BA (Hons) Music Degree - University of Chichester

Overview

Explore all aspects of musical study as you tailor your degree to suit you

Our BA (Hons) Music degree course provides you with a great balance between practical and contextual work, as you engage with a wide variety of topics within the field of music.

Study a wide range of areas within music

Throughout your studies you will explore a wide range of styles, genres and skills as you learn the art of critical self-reflection, how to lead and collaborate with others, how to build self-confidence and remain ‘present’ under performance conditions.

Build your course around your interests

This course offers you a vibrant and broad range of optional modules that allow you to focus on the areas of music that suit your strengths and interests.

Discover performance opportunities within our Conservatoire community

Within our vast community of over 400 students, the University of Chichester Conservatoire offers a wealth of opportunities to perform, socialise and build connections with others.

Within the Conservatoire we have six orchestras, nine other large ensembles, five choirs and more than 70 small ensembles for you to have the opportunity to join.

Discover topics that include:

Music performance
Musical theatre
Instrumental or vocal teaching
Music business
Community music
Self-employment and professional resilience
Popular music teaching.

Learn from experienced practitioners who really get to know you

Our dedication to smaller, more intimate class sizes means that our team of expert musicians, researchers and practitioners can learn how best to support you to ensure you can thrive.

Develop key employability skills

Working to support you in becoming industry ready, you will explore the audition and performance contexts and learn about the challenges of competition and perfectionism. You’ll also consider the necessary skills of networking and the possibilities of a portfolio career.

Our BA (Hons) Music course develops key skills in problem solving, analysis, self-management and interpersonal relationships that employers from a wide range of sectors highly-value, meaning that you will leave the University of Chichester prepared for your career in either the music industry or whatever you choose to do next.

On this course you will:

Study a range of different musical styles, genres and approaches.
Have the opportunity to tailor the course to your interests and strengths.
Be able to join any of a large number of choirs, orchestras and ensembles.
Join a close community of 400+ student performers.
Develop your skills in problem-solving, analysis, self-management and interpersonal skills.
Learn from our team of expert team of musicians, researchers and practitioners.

Music at the University of Chichester

Hear from our staff and students about why they chose to study at Chichester

The Course

Engage in practical and contextual study with a wide range of module options

Year One

In your first year, you will demonstrate a growing awareness and understanding of reflective observation and critique, identify weaknesses in your approach to practice and preparation, and demonstrate a discerning and context-specific approach to repertoire choices.

You’ll also introduce or further familiarise yourself with a range of aspects of musical structure, notation, modern contexts and professional resilience.

Year Two

Your second year offers you the opportunity to choose which areas of musical study you’d like to focus on, with a wide range of module options that cover style, genre, the psychology of music performance and how to teach music to young learners.

You’ll learn how to communicate specialist knowledge with a growing sense of confidence to a wider audience and present work in an organised, intelligent manner, using a variety of media.

Year Three

In your final year, you will take more advanced optional modules which allow you to compliment your interests from previous years as you work towards your final personal study, which can either take the form of a performance recital or a written research project.

You will also enhance your expressive performance through considering acoustic and non-acoustic variables such as phrasing, articulation, dynamic range, tonal quality and use of movement and gesture, in order to most effectively utilise your growing technical and musical facility.

Indicative modules

You will study a selection of core and optional modules in each year.

Modules

This list is indicative and subject to change.

Ensemble
Personal Development
Masterclass
Musical Grammar
Performance Development
Music Performance Practice 1

Ensemble

You will explore a musical style in your practical work and build confidence in your approach to chamber music and other relevant ensemble styles. You will learn to work as a team in presenting and preparing a performance under the direction of a specialist ensemble coach.

Personal Development

You will be introduced to a range of strategies designed to offer support to the emerging arts practitioner, including models of successful self-development.

This module will help you develop self-awareness in your strengths and weaknesses, and will include workshops on a variety of tools, such as mindfulness, managing stress, nutrition, setting achievable goals, employability and careers, yoga, tai chi and vocal health.

Masterclass

This module develops your basic performance and communication skills and your sense of performance context. You will develop your repertoire, your understanding of style and your skills in preparing for an audition or performance.

You will take part in group performance classes as well as individual tutorials to develop your work, as well as your skills in forming critical judgements of performance.

Musical Grammar

This module will introduce, reintroduce and familiarise you with a range of music theories (traditional, jazz, rock) and aspects of musical structure and notation. Alongside this, you will present and discuss your work, both individually and in groups, enhancing skills in teamwork and presentation and building confidence.

Performance Development

You will work one-on-one with a vocal or instrumental specialist to assess your current repertoire and begin an exploration of new work.

This module provides an overview of skills particular to your individual vocal or instrumental style, and you will explore different approaches to performance.

Music Performance Practice 1

You will take part in workshop/masterclass-style sessions, which explore the ‘self’ in performance.

Focus points will include discussion around developing an individual identity, exploring useful modes of self-reflection, and navigating the types of challenges which might be encountered when self-recording, such as issues of self-confidence, choosing repertoire, and remaining ‘present’ under performance conditions.

Teaching and Assessment

Feel the support of our experienced and practicing teaching staff

Learn from experienced performers, musicians and tutors

Our dedicated team of experienced and expert tutors are all active, practicing professional musicians and researchers who regularly perform and record alongside their teaching.

In addition, we have around 140 professional tutors and more than 60 specialist instrumental and vocal teachers who visit campus regularly throughout the semester to deliver our practical and contextual modules.

Smaller class sizes for more individual support

Classes take the form of lecturers, seminars, practical sessions and workshops.

Our smaller class sizes means that you will have more individual support, in addition to the help and guidance you will receive from your one-to-one tutor, your module tutors, as well as your academic advisor.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a range of assignments including:

Essays
Exams
Performance and practical work
Project work
Presentations
Seminar discussions.

Saara Sofia Paakko

Conservatoire student

The atmosphere at the university is lovely due to the small size of the institution, and I love being around like-minded people.

Experience

Discover our range of professional-standard music equipment and facilities

Bishop Otter campus

Watch our virtual tour of our historic Bishop Otter campus in the heart of Chichester.

Conservatoire Building

Learn more about our Conservatoire building complete with dedicated study and rehearsal spaces.

Steinway & Sons pianos

We have over 50 grand pianos supplied by Steinway & Sons, including model D concert pianos.

Dedicated practice spaces

Our dedicated music practice spaces provide you with specialist rooms for both solo and ensemble practice.

Music performance and rehearsal spaces

We have a range of larger rehearsal rooms, soundproof band rooms and an acoustically superb performance venue.

Expert staff

Learn from industry experts with extensive experience of the performance and entertainment sectors.

Close community

Our commitment to a friendly and close-knit student community allows you to collaborate with students from other courses.

Chapel

Our on-site Chapel acts an acoustically superb performance venue which is perfect for performances and rehearsals.

Learning Resource Centre

The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) contains the library, a café, IT/teaching rooms, and the Support and Information Zone (SIZ).

Library

Our campus library holds more than 200,000 books and over 500,000 eBooks.

Work Placements

Develop your professional network through placement opportunities

We offer numerous opportunities to gain practical experience through our large industry networks, meaning you can put your studies into practice during optional work placements and voluntary roles.

These opportunities will improve your confidence, enhance your CV and show employers that you’ve already completed work in industry when you graduate.

You will have the opportunity to take part in:

Work placements
Volunteering roles
Student and graduate internship schemes.

Study Abroad

Explore the opportunity to study part of your course abroad

As a student at the University of Chichester, you can explore opportunities to study abroad during your studies to enrich your educational experiences.

It’s a chance to broaden your horizons, a great opportunity to meet new people, undertake further travelling and to immerse yourself within a new culture.

You will be fully supported throughout the process to help find the right destination and institution for you and your course. We can take you through everything that you will need to consider, from visas to financial support, to ensure you get the best out of your time studying abroad.

Careers

Graduate with the skills that employers need

Our BA (Hons) Music degree will prepare you for a range of careers and provides you with a variety of transferable skills and specific subject knowledge to prepare you for life after university.

Past graduates have secured various roles including:

Solo performers
Teachers at all levels of education
Music leaders
Opera singers
Group instrumentalists
Cruise musicians.

Further Study

You could choose to continue your studies at postgraduate level.

Study options at the University of Chichester include:

MA Music Performance
MA Music Teaching
PGCE
PhD/MPhil.

University of Chichester alumni who have completed a full undergraduate degree at the University will receive a 15% discount on their postgraduate fees.

Course Costs

Course Fees 2026/27

UK fee

£9,790

Subject to Parliamentary approval

International fee

£16,800

EU/EEA Fee Reduction Scholarship

EU/EEA students automatically pay the equivalent of UK fees via the EU/EEA Fee Reduction Scholarship

For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fees page.

For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.

To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.

Scholarships may be available for selected instruments; please enquire with the Head of Music.

Additional Course Costs

Some optional field trips ask for a student contribution (usually 50%) which can range from £50 to £250.

Entry Requirements

Typical offers (individual offers may vary):

UCAS

104

tariff points from A levels or combination with Extended Project / BTEC / Cambridge Technical.

A Levels

BCC

BTEC/Cambridge Technical

DMM

IB

26 points

IELTS

6.0

with no element lower than 5.5.

Auditions

You will need to demonstrate your ability in an instrument or voice performance, display musical awareness and showcase your skills during your performance audition. If you have a high level of performance skills you may be considered for a lower academic offer.

A successful audition at the university may result in an unconditional offer.

Interviews and Auditions

Auditions and interviews usually run from January until March/April.

We aim to offer you a genuine dialogue during your application process. This gives you a sense of worth and achievement from the audition process itself; a sense of ownership for you during the process and, ultimately, is an opportunity for us to get a clear understanding of who you are, what you need, and how we can best prepare you for your degree.

We judge you on your skills, your potential, and your personality, not your background.

Charlie

BMus (Hons) Music Performance

I remember sitting in a music A level lesson when I received my email offering me an audition to study BMus (Hons) Music Performance at the University of Chichester. I was immediately terrified of having to choose a piece to perform and to then perform it in front of tutors and other applicants. In the end I needn’t have worried at all, the audition experience was extremely enjoyable and relaxed. I had the best time meeting other prospective students, some of whom became course mates and one even a future housemate! Meeting the Head of Music, Ben Hall, was invaluable as it meant that any questions that I had about the course could be answered. He even gave us a tour of the Chichester campus and the music block which helped put us all at ease before we performed to each other.

BA (Hons) Music

Explore the breadth and depth of music