Bachelor of Music (Hons) with Placement Year University of Surrey, UK

Why choose this course

• Our degree in music is currently the best music degree in the UK, according to the Guardian University Guide 2025. We offer training in a huge range of styles from classical and popular, to musical theatre, film, jazz and contemporary music.
• You’ll be able to join inspiring ensembles and societies, from the University Orchestra, University Chamber Choir, Big Band, student ensembles and bands, as well as weekly lunchtime student concerts.
• As a performer, you’ll receive free one-to-one instrumental/vocal lessons in your primary study.
• You’ll have access to our custom-built performance and recording spaces, including a multi-purpose concert/recital room, an immersive multichannel speaker performance space, 10 practice rooms, edit rooms and brand-new synth lab.
• All music students benefit from visits by industry professionals, including: performers, composers, promoters, publishers and educators.
• Whether you’re interested in performance, composition, music history, analysis, the music industry itself, or a whole wealth of other music degree jobs, our experienced staff and vibrant musical community can help unlock your potential.

What you will study

On our course you can take performance and composition in each year. Alongside these, you’ll study music across history and within culture. You’ll develop advanced knowledge of music theory and analysis.  

You’ll graduate from our course with a BMus qualification, which denotes a practical emphasis – we use performing and/or composing as the key ways to increase your knowledge of music and develop your musicianship. You’ll learn about music of the past and the present, in both classical and popular styles.  

In your final year, you’ll develop a large-scale individual project; this is a good example of the flexible approach you can take to your learning – it can be a substantial written investigation, or a performance or composition project, with complementary writing.

Music placements
The third year of our four-year music course is spent away from the University, working in a professional role for major arts and music organisations. Your designated senior Professional Training placement tutor will prepare you for the placement period and help you choose and organise an appropriate placement and host organisation.

Types of placement are varied and can take place anywhere in the country, although many are London-based. Recent students have worked in areas such as:

• Music management and administration
• Concert management
• Music education
• Marketing
• Social media and communications
• Music publishing
• Venue management
• Online and offline record labels
• Music retail.