study Modernism, Postmodernism and American literature, explore literary criticism, develop your own creative writing, and analyse the latest developments in global literatures in English.

  • An adaptable programme with a flexible core of modules.

  • Creative opportunities abound – take modules in creative writing or composition.

  • Enjoy creating ensembles with other musicians.

  • A unique perspective – work at the intersection of music and the written word.

  • Choral, organ, orchestral and music scholarships.

Modules

Please refer to our website for information: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/music/music-and-english.aspx

Assessment method

Your course will be assessed by a combination of examinations and in-course assignments in the form of essays or presentations.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
WQ33
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Royal Holloway, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
WQ33
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

Not accepted

A level

AAB - ABB
Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required. Socio-economic factors which may have impacted an applicant’s education will be taken into consideration and alternative offers may be made to these applicants. Required: Music A-Level or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory. Applicants without A-level grade A in Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory may be eligible for the Intensive Theory entry. This requires Music GCSE grade A/7 or equivalent, plus performance at Grade 7 level. In term 1 you will be required to take Fundamentals of Music Theory, an intensive music literacy course. Students wishing to take Solo Performance options will need to be of Grade 8 level in performance at point of entry. A Level in an essay based subject

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD
BTEC must be in a relevant subject area including Distinction in all essay units plus Grade A in GCSE English Literature. Evidence of A-Level standard Music proficiency Grade A equivalent, or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory plus Grade 7 Practical.

Access to HE Diploma

D: 30 credits M: 15 credits
Pass with at least 30 level 3 credits at Distinction and remaining level 3 credits at Merit and Distinction in all level 3 English units, plus evidence of A-Level standard Music proficiency Grade A equivalent or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory plus Grade 7 Practical.

Scottish Higher

AAABB
Including Music at A and an essay based subject at Grade B. If Music is not taken Grade 7 Music Theory at pass is accepted plus Grade 7 Practical.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DD
BTEC must be in a relevant subject area including Distinction in all essay units plus Grade A in GCSE English Literature or A-Level in an essay based subject, and A-Level Music Grade A or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory . Plus Grade 7 Practical.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

D
Plus A Level AB, including Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory, plus B in an essay based subject, plus Grade 7 Music Theory and Grade 7 Practical.

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)

DDD
BTEC must be in a relevant subject area including Distinction in all essay units plus Grade A in GCSE English Literature. Evidence of A-Level standard Music proficiency Grade A equivalent,or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory plus Grade 7 Practical.

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)

DD
BTEC must be in a relevant subject area including Distinction in all essay units plus Grade A in GCSE English Literature or an A-Level essay based subject at grade B, and A-Level Music Grade A or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory . Plus Grade 7 Practical.

Scottish Advanced Higher

AAB - ABB
Including Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and English Literature or English Language & Literature at Grade B plus Grade 7 Practical.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

32 points
6,6,5 at Higher Level including Higher Level English, Higher Level Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and 33 points overall plus Grade 7 practical is required.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Requirements are as for A-levels where one non-subject-specified A-level can be replaced by the same grade in the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H2, H2, H2, H3, H3
H2,H2,H3,H3,H3 at Higher Level including Music at Higher Level or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and H3 in English at Higher Level, plus Grade 7 Practical.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Applicants with the Cambridge Pre-U are strongly encouraged to apply to Royal Holloway. Offers will be made on the basis of equivalent A-Level grades as can be found on the Royal Holloway website.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

We require at least five GCSEs at grade A*-C or 9 - 4 including English and Mathematics.

Combinations of qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, please contact us on admissions.enquiries@rhul.ac.uk to discuss your situation.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Royal Holloway, we know every student approaches university with different experiences and backgrounds. We look at each application individually, and different factors can affect the exact offer a student receives. For instance, our contextual offer scheme means students from disadvantaged socio-economic background can receive a different offer. For full details please see our website.

Learn more on the Royal Holloway, University of London website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
EU£27500Year 1
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
International£27500Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

The tuition fee for Home (UK) undergraduates is controlled by Government regulations. The fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £9,535.

This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2025/26.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually for all students. For further information see fees and funding and the terms and conditions.

These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2025/26 academic year and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.

Sponsorship information

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/undergraduate/feesandfunding/bursariesandscholarships/home.aspx

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