English and Music

English and music is a degree that brings together two rich and historically intertwined forms of expression. Literature and music have influenced each other profoundly across centuries, from the poetry of the troubadours to the song cycles of the Romantic period and the literary allusions woven through twentieth-century composition and popular music. Studying them together develops both the critical and analytical capacities that advanced humanities learning demands and the practical creative skills that making work in either medium requires.

At the University of Leeds, this full-time, three-year programme allows you to engage with a wide variety of literature and music spanning a broad range of periods, cultures, and themes. You will develop advanced academic skills in critical analysis, interpretation, and research across both subjects, while also having the opportunity to enhance practical skills in music composition, performance, and creative writing. The combination means you can pursue depth in both areas simultaneously, building the kind of interdisciplinary thinking that is increasingly valued in cultural and creative careers.

The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you substantial professional and international experience alongside your academic study. The typical entry tariff is 184 UCAS points.

Graduates from English and music programmes pursue careers in arts administration, music journalism, cultural policy, publishing, education, broadcasting, the music industry, and the wider creative sector. The combination of literary and musical knowledge is particularly valued in areas where the two intersect, including opera, musical theatre, arts criticism, and public arts programming. Many graduates build varied careers that draw on both strands.

Postgraduate options include music, English literature, creative writing, arts management, and journalism programmes.