Music

Studying Music at Cambridge

UCAS Code: W300
How many are admitted to Cambridge every year: c.80
Typical offer: A*AA at A Level, 41-42 points at IB with 776 at Higher Level
Essential subjects – Music A level is highly desirable, but we recognise that applicants to St Edmund’s come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Grade 8 theory may be accepted as a substitute for A level.
Useful subjects – All subjects can be very helpful for the study of music!
Course length: BA (Hons) 3 years full-time; 2 years full-time for affiliate degrees

Music is a hugely broad-ranging subject. It’s the study of culture and history, of societies and philosophies, of sound and how we perceive it – sometimes looking at the world from a musical perspective, and sometimes looking at music from the world’s perspective, whether it’s Renaissance polyphony or Javanese gamelan, 18th-century Romanian folk music or the contemporary jazz scene in America.

Music has always been fundamental to human society and culture. Studying it in depth, whether through analysing a score, deciphering an early form of notation, undertaking scholarly research into a particular period in history, or exploring the effects of music on our health and well-being, yields a multi-faceted understanding of the world and our place in it, as well as a glimpse into our own complex psyche as human beings.

Studying music at Cambridge enables the development of four important skills, all of which are extremely useful in a wide range of professional and occupational spheres. Analytical skills are exercised through aural and score analysis using different techniques; technical skills are acquired through the study of harmony and counterpoint; the general musicianship programme teaches practical skills (for example being able to harmonise a melody at the keyboard, perform on an instrument, understand the basics of conducting); and skills in musicological research are developed through lectures and supervision essays.

All teaching for Music follows the same course outline set by the Faculty of Music. The course structure and details can be found here.

Studying Music at St Edmund’s College

The community at St Edmund’s is made up of people from all over the world, with a broad range of experiences, knowledge, and perspectives. Although the number of Music students is relatively small, you will always be able to find someone who is interested in your work, whatever their subject. Being able to have discussions with people from so many different cultures and life stages is a real bonus, as you’ll find your own horizons are extended, and you’re able to approach topics and issues from angles you may not have considered before.

What can I do with a degree in Music?

Music graduates find themselves in a very wide range of different professions: the skills gained through studying the Tripos are truly transferable, with many students entering graduate training in the law, medicine, and research, while others go into teaching or performing, high-level administration roles, finance, management, and more.

For more information, please visit the University Careers Service website.

What we look for

At St Edmund’s we are looking for all the obvious things, such as a passion and aptitude for Music, and a strong desire to study it in-depth. We are also looking for students who take pride in their academic work, who care about the finer details, and who are prepared to fully commit to reading for a Cambridge degree and all that it has to offer.

How to Apply

Applications for all courses are made through UCAS. There are two deadlines for mature students applying for this course:

15th October 2025 (6pm UK time)

14th January 2026 (6pm UK time)

The January deadline is most suitable for applicants who are currently studying one-year courses who will be in a stronger position to submit their UCAS form in January and will be better prepared for interviews in the Spring than in December. In most other cases, it is best to apply in October.

Requirements

Assessment

Written Work

Interviews

Interviews for selected candidates typically take place in early December and are carried out virtually.

You will be interviewed by the Director of Studies. You will be given an unseen exercise involving the consideration of a text with musicological interest and a short musical excerpt for comment. You should also be prepared to discuss your musical experience and interests.

Your performance at interview will not be considered in isolation, but will be considered holistically alongside all other aspects of your application.

We inform all interviewed applicants of the outcome of their application in late January.

Deferred entry

Affiliated Students

You can apply for this course as an affiliated student. This means that you will complete the course in two years instead of the standard three. (Please note that this does not mean that you can go directly into the second year of the course.)

To apply as affiliate student, you need to have achieved or be on track to achieve a 2.1 or higher in your first undergraduate degree. International equivalents can be found on the University website.

What is a typical Term’s work

Teaching at Cambridge is bespoke in lots of ways, and so one person’s term might look very different from another’s; however, Music students can typically expect to attend lectures and seminars most weekday mornings, with two or three supervisions per week. While this sounds like a lot, there is lots of variety in the work, which makes it more manageable. For example, you might write an essay for a supervision one day, and prepare some counterpoint for the next, or practise your rhythm skills, or prepare a presentation.

Meetings with your Director of Studies will take place two or three times a term, with extra meetings easily arranged as need dictates.

People

Director of Studies: Ms Louisa Denby