Music at Oxford 3 Year BA
The study of music at the University of Oxford is not merely an academic pursuit, it is an immersion into a vibrant 800-year-old tradition of musical scholarship performance and composition. The three-year Music BA (Bachelor of Arts), identified by the UCAS code W300 offers a uniquely broad and deep exploration of music in all its forms, preparing graduates not just for musical careers, but for a vast array of professional paths. This comprehensive guide explores the course’s structure, the unparalleled learning environment, the application process, and the exceptional outcomes for its students.
A Degree for the Modern Musician
The Oxford Music BA is designed for students who possess a deep passion for music and a desire to understand its role in culture, history, and society. It moves far beyond the traditional focus on Western classical music embracing a global perspective that reflects the modern musical landscape.
What the Course Covers: Breadth and Depth
The curriculum is intentionally broad in the initial stages, allowing students to build a robust foundation before specializing in their later years. Students are exposed to music of all kinds and in all contexts including:
- Western Classical Music: From medieval chant to contemporary orchestral works.
- Popular Music: Analyzing genres trends and the industry that shapes them.
- Global World and Traditional Musics (Ethnomusicology): Understanding music through the lens of diverse social and cultural contexts.
- Community Music: Exploring music’s role in social engagement and education.
The core of the degree lies in studying music through reading, listening, performing, and composing. Students learn to analyze the intricate relationships within a piece of music and its connection to its genre and historical context fostering a holistic understanding of the art form.
Course Structure: From Foundations to Specialization
The course is structured over three years, with a planned curriculum and assessment structure update for Years 2 and 3 beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.
Year 1: Building the Foundations
The first year establishes the essential skills and knowledge required for advanced study. Students take six modules, two of which are chosen from a list of options.
| Compulsory Modules | Example Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Foundations in the Study of Music | Introduces core musicological concepts and research methods. |
| Stylistic Composition | Practical training in historical composition techniques. |
| Topics I | Machaut’s Songs, Women and Music in the 19th Century, Music, Mind, Behaviour, Global Hip Hop. |
| Musical Analysis and Critical Listening | Developing skills to critically evaluate and interpret musical works. |
Students select two options from a diverse list that may include Extended Essay Composition, Performance, Critical Studies in Ethnomusicology, Historically Informed Performance, or Musical Skills (such as Conducting, Keyboard Skills, or Arranging).
Assessment in the first year is varied, comprising three written papers and two ‘take-away’ papers for compulsory subjects. Options are assessed via written papers, practical examinations, recitals, portfolios of compositions, or essays, depending on the choice.
Years 2 and 3: Advanced Study and Independent Research
The later years allow for increasing specialization. Students take seven modules, including two compulsory Topic papers and five options, culminating in a double-weighted project in the third year.
Compulsory Topic Papers are drawn from a range of historical and critical fields, such as:
- Vernacular Song in the Long 13th Century
- The Renaissance Madrigal
- 18th Century Opera
- The String Quartet Between Classicism and Modernism
- World Jazz
- Women in Popular Music
- Music Technology
- Worldmaking in the 19th Century
- History and Philosophy of Music Education
Optional Papers allow students to tailor the degree to their interests, with choices including:
- Dissertation (a major piece of independent research)
- Composition and Techniques of Composition
- Solo Performance and Chamber Music
- Musical Analysis and Criticism
- Music Ethnography
- Recording and Producing Music
- Community Music and Music Education
This structure ensures that whether a student is a performer, a composer, or a budding scholar of music history, sociology, psychology, or education, the course offers a pathway to deep engagement and expertise.
The Oxford Learning Environment
The Oxford learning experience is defined by the unique tutorial system, which is central to the education.
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials.
- Lectures: Typically four to six per week, delivered by the Faculty’s approximately 30 academic staff, including distinguished scholars, performers, and composers. Compulsory lectures may include the full year group (around 70 students), while specialist options may have fewer than 10.
- Tutorials: The core of the academic experience, usually involving two to four students and a tutor. These provide individual feedback, intensive academic discussion, and the opportunity to engage directly with world-leading experts. Most tutors are Associate Professors or Professors with years of experience in teaching and research.
- Practical Work: A typical week also includes time for practice, workshops, and rehearsals, with more time dedicated to independent study during the summer terms.
The assessment structure is designed to monitor progress and ensure students graduate as mature, well-rounded musicians with an informed and lively sense of the contemporary study and practice of the subject.
Unparalleled Facilities and Resources
The Faculty of Music is set to move to the state-of-the-art The Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities from October 2025. This new facility represents a significant investment in the future of musical study, featuring:
- A dedicated concert hall.
- Lecture spaces and a film screening theatre.
- A “black box” experimental performance space.
- Numerous practice rooms.
- A multimedia digital TV broadcasting and sound studio.
The world-famous Bate Collection of Musical Instruments which lends historical instruments to students will also be housed in the new centre alongside the Faculty’s gamelan orchestra. Furthermore the Colleges provide essential resources including music rooms, libraries, and a supportive academic and social community complete with welfare officers and a college family system.
Students also benefit from the RAM partnership scheme with the Royal Academy of Music which offers eight lessons and masterclasses and a generous instrumental tuition refund (up to £275) to support their practical development.
Entry Requirements & Application Process
Admission to the Oxford Music BA is highly competitive, seeking candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and musical potential.
Academic Requirements (AAA)
The standard conditional offer is AAA at A-level. Equivalent qualifications are also accepted:
- A-levels: AAA
- International Baccalaureate (IB): 38 points overall (including core points) with 6,6,6 at Higher Level (HL).
- Advanced Highers: AA or AAB.
Oxford is committed to contextual admissions, considering grades within the context in which they were achieved.
Essential Subject Requirements
Candidates are expected to have Music A-level or an equivalent qualification. If Music A-level is not offered at a candidate’s school, they must have Music Theory Grade 7 or above (from any board, such as ABRSM or Trinity), in addition to three A-levels.
The Faculty also accepts the BTEC Extended Diploma in Music in place of Music A-level, and while qualifications in performance or keyboard skills are not required, students are encouraged to develop their keyboard fluency before arriving. A strong grade in an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is also strongly recommended, particularly for those with vocational qualifications.
The Application Process
The application follows the standard UCAS procedure, with specific requirements for the Music course:
- UCAS Application: Submitted by the deadline.
- Admissions Tests / Performance Video: There is no written test. Instead, candidates must submit a musical performance video recording of up to five minutes on their chosen instrument or voice in advance of the interview. The quality of the recording equipment is not taken into account.
- Written Work Submission: Candidates must submit three pieces of written work by the deadline (typically November 10th):
- Two teacher-marked essays (around 1,500 words each), which do not have to be about music, focusing on quality of thought.
- One example of teacher-marked harmony and counterpoint, which can be a traditional Bach chorale or string quartet, or a modern example like the harmonisation of a pop song or a jazz lead sheet.
Optional Compositions: Candidates may optionally submit one or two short examples of original composition in any genre (classical, jazz, folk, electronic).
- Interviews: A high percentage of applicants (around 93%) are interviewed. Tutors may provide a short piece of music or text to study in preparation for the interview, which is typically given on the same day.
Career Outcomes: Beyond the Concert Hall
The skills developed during the Music BA are highly transferable, making Oxford Music graduates attractive to a wide range of employers. The course cultivates essential skills such as:
- Creativity and Musical Interpretation
- Self-management and Problem-solving
- Communication and Teamwork
- Data Analysis (relevant to music psychology and technology)
While many graduates pursue careers directly related to the arts including teaching, performance, and arts administration others successfully transition into fields such as broadcasting, publishing, law, politics, and the Civil Service.
A notable example is Fabienne, an alumna who leveraged her degree to secure roles with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra before becoming Head of Communications and Marketing at Intermusica, an industry-leading international classical music management agency. As she notes the degree provides an essential foundation, but the most important gain is the confidence and resilience to meet people from all walks of life.
Many students also undertake further study often at prestigious conservatoires in the UK and abroad or pursue postgraduate degrees in musicology or related fields.
Fees and Financial Support
The University of Oxford is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent academically able students from studying there.
| Fee Status | Annual Course Fees (2025/26) |
|---|---|
| Home | £9,535 |
| Overseas | £49,400 |
Note: The Home fee is subject to confirmation by the government.
Oxford offers one of the most generous financial support packages available for UK students, including Oxford bursaries and scholarships, which can be supplemented by support from the individual Colleges. Furthermore, living costs at Oxford are often lower than expected due to the provision of subsidized accommodation guaranteed for the first year) and other college resources.
Conclusion
The Oxford Music BA is a rigorous rewarding and comprehensive degree that stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation. It offers a unique opportunity to study music in a world-class environment supported by the tutorial system and unparalleled new facilities like the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities. For the student who is ready to engage with music in all its historical, cultural, and technological dimensions, the three-year course provides the intellectual depth and practical skills necessary to thrive in a diverse and demanding professional world. The degree is an investment in a future where music literacy, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving are highly valued assets.