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Music and Philosophy at Durham University - UCAS

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2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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Durham University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

The BA Music and Philosophy enables you to pursue your interest in both disciplines and explore the fascinating intersection between them. You will be part of two particularly vibrant departments. Located at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durham offers the perfect juxtaposition of the ancient and the cutting-edge. We pride ourselves on combining the traditional and the modern in the study of music, exploring diverse genres from the past and present and developing exciting new approaches in musicology, composition, music and science, analysis, ethnomusicology and performance. As part of the philosophy element of the course, you will examine the broad divisions of philosophy, delving into metaphysics and theory of knowledge on the one hand, and moral philosophy on the other. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four. In the first year you will take a variety of core and optional modules designed to give you a broad overview of the disciplines and approaches of each subject. In the second year, there is an increased emphasis on the development of critical and analytical skills and the modules will specialise more strongly in particular areas. The third year of this course is structured around an independent project, which can take the form of a composition portfolio, public performance recital or dissertation (in either music or philosophy).

Modules

Year 1 Core modules: Historical Studies 1 introduces the historical study of the Western art music tradition, covering music from the baroque to late classical periods. A number of representative musical works from the period are explored and you will deepen your knowledge of those works and the contexts of their composition and reception, while also acquiring skills foundational to the practice of historical musicology. Ethics and Values provides a structured introduction to moral philosophy, including applied ethics, by exploring key moral concepts and showing how they influence moral practices and theories. Knowledge and Reality introduces philosophical problems in epistemology (the study of knowledge), and metaphysics (the study of reality and ourselves). Examples of optional modules: Introduction to Ethnomusicology; Analysis 1: Elements of Tonal Theory and Practice; Historical Composition Techniques; Composition 1: 20th Century Innovations; Performance 1 – with recital/with essay; Reading Philosophy; Science, Medicine and Society; Being Human: An Introduction to Post-Kantian Philosophy. Year 2 Core modules: Philosophy, Music and Improvisation introduces the relationship between music and philosophy and explores the philosophical issues to which music gives rise, how music may illuminate some of those issues, and how philosophy may illuminate the understanding of music. Examples of optional modules: Historical Studies 2; World Music Traditions; Studies in Popular Music; Creative Music Technology; Early Modern Philosophy; Moral Theory; Fundamentals of Logic; History, Science and Medicine. Year 3 (Year 4 if undertaking a placement year or year abroad) Core modules: Portfolio of Compositions, Public Performance Project or Dissertation (in either music or philosophy). Aesthetics provides a grounding in the philosophy of art and literature by introducing some historically important texts as well as more recent work. Examples of optional modules: Portfolio of Compositions; Contemporary Music Performance; Performance 3: Recorded Performance Project; Psychology of Music; Biomedical Ethics: Past and Present; History and Philosophy of Psychiatry; Philosophical Issues in Contemporary Science.

Assessment method

Modules are assessed by a variety of means, including continuous assessment, examinations and recitals. In your third year you will undertake a major project which can be a dissertation, composition portfolio or a solo recital.

How to apply

This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you’re eligible to apply.

EU

Wales

England

International

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Republic of Ireland

31Jan

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.

Application codes

Course code:
WV53
Institution code:
D86
Campus name:
Durham City
Campus code:
O

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Our contextual offer for this programme is A level BBB or ABC including a Grade B in Music (or equivalent). To find out if you’re eligible, please visit: https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply/what-happens-to-your-application/contextual-offers/. **Additional Subject Specific Information** Qualifications that do not include Music Theory must be accompanied by a Music A Level or equivalent or ABRSM Grade 6 Music Theory. Grade 7 or 8 in first instrument is advisable but by no means essential. Keyboard skills are advisable (but not absolutely essential), since they aid score reading and analysis.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/entry/

English language requirements

Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses. It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course. Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.

English language requirements

https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
60%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
EU £27250 Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
International £27250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

There may also be additional course costs for things like books (if you want to purchase them), field trips etc.
Music and Philosophy at Durham University - UCAS