A student playing an electric guitar in ARU's recital hall
BA (Hons) Available in Clearing

Music Performance

Master your own style, experiment with new sounds, and launch a career in music with our Music Performance Degree.

Start date
September 2025
Location
Cambridge
Duration
3 years
UCAS course code
W302

Start date
September 2025
Location
Cambridge
Duration
4 years with foundation
UCAS course code
W304

Start date
September 2025
Location
Cambridge
Duration
4 years with placement
UCAS course code
W303
7th

in the UK for Learning Resources.

Source: NSS 2025

Learn to analyse and deconstruct different styles of performance, songwriting and composition while developing your own musical and performance identity.

Whether your dream is to write and release original music, perform live, compose for films or video games, collaborate in bands or orchestras, or become a music therapist, you’ll develop the skills and industry knowledge to make it happen.

Why ARU?
  • Learn from expert academics and industry-active practitioners

  • Collaborate with others to develop all-important skills for your professional life

  • Get full training in our industry-standard music facilities, including five recording studios, a spacious recital hall, and practice rooms

  • Take an optional work placement, or internships with our industry partners and practitioners

  • Make the most of Cambridge’s music scene with our links to local networks, venues and arts groups

Logo: THE Awards 2023
 

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Careers

Through connections that we… made through uni, we managed to open for international bands like Osees.

James, BA (Hons) Music Performance graduate and vocalist for Grass Roof

Our Music Performance degree will give you the latest skills and knowledge to launch your music career.

At the same time, you'll be supported to grow into a confident, creative professional who values lifelong learning and ongoing personal and career development.

By the time you graduate, you’ll have had the opportunity to build a professional portfolio of music performance projects – ranging from video showreels and commercial releases to a fully developed online presence – designed to showcase your abilities to future employers and collaborators.

Teaching and modules

From Year 1, you’ll work alongside other music students to develop your collaboration and project skills.

You’ll also have the option to collaborate with film and game students to produce soundtracks, sound effects, and immersive experiences.

In Year 2, you’ll develop your understanding of the modern music industry and learn how to build your brand. You’ll choose from a range of optional modules to suit your interests and ambitions.

Finally, you’ll put everything you’ve learned into practice and prepare for your future career with independent and collaborative projects, and the opportunity to build up a portfolio.

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1
  • Music in Context
  • Dots, Lines and Waves - Songwriting 1
  • Studio Techniques
  • Music Performance 1
  • Into ARU
Year 2
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)
  • Chords, Contours and Grooves - Songwriting 2
  • Audio for Film *
  • Audio for Games *
  • Composition and Orchestration *
  • Principles of Music Therapy *
  • Music Business *
  • Music Performance 2 *
  • Music Industry *
Year 3
  • Final Project
  • Collaborative Project
  • Portfolio
Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1
  • Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education
Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Placement year
  • Work Placement - Cambridge School of Creative Industries
Module details

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Facilities

You can get full training in all our creative facilities, including:

  • five recording studios featuring analogue, digital or hybrid mixing desks, all equipped with DAWs Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and Ableton Live and hardware outboard recording equipment
  • audio-visual studio
  • spacious recital hall, band rooms and practice rooms
  • electronic and orchestral instruments, including a range of synthesisers and five grand pianos
  • an impressive inventory of professionally rated microphones and recording equipment
  • podcast and video capture system.

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Apply for Music Performance

Clearing places available

UK students, apply through Clearing for a September 2025 start

UK students

Call our Clearing line

01245 686868

UK students

Apply through UCAS for 2026

International students

Apply direct

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