Our approach

From medieval polyphony to global hip-hop, from formal analysis to feminist musicology, and in composition in all its forms, Music at Southampton is at the leading edge of research and practice worldwide. Composition, performance, music technology and music therapy are taught by active practitioners of international standing, and our musicologists are in demand as experts and authors by performers, record companies and publishers.

Flexible programmes

We are one of the largest and most diverse music departments in the UK. Our undergraduate and postgraduate courses have a high degree of flexibility while retaining a solid grounding in basic skills. We do not favour one kind of music over another and promote links between academic study and musical practices of all sorts. A music degree from Southampton prepares you for a variety of careers both within and outside of music: our alumni are successful in broadcasting, performance, education, academia, music therapy, composition, commercial music and information technology, among many other fields.

Opportunities

We ensure students experience professional settings for performance and other work, providing access to, for example, the Turner Sims Concert Hall, a state of the art recently refurbished music technology suite, and a large collection of early and modern keyboards and other instruments. Music mounts a lively series of student and professional lunchtime concerts at Turner Sims and an array of special performance projects. The Student Union sponsors a range of student performing groups including orchestras, vocal groups, jazz bands and music theatre productions. Our students are also active in community outreach.

High-quality research

Southampton has a vibrant research culture that supports international-level scholarship across a broad spectrum of topics. Southampton was among the top three departments in the UK for music research in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, with a GPA of 3.25.