Music

Music at King's College London is delivered in one of the musical capitals of the world, in a city whose concert halls, opera houses, recording studios, and live music venues are among the most active and diverse anywhere. The degree is designed to lead to advanced work in three interconnected areas: historical and cultural studies of music, performance across a range of traditions, and composition. This breadth reflects a conviction that musical understanding is deepened by engaging seriously with all three, rather than narrowing prematurely to a single specialism.

This three-year full-time programme at a typical entry tariff of 168 points draws on King's strong relationships with the wider musical life of London. Students interested in performance benefit from the programme's connection with the Royal Academy of Music, while those interested in composition have access to expert teaching and to London's rich contemporary music scene. You will study music history and analysis across a wide range of periods and traditions, develop your critical and theoretical understanding of how music works as a cultural practice, and pursue your own interests in performance or composition at a level commensurate with a demanding research-led university.

You will develop skills in historical research, critical writing, score analysis, and the ability to situate music within its cultural, social, and political contexts, alongside the creative and practical skills your chosen performance or composition focus demands. The programme asks you to bring both rigour and imagination to your engagement with music, whether you are writing about it, playing it, or creating it.

Graduates go on to careers as performers, composers, music educators, music critics and journalists, arts administrators, programme directors, producers, and in the music industry in a wide range of roles. Postgraduate study in performance, composition, musicology, or arts management is a well-established route for those seeking advanced professional or academic development.