Skip navigation

Music

  • BMus (Hon)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 22/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
More about Royal Holloway, University of London

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
Apply

Course summary

BMus Music at Royal Holloway is a flexible degree with no compulsory modules, allowing you to tailor your degree 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. Our well connected department means you have the opportunity to make valuable music industry contacts. Our staff are connected with musical networks such Wigmore Hall, the BBC Proms, Royal Opera House.

  • Choose from a wide range of performance opportunities including orchestras, choirs, jazz, pop, and world music ensembles.

  • Learn from academics whose expertise spans music from the Middle Ages to the present and around the globe.

  • Gain practical skills in composition, music technology or performance.

  • Receive excellent tuition on your first instrument (or voice) at no extra cost to you.

  • Apply for one of our choral, organ, orchestral or music scholarships.

  • You will have access to our well-equipped studios, recording facilities, and incredible performance spaces, including the Windsor Auditorium, Boilerhouse Theatre, Victorian Picture Gallery and College Chapel.

  • Work with professional conductors and receive coaching from leading professional groups such as the King's Singers and the London Mozart Players.

Modules

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

  • BMus (Hon) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 22/09/2025

Apply by
29 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:
W302
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
29 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:
W302
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

ABB - BBB
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. Grade 7 ABRSM (where applicants are unable to take Grade 7, video evidence may be acceptable) 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. If you are studying two A-level subjects, you may still be eligible for entry to the Music BMus (single honours), if you are able to provide evidence of your ongoing commitment to music. For this pathway, the standard offer is AB including music. We require candidates to be performing to Grade 8 ABRSM standard, to have studied music theory to Grade 5 ABRSM level, and have a substantial record of musical performance or other musical achievements, which they should detail in their Personal Statement.

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

DDM
BTEC must be in a relevant subject, plus evidence of A-Level standard Music proficiency, Grade A equivalent or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

Access to HE Diploma

D: 27 credits M: 15 credits
Pass with at least 30 level 3 credits at Distinction, and the remaining level 3 credits at Merit, plus evidence of A-Level standard Music proficiency grade A equivalentor pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical at Pass . The Access to Higher Education Diploma is only acceptable if the applicant has had a considerable break from education.

Scottish Higher

AABBB
A in Music or or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

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

DD
BTEC must be in a relevant subject, plus A-Level Grade B in Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 Practical.

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

D
Plus A-Level A-Levels Grades BB including Music plus pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)

DDD
BTEC must be in a relevant subject, plus evidence of A-Level standard Music proficiency, Grade A equivalent or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)

D*D
BTEC must be in a relevant subject, plus A-Level Grade A in Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

Scottish Advanced Higher

ABB - BBB
A in Music or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory and Grade 7 practical.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

32 points
6,5,5 at Higher Level including 6 in Music at Higher Level or pass Grade 7 in Music Theory with a minimum of 32 points overall and Grade 7 practical.

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, H3, H3, H3
H2, H2, H3, H3, H3 at Higher Level including Music at Higher Level or with Grade 7 Music Theory at Pass and 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 study@royalholloway.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

Related courses

At Royal Holloway, University of London

Like this page