BA Music and Business Management with Year Abroad
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Music and Business Management with Year Abroad, a Business Management and Music degree examining creative practice and commercial strategy within the cultural sector. Core topics include Research Methods, Project Management, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Design & Creative Practice. Spanning four years, the programme incorporates an international study placement at an overseas partner institution. The first year establishes fundamental knowledge through compulsory modules such as Introduction to Accounting and Finance, Introduction to Management, Music in Context 1, Music in Context 2, Performance Fundamentals 1, and The (Undergraduate) Learning Curve, alongside options covering digital technologies and business principles. The second year shifts focus towards critical perspectives and specialised areas via compulsory modules including Music Education and Social Justice and Sounding Equality: A Sustainable Music History, supplemented by wide-ranging choices in entrepreneurship, jazz theory, and music production. In the final year, students select from advanced options such as Applied Research Project, Project Management, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Business, and Ensemble Performance 2 to tailor their studies.
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: ABB to BBB including Music, and Grade 6 (Grade B) in GCSE Mathematics, and Grade 8 Music Practical or demonstrated equivalent standard* IB: Pass, with 32 to 30 points overall with 16 to 15 points at Higher Level, including 5 at Higher Level in Music, and Grade 6 (Grade B) in GCSE Mathematics, and Grade 8 Music Practical or demonstrated equivalent standard*.
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What students say
Based on about 43 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 89%
- Learning opportunities: 86%
- Assessment and feedback: 87%
- Academic support: 89%
- Organisation and management: 80%
- Learning resources: 89%
- Student voice: 82%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 55 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 96%
- Left higher education: 4%
What graduates do next
Based on about 16 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 33%
- Finance Professionals: 12%
- Administrative occupations: 9%
- Elementary occupations: 7%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 65%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 80%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 40 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 5%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 10%
- London: 25%
- South East: 40%
- South West: 15%
Who gets in
Based on about 65 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 82%
- Baccalaureate: 2%
- A degree: 6%
- Other HE qualification: 6%
- No formal qualifications: 3%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Introduction to Accounting and Finance
- Introduction to Management
- Music in Context 1
- Music in Context 2
- Performance Fundamentals 1
- The (Undergraduate) Learning Curve
- Business in Society
- Composition Fundamentals
- Digital Technologies in Business
- Ensemble Performance Fundamentals
- Ideas that Shape the Contemporary World - Work, Change and Organisations
- Music sources and transmission
- Performance Fundamentals 2
- Music Education and Social Justice
- Sounding Equality: A Sustainable Music History
- 19th Century Italian Opera: Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi
- Adventures in Musical Research
- Composition Workshop
- Conducting
- Ensemble Performance 1
- Entrepreneurial Management
- Film Music Composition
- Global Hip Hop
- Human Resource Management
- Innovation, Technology and the Environment
- Jazz Theory
- Making Successful Decisions
- Music Therapy 1: Fundamentals
- Music and Sound Production 1
- Operations Management
- Orchestration and Arranging
- Performance Tuition (Single Study)
- Second Year Performance Recital
- Sonic Performance Lab
- The American Musical
- The American Musical
- The Art of Song
- The Business of Music
- Them Changes: Composing and arranging for jazz and jazz influenced genres.
- “To Sweeten my bitterness”: Love, sex and gender in medieval musicking
- 19th Century Italian Opera: Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi
- Adventures in Musical Research
- Applied Research Project
- Composition Project
- Composition Workshop
- Conducting
- Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Business
- Ensemble Performance 2
- Film Music Composition
- Global Hip Hop
- Jazz Theory
- Music Education and Social Justice
- Music Therapy 1: Fundamentals
- Music Therapy 2: Beneath the Surface
- Music and Sound Production 1
- Music in the Community with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
- Orchestration and Arranging
- Performance Recital
- Performance Tuition (Single Study)
- Project Management
- Research Project
- Sonic Performance Lab
- Strategic Operations Management
- Streaming, Social Media, and Stans: Music Culture in the Platform Era
- Technological Innovation
- The American Musical
- The Art of Song
- The Business of Music
- The Producer as Composer: digital sound & songwriting in practice
- Them Changes: Composing and arranging for jazz and jazz influenced genres.
- “To Sweeten my bitterness”: Love, sex and gender in medieval musicking
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Music and Business Management with Year Abroad at University of Southampton earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £21,000 after 3 years, £30,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £36,000.
What do graduates of BA Music and Business Management with Year Abroad at University of Southampton do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Music and Business Management with Year Abroad at University of Southampton?
89% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Music and Business Management with Year Abroad at University of Southampton?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 159 UCAS points.
Does BA Music and Business Management with Year Abroad at University of Southampton include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Music and Business Management with Year Abroad at University of Southampton?
96% of students continued into their second year, and 4% left higher education.