Music BMus
About this course
BMus in Music, a music degree exploring historical and contemporary aspects of the discipline. Core topics include Research Methods, Critical & Analytical Thinking, and Design & Creative Practice. Students can tailor their studies through various pathways, choose subjects outside of music, and complete a final-year recital, portfolio, or dissertation. The first year covers foundational concepts through Creative Musicianship, Sound Recording, Music Psychology, and Introduction to Musical Instruments. The second year examines contextual factors via microphone techniques, room acoustics, field recording, and production. The third year advances into specialised areas including composition (for screen), sound design, music in the community, and options in Scottish traditional music. The final year allows students to select courses that build on previous choices and undertake major independent projects.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: from AAB to ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 38%: 152 offers from 404 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 18 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 86%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 66%
- Learning resources: 92%
- Student voice: 70%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 30 students who started
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 14 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 20%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 20%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 90%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 75%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 30 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 5%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 10%
- Scotland: 70%
Who gets in
Based on about 40 students who started
- A levels: 75%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 15%
- No formal qualifications: 10%
Modules
- Topics in Popular Music
- Thinking about Music
- Creative Musicianship
- technology
- genre
- race
- gender
- capitalism
- colonialism
- develop your critical and analytical skills
- be introduced to some of the key issues in contemporary and historical thought concerning a broad spectrum of music
- written and aural analysis
- composition, songwriting and arranging
- performance
- Introduction to Musical Instruments
- Music Psychology
- Musical Acoustics
- Sound Recording
- aesthetic
- social
- political
- cultural contexts
- microphone techniques
- room acoustics
- field recording
- production
- acoustics
- composition (for screen)
- screen music
- music analysis
- music in the community
- performance
- music psychology
- music technology
- popular music studies
- instrumentation, orchestration and arranging
- sound design
- options in Scottish traditional music
- music history
- select courses that build on your choices in Year 3
- choose up to 40 credits in subjects outside of music
- 40-minute recital
- portfolio of compositions, for example: an EP or album music for mixed media concert music
- an EP or album
- music for mixed media
- concert music
- creative practice music project
- dissertation
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of Music BMus at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £24,000 after 15 months, £22,000 after 3 years, £27,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £22,500 and £33,500. The £27,000 median after five years is £2,500 more than the UK median for Music.
What do graduates of Music BMus at University of Edinburgh do next?
80% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on Music BMus at University of Edinburgh?
92% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for Music BMus at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 193 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for Music BMus at University of Edinburgh?
38% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 152 offers from 404 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does Music BMus at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on Music BMus at University of Edinburgh?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.