Cardiff University
Music and English Literature BA (Hons)
Cardiff University

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 140 graduates of Music and English Literature BA (Hons) and other courses in literature in English at Cardiff University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in literature in English.

Overall student satisfaction
72 /100
140 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in literature in English

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of literature in English at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £22500 £22500 £28000
25-75 percentile range £20000 - £26000 £17500 - £26500 £21500 - £33500


Salary of all UK Graduates of literature in English

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £22253 £19572 £23504
25-75 percentile range £18912 - £25582 £14654 - £24185 £17749 - £29547

Course Description

The School of Music and the School of English, Communication and Philosophy offer challenging courses of modules in each subject. The flexibility of the course allows you to specialise and develop your own interests, while acquiring a solid, broad-based education and developing transferable skills. English Literature at Cardiff University offers access to the whole span of English literature, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 21st century. Nor is the curriculum restricted to the printed word – we are intrigued by the connections between literature and film, art, music, history, language, and popular culture, and our teaching reflects these interests.

After a grounding in your first year, you are free to follow a traditional course covering multiple periods and genres or to build a more distinctive mix of modules combining literary study with analysis of other cultural forms.

Home to the arts, Cardiff is a great location for the study of music in the UK. The city has a professional opera company, Welsh National Opera, and a professional symphony orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The School of Music enjoys a fruitful relationship with both organisations that allows, for instance, students to attend dress rehearsals and buy cut-price tickets for concerts.

As a joint honours student, you will find that often there are complementary issues and perspectives as well as skills and that link subjects, be they critical analysis, historical contexts or recent research. You will spend a similar amount of time on each subject, benefiting from developing your music understanding and skills while studying the fascinating and challenging subject of English Literature.

You are expected to have gained or shown evidence of working towards Grade 8 in one or more instruments or voice at the time of your application. You may be considered if you are not taking A-level Music but have Grade 8 Practical and Grade 7/8 Theory and are studying appropriate Humanities subjects at A-level.

We do not routinely interview applicants for our undergraduate programmes. Applicants with a non-traditional qualification may be invited to attend an informal interview in the School of English, Communication and Philosophy which will have a bearing on the selection decision.

Distinctive features

  • This course is especially suited to those interested in seeing music within a broad cultural context, embracing the literary, the social and the political
  • The option in both subjects to write a dissertation lets you choose a topic that draws on both disciplines
  • Instrumental tuition is fully funded by the School of Music on your principal study instrument
  • Business of Music modules offer a short work placement
  • Composition workshops, performance masterclasses, the University concert series, the John Bird lectures presented by visiting academics and the careers talks provides many opportunities for contact with active music professionals

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Music and English Literature BA (Hons) at Cardiff University

17% Sales occupations
13% Legal professionals
7% Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations
7% Media Professionals
7% Information Technology Professionals
7% Finance Professionals
6% Business and public service associate professionals
6% Sales occupations
5% Teaching Professionals
3% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals

Grading & Study Time

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for literature in English

Qualification requirements

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

You must have or be working towards grade 8 Music Practical in an instrument or voice. Where skill levels cannot be determined by alternative qualifications, you may be invited to audition. We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects. We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • MBA

Cardiff University has many scholarships on offer to our prospective students. Please see our website at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/funding/scholarships for further information.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Music and English Literature, BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Music and English Literature BA (Hons)

Ireland £9000 year 1
Channel Islands £9000 year 1
EU £20450 year 1
England UK £9000 year 1
Northern Ireland £9000 year 1
Scotland £9000 year 1
Wales £9000 year 1
International £20450 year 1
EU £22700 year 1
International £22700 year 1

Additional fee information

Students from the UK and Islands:

Fees stated are for the 2024/25 academic year. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.

Fees for entry in subsequent years are subject to increase and will be confirmed by the end of October in the year preceding your start date of your programme.

Tuition fees cover all reasonable costs required for you to complete to the degree programme stated. Please note that you may choose to participate in study trips, associated placements or purchase equipment while studying on your degree programme which will be at your own cost. Tuition fees do not include living costs such as accommodation, subsistence or travel.

Students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland:

Students from the rest of the world (international):

Fees for entry in subsequent years are subject to increase and will be confirmed by the end of October in the year preceding your start date of your programme.

Tuition fees cover all reasonable costs required for you to complete the degree programme stated. Please note that you may choose to participate in study trips, associated placements or purchase equipment while studying on your degree programme which will be at your own cost. Tuition fees do not include living costs such as accommodation, subsistence or travel.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of Cardiff University in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Cardiff University in related subject specific rankings.

Arts Visual & Performing

    • #2 
    • #23 
    Music
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #3 
    • #27 
    Music
    The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
    [Published 09 September, 2023]

See all 33 university rankings of Cardiff University

About Cardiff University

Established in 1883, Cardiff University is located in the urban setting of the city of Cardiff, Wales. Some of the university’s most obvious advantages include world-leading research, a knowledgeable and proactive career services office, and the central location. Cardiff is a vibrant, modern city with a young and diverse population known for accepting people from all walks of life.

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Where is this programme taught

Main Site - Cardiff
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