The University of Manchester
Music and Drama BA (Hons)
The University of Manchester

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 50 graduates of Music and Drama BA (Hons) and other courses in Music at The University of Manchester for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Music.

Overall student satisfaction
88 /100
50 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Music

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Music 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 £23000 £22000 £28000
25-75 percentile range £20000 - £26000 £17000 - £27000 £19500 - £34500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Music

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £21199 £18116 £21920
25-75 percentile range £17871 - £24973 £12983 - £22585 £16287 - £27578

Course Description

Our BA Music and Drama joint honours course is one of only a handful of such courses available at any university in the UK, providing you with a rare opportunity to pursue your passions for all aspects of performance and creativity in a world-class university environment.

We attract a large number of singers and actors in particular, as well as students with passions in, for example, screen, film sound and digital media; the politics of avant-garde performance; performance, social policy and community arts; or the history of the voice and the body on a variety of theatrical and operatic stages.

With a huge range of course units to choose from, this course is diverse and flexible, enabling you to build upon existing interests while allowing you the room to discover new forms and traditions of performance, practice and media.

With a mix of academic and practical learning, you will be taught by internationally recognised academics, guest speakers and a roster of professional instrumental and vocal tutors drawn from Manchester and the north-west.

All our teaching and practice takes place in the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama where you will rehearse, workshop and perform in the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall and the John Thaw Studio Theatre, and where you can get your hands on the latest digital-audio technology in the award-winning NOVARS studios for electroacoustic music and interactive media.

The Martin Harris Centre itself is in the centre of the oldest part of the University, just 15 minutes on foot from the city centre and its many venues including The Bridgwater Hall, HOME, The Albert Hall, The Royal Exchange Theatre and plenty more besides. From there, it is a 20-minute tram ride to MediaCity in Salford, home to the BBC, ITV and The Lowry Theatre.

Many of the performances that you'll be involved in are presented by one of our Music or Drama student societies, offering students opportunities in direction, production and management as well as performance, new writing, sound design and composition.

The course requires you to achieve the same musical entry requirements as those on our single-honours MusB Music, enabling you to pursue any area of study in the Music department. Your first-year tutor group, peer support and academic advising will normally be provided by the Music department.

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 Drama BA (Hons) at The University of Manchester

30% Business and public service associate professionals
20% Administrative occupations
15% Customer service occupations
10% Media Professionals
10% Teaching Professionals
5% Managers, directors and senior officials
5% Information Technology Professionals
5% Finance Professionals
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
5% Business and public service associate professionals

Grading & Study Time

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Qualification requirements

Grade combinations between 112 - 128 points considered when combined with other Level 3 qualifications including AS and Extended Project to achieve 112 - 128 points. (Subject grades achieved at AS level and then taken at A2 do not count).

Combined with other level 3 qualifications to achieve 112 - 128 tariff points.

Combined with other level 3 qualifications to achieve 112 - 128 tariff points.

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

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma: DD plus A Level English at grade B. Preferred:- Performing Arts, Art & Design, Digital Film and Video Production,Business IT, Applied Science,Sport, Sport and Exercise Science

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

We consider the National Foundation Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course.  Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Foundation Diploma with a Distinction grade, PLUS one A-level at Grade A in an essay-based arts, humanities or social science subject, PLUS an EPQ or AS at Grade B.

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate: D plus AB in two A Levels to include English. Preferred:- Performing Arts, Art & Design, Digital Film and Video Production,Business IT, Applied Science,Sport, Sport and Exercise Science

The University recognises a number of foundation programmes as suitable for entry to this undergraduate programme: Applicants completing the INTO Manchester in partnership with The University of Manchester international foundation programme are required to achieve AAB in academic subjects and grade A in the EAP with writing, speaking, listening and reading grade B. Applicants completing the NCUK International Foundation year are required to achieve AAB in academic subjects and grade A in the EAP with writing, speaking, listening and reading grade B Please read this in conjunction with our A-level requirements, noting any pre-requisite subjects.

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 7

70 overall with no less than 6.5 in any one component.

Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Music and Drama, BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

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 The University of Manchester in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of The University of Manchester in related subject specific rankings.

Arts Visual & Performing

    • #4 
    • #4 
    Music
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #9 
    • #9 
    Music
    The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
    [Published 09 September, 2023]

See all 40 university rankings of The University of Manchester

About The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a publicly funded research university with a mission to advance education, knowledge and wisdom for the good of society. University of Manchester’s main site is home to the majority of its faculties and is referred to by its students as ‘the campus’, although in reality Manchester does not have a campus but is instead interspersed throughout the city of Manchester.

List of 622 Bachelor and Master Courses from The University of Manchester - Course Catalogue

Student composition of The University of Manchester

undergraduates:
30130
postgraduates:
12730
Total:
42860
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Where is this programme taught

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