Course description
Develop your skills in performance and composition, and your academic knowledge of music, while learning about philosophical issues that have challenged thinkers for centuries.
Our music curriculum and expertise span seven different areas: performance, composition, musicology, ethnomusicology, music psychology, musical industries, and music technology.
We offer an impressive array of modules, with academic and practical study in most music genres, including classical, pop, jazz, folk and world music.
You’ll receive a thorough grounding in the skills and knowledge required to become a successful musician or music researcher, and have the freedom to follow your own interests. You’ll learn to listen, perform, think and write critically about music of multiple genres, delve into the histories and cultural contexts of both Western classical and world music, and have the chance to receive compositional training in both instrumental and music technology software.
You’ll graduate having a thorough understanding of the music industry in all its diverse contemporary forms, allowing you to forge an international and rewarding career that interests you.
In philosophy, you’ll study the cornerstones of the subject (including philosophy of language, ethics, metaphysics and logic) alongside distinctive specialist modules on topics such as philosophy of education, philosophy of law, philosophy of medicine, film and philosophy, and feminism. You’ll also study the history of the subject from Plato to the French existentialists.
As a dual honours student, you’ll divide your studies between the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Music. You’ll be required to take a minimum number of credits within both departments each year, but how you choose to divide your modules after this is up to you: split your modules evenly between philosophy and music or choose to weight your degree in favour of one subject or the other.
Throughout your degree, you’ll be studying in an environment dedicated to high-quality teaching, world-leading research, and innovative public engagement. We have cutting-edge facilities, including purpose-built music practice rooms, recording studios and music psychology labs.
Outside of your degree, there are many ways to develop your interests, insights and critical faculties. Opportunities include student-led reading groups, multiple ensembles, active student societies, and our University Concerts series, which hosts over 100 musical events and performances every year.
Dual and combined honours degrees
The University of Sheffield is an All-Steinway School. This accreditation enables students to access pianos of the highest quality and places the University among a select group of international education institutions.
Modules
Around half your modules are taken with the Department of Music and around half with the Department of Philosophy.
For music, dual honours programmes are very flexible. Music modules for combined honours students are the same as those for BMus students except that there are no compulsory modules. You can choose to split your 120 credits per year equally 60:60 between your two subjects, or you can choose a ‘major/minor’ split of 80:40.
A selection of modules are available each year – some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course.
For music, you select from the following options.
For philosophy, you select any modules from group A and/or B and normally choose a minimum of 40 credits.
Music optional modules:
- History of Western Music
- Music in Global Context
- Tonal Music Analysis and Criticism
- Exploring Tonal Styles
- Technologies for Music
- Composition
- Performance
- Folk Music Participation
- Composing Electronic Music
- Popular Music Studies
- Music Psychology
Philosophy group A modules:
- Elementary Logic
- History of Philosophical Ideas
- Knowledge, Justification and Doubt
- Mind, Brain and Personal Identity
- Philosophy of Science
- Reason and Argument
- Writing Philosophy
Philosophy group B modules:
- Death
- Film and Philosophy
- History of Ethics
- Matters of Life and Death
- Philosophy of Religion
- Philosophy of Sex
- Self and Society
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it’s up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we’ll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. We are no longer offering unrestricted module choice. If your course included unrestricted modules, your department will provide a list of modules from their own and other subject areas that you can choose from.
Entry requirements
The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
AAB; ABB
AAB, including Music; ABB + Grade 8 in either Practical (ABRSM/Trinity/Rockschool or equivalent) or Performance (ABSRM/ARSM) + Grade 5 Theory
A Levels + additional qualifications ABB, including Music + B in a relevant EPQ
International Baccalaureate 34, with 5 in Higher Level Music; 33 + Grade 8 in either Practical (ABRSM/Trinity/Rockschool or equivalent) or Performance (ABSRM/ARSM) + Grade 5 Theory
BTEC Extended Diploma DDD in Music
BTEC Diploma DD + A in A Level Music; DD in Music + A at A Level
Scottish Highers AAABB + Grade 8 in either Practical (ABRSM/Trinity/Rockschool or equivalent) or Performance (ABSRM/ARSM) + Grade 5 Theory
Scottish Highers + 1 Advanced Higher AAABB + B in Music
Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels B + AA, including Music; B + AB + Grade 8 in either Practical (ABRSM/Trinity/Rockschool or equivalent) or Performance (ABSRM/ARSM) + Grade 5 Theory
Access to HE Diploma Award of Access to HE Diploma in Music, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 36 at Distinction and 9 at Merit
Routes for mature students
Other requirements
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Music Technology is acceptable in lieu of Music
English language requirements |
You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification
Fees
£9,250
Home students2022 annual tuition fee
£22,520
Overseas students2022 annual tuition fee
key dates
September start
Applications for places on courses starting the following September (except Medicine and Dentistry) should be submitted to UCAS between:
- 1 September and 25 January to be guaranteed equal consideration with other applicants
- 26 January and 30 June for further consideration, although we may not be able to consider your application if all the places on the course you’ve applied for have been filled
Applications for places on Medicine and Dentistry courses must be submitted between 1 September and 15 October.