Course structure

Core Modules

This module will describe the key principles of academic integrity, focusing on university assignments. Plagiarism, collusion and commissioning will be described as activities that undermine academic integrity, and the possible consequences of engaging in such activities will be described. Activities, with feedback, will provide you with opportunities to reflect and develop your understanding of academic integrity principles.

In this module you will develop your technical abilities as a performer or conductor. You will make interpretative decisions based on an informed knowledge and analysis of performance, practising conventions and an understanding of specific musical styles. You will work closely with your chosen instrumental, vocal, or conducting teacher to prepare for a final recital lasting in the range of 50 minutes.

This module aims to develop the your interpretative and technical abilities as a performer at an advanced level, providing the kind of grounding that is analogous to that offered in a music conservatory. As a collaborative pianist, you will develop the various techniques required for working with different duo partners and in various genres, managing rehearsals, working on sight-reading and other necessary skills and applying critical understandings of style and performance practice to a number of musical styles and genres.

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

You will be able to choose at least two modules (one of which is recommended to be a performance-related module) from the available options, including:

This module aims to equip you with the skills necessary in order to confidently teach an instrument or voice in a one-to-one or group setting as well as develop and enhance your critical reflection on your own performance practice. It aims to equip you with a knowledge of appropriate teaching styles and methods and a contextualised understanding of these as appropriate to different teaching situations (ages, aspirations, individual or group lessons).
In this module you will develop your interpretative, analytical and technical abilities as a performer at an advanced level. You will design an intellectually coherent and aesthetically satisfying concert programme based on specialist repertory, and manage the occasion of performance at a professional level, including the writing of scholarly programme notes.
In this module you will develop specific performance skills on an instrument or in a chosen musical style learnt, possibly from scratch. You will work closely with a consultant performer, who will act as your teacher, documenting and critically reflecting upon the music learning processes. You will consider the ethnographic dimensions of learning to perform, including analysis of teaching methods, techniques, cultural expectations and learning strategies.
In this module you will learn the role of the collaborative pianist and vocal coach. Through lectures and rehearsals you will become familiar with pronunciation for singers in a number of languages, as well as techniques and how these two combine in both classical and musical theatre repertoire. You will also experience first hand the role of rehearsal pianist, following a conductor and the understanding of scores (piano reductions and initial understanding of reading orchestral scores) in this regard.
In this module you will look at the methods and approaches used in performance studies research, including the philosophies of performance and historical performance practices. You will examine the practice of Western music between the seventeenth and early nineteenth centuries, considering the multi-faceted components of the art of performance and the philosophical, historical and stylistic issues that underpin it.
In this module you will look at the musicological and theoretical literature on music and screen media. You will examine current debates within film and television, opera, musical installations, and music videos, drawing out issues and methodologies applicable to the study of screen music in its various historical and media contexts. It may be assessed by essay, composition or performance (if on silent film music).
In this module you will examine conceptual and practical issues in game music. You will explore not only sound and music in digital interactive media, but also use this medium as a lens to explore media and musical practices more generally. For students pursuing a professional career in game audio, you will have an opportunity to develop your critical understanding of the medium to inform your creative practice. For students investigating the cultures and materials of games, you will be equipped with tools to better understand music and musicking related to games.
In this module you will learn how individuals and organizations become ‘market ready’ in the Digital Music Industries (DMI). Most creators and workers in the DMI start off as freelancers or in small and medium size organizations. They must therefore possess competencies and digital skills that can be adapted to an evolving market. Through weekly lectures and workshops, students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to be flexible, entrepreneurial, and successful in the competitive and fast changing digital music industries.
In this module you will be introduced to methodologies in source studies, editing, archival study, historiography, iconography, social history, and critical epistemologies. You will examine contemporary debates within these specified sub-areas of the discipline, considering issues and methodologies applicable to the study of music in its various historical contexts.
In this module you will explore a range of issues, perspectives and techniques relevant to the practice of ethnomusicology. You will examine how fieldwork is undertaken within different geographic contexts, considering a variety of theoretical outlooks and debates, such as ethnographic representation.
In this module you will explore contemporary and practical approaches to Music Management. You will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed in future arts administration and music production careers. Key topics will include the music industries as creative, copyright, and data industries, and the four key areas of the music industries: recording, live, publishing, and artist management.

Teaching & assessment

Formative assessment will be provided during the programme, in the context of one-to-one performance tuition and seminars, as well as classes and individual tutorials.

Summative assessment will be made of the final recital, and of further submissions as part of the electives (a combination of further performances and written work).

Entry requirements

2:2

A Bachelor's Honours degree in Music with a Upper Second Class grade or equivalent in the performance module will be required.

All applicants must provide an academic essay of 2,500 words on any musical topic.

As part of the application, in addition to the academic essay, an audition and/or a recent video recording of at least 3 contrasting pieces, total duration at least 15 minutes, is to be provided.

International & EU requirements

Bachelor degree from the American University of Armenia or a Specialist diploma with 80% or a GPA of 3.5 overall.

Bachelor degree (Honours) with a 2:2 or a Bachelor degree (Ordinary) with a Pass with 58% overall.

Bachelor degree or Fachhochschuldiplom/Diplom (FH) with a Grade 3.9 overall.

Bachelor degree (Bakalavr) or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5 or 70% overall.

4 year Bachelor degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) with a First Class Division or a Masters Degree following a 3 or 4 year degree.

Bachelor degree with grade 12 overall or the Licentiaat or Licence and other two cycle diplomas with grade 12 overall.

Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja / Diplomirani with Grade 8

Bakalavar or Diploma of Completed Higher Education with a Grade 4 out 6 overall.

4 year Bachelor degree with 62%, a GPA 2.5 out of 4, Grade 6 out of 12 or grade C+ overall OR 3 year Bachelor degree with 73%, a GPA of 3.1 out of 4, Grade 8 out of 12 or grade B overall, depending on the grading scheme.

4 year Bachelors degree with an overall 70% to 75% or GPA of 2.8 to 3.0 out of 4.0 depending on the institution.

3 out of 5 overall in the Baccalaureus Prvostupnik or Visoko Obrazovanja/Level VII/1 (second level degree obtained on completion of 4-6 year course).

Overall 6.5 out of 10 or a GPA of 2.85 out of 4 in a Bachelor degree from a public university, Ptychion (from University of Cyprus) or Bachelor degree awarded by a private institution (the programme must be accredited by the Ministry of Education and Culture).

Bakalar with dobre (good), score of 2 or Grade C overall.

7 from 13 points grading system or 4 from 7 points grading system in a Bachelor degree, Candidatus Philosophiae or Professionbachelor.

University bachelors degree with a GPA of 2.4 overall or 65% overall

75%, 2.5 or C overall in a Bakalaurusekraad/Diploma, Magister or Magistrikraad

GPA of 1 where marks are in 1 - 3 system or GPA of 2.3 where marks are in 1 - 5 system in a Kandidaattii/Kandidat or Maisteri/Magister

Licence awarded from 2009 with grade 12 or Maitrise (pre-Bologna) with grade 11

Grade 3 overall in a Bachelor, Fachhochschuldiplom or Magister Artium

Bachelor degree with a Second Class Lower Division overall.

6 out of 10 overall in a Diploma from the Faculties of Engineering and Agriculture or a Ptychion (Bachelor degree) awarded by an AEI.

Bachelors degree degree with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division.

Egyetemi Oklevel /Foiskola Oklevel/ Alapfokozat with 3 out of 5 overall.

Baccalaurreatus with grade 6.5 out of 10 overall or Kandidatsprof / Cadidatus Mag with 6 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree with 55% to 60% overall or a CGPA of 5.5 to 6 out of 10 overall depending on the institution.

Bachelor degree or Diploma IV with overall GPA of 2.8.

Bachelor Degree/Professional Doctorate with 13 out of 20 overall.

Bachelor’s degree (four years) with 70% overall.

Bachelors degree with at least 75% overall depending on the mark scheme.

Diploma di Laurea or Licenza di Accademia di Belle Arti with 84 out of 110 overall.

Bachelor degree (Gakushi) with a B overall, dependent on the mark scheme.

Bakalavr or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5, 70% or 3.0 out of 4.33 overall.

Bachelor degree with a Second Class Honours (lower division) overall.

Bachelor degree with B or a GPA of 3.0 overall.

Bakalaura Diploms or Professional Bakalaura Diploms with Grade 6 overal.

Dipl Ing (FH) or Dipl Arch (FH) from Liechtenstein Technical College with a Grade 4 overall.

7 out of 10 overall in a Bakalauras or Specialist Diploma.

Bachelor degree, Diplome d?Ingenieur Industriel or Dipl?me d'?tudes Sup?rieures Sp?cialis?es with 40 out of 60 or 14 out of 20 (Bien) overall.

Bachelor degree with Class 2 Division ii, B or 2.8 out of 4.0 overall.

Honours degree with a Second Class (Lower Division) overall.

Bachelor degree or Doctoraal with Grade 6.0 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree Honours or Ordinary with an overall Grade C+ or Grade 3 out of 9 points grading system.

Bachelor degree with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division or overall GPA of 2.5 out of 5.

Visoko Obrazovanja with 7 out of 10 overall.

Overall 6.5 out of 10 or a GPA of 2.85 out of 4 in a Bachelor degree from a public university, Ptychion (from University of Cyprus) or Bachelor degree awarded by a private institution (the programme must be accredited by the Ministry of Education and Culture).

Bachelor degree, Candidatus Magisterii, Sivilingeni-r (siv. ing.) (Engineering degree ) or Sivil?konom (siv. ?k.) (Economics degree) Grade D or 2.6 to 3.2.

Bachelor degree with an overall GPA of 2.6.

4 year Bachelor degree or combined bachelors degree and Master degree for the duration of 4 years with 58% - 65% or a CGPA of 2.8 - 3.2 overall depending on your institution.

Licencjat, Inzynier or Bachelor with grade 3.71 overall.

Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializadoswith grade 14 overall or Licenciado with grade 13 overall.

Bachelor degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 overall.

Diploma de Licenta, Diploma Inginer or Diploma de Arhitect with 7.0 out of 10 overall.

Bakalavr Bachelor degree or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5 or 70% overall.

Bachelor degree with 70%, 3.0 out of 5.0 or 2.8 out of 4.0 overall.

Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja (second-level degree obtained on completion of a four to six-year course) with 7.5 out of 10 overall.

Bachelor degree (from a public university) with a Class II (lower) overall.

Bakalar or Magister / Inzinier with vel'mi dobre (very good) or Grade 2 overall.

Diplomirani / Diplomirani Inzenir from Visoko izobrazevanje, University Diploma or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) with 7 out of 10 (8 for Visoko Obrazovanja) overall.

Bachelor (Honours), Bachelor or Professional Bachelor degree with 60% or Second Class Lower Division.

Bachelor (Haksa) degree with 3.0 out of 4.5, 2.9 out of 4.3 or 2.8 out of 4.0.

Licenciado, Titulo de Ingeniero or Titulo de Arquitecto with 6 out of 10.

Bachelor degree from National University or Private University with 68% to 73% or GPA 2.8 to 3.0 depending on your institution.

Bachelor degree with a 2nd Class Honours (Lower) overall.

Bachelor degree GPA 2.6 to 2.8 depending on your institution.

Bachelor degree (post 2007) or Specialist Diploma (after 1991) with a Grade 3, 9 out of 12 or 4 out of 5 overall.

Bachelor degree with 80%, a GPA of 2.8 out of 4, C+ or Good overall.

Bachelor degree with a GPA of 2.6 overall.

Kandidatexamen with at least a Pass (godkand) overall.

Bachelor degree or Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with 6.5 out of 10.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 6.0.
Pearson Test of English: 67 overall. No other subscore lower than 64.
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
TOEFL iBT: 88 overall with Reading 22 Listening 20 Speaking 22 Writing 24.
Duolingo: 120 overall and no sub-score below 115.

Your future career

Our recent graduates have gone into careers as music teachers, composers and musicians. Others have gone into PhD studies at Royal Holloway or other leading universities, and then into academic careers, with some working in the highest-rated research departments in the country.

Many Royal Holloway alumni are now making careers as professional musicians and composers, including:

Helen Reid
Dame Felicity Lott
Tansy Davies
Richard Baker
KT Tunstall
Joby Talbot
Michael Zev Gordon
Deirdre Gribbin
Jonathan Cole
Paul Newland

Fees, funding & scholarships

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £12,000

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £23,100

Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course

How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.

* and ** These tuition fees apply to students starting their course on a full-time basis in the academic year 2026/27. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually. For further information, see fees and funding.

** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2026/27 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.