Music

Music as an academic and practical discipline is far broader than the ability to perform. It encompasses composition and arrangement, the study of how sound is produced and perceived, the history of musical traditions across cultures and centuries, the business and technology of the recorded industry, and the ways in which music shapes and is shaped by society. A degree in music develops your capacity to listen with precision, to think critically about sound and structure, and to situate what you create or perform within a wider cultural context.

At Edinburgh Napier University you will follow a four-year full-time programme that includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study music in a different national context and to expand your understanding of the industry beyond the UK. The course is delivered by lecturers with backgrounds in both professional practice and research, which means your learning is grounded in the realities of a creative industries landscape that is constantly evolving. You will be encouraged to be adaptable, to develop skills in multiple areas, and to cultivate the kind of professional flexibility that sustains a long career in music and the wider creative sector.

The programme engages with contemporary digital production and industry contexts alongside traditional musical disciplines.

You will develop your technical skills on your instrument or in your area of specialisation, build competence in music technology and production, explore composition and arrangement, and engage critically with music's histories and theories. Working with peers from different musical backgrounds sharpens your collaborative abilities and broadens your aesthetic range.

Graduates pursue careers as performers, composers, producers, sound engineers, music educators, arts managers and music journalists. Others work in broadcasting, music publishing, artist management, events promotion and digital platforms. The transferable skills developed through music study, including discipline, attention to detail, collaborative working and creative problem-solving, are recognised and valued well beyond the music industry itself.

Postgraduate study in performance, composition, music technology or arts management is also a common next step.