University Entrance

Key skills developed by the A level Music course and valued by universities/employers

When applying to university and writing your personal statement, consider referring to activities and learning you have undertaken within your A level courses and the skills you have developed as a result. Skills developed by the A level music course may include:

• The ability to analyse unfamiliar, complex material, identifying patterns and relationships within (developed through analysis of musical scores and audio recordings).

• The ability to understand interrelated laws and principles and apply them to solve problems (developed through completing techniques of composition exercises following the conventions established by composers including J.S. Bach).

• The ability to write concisely and persuasively using technical language (developed through writing essays analysing familiar and unfamiliar music).

• The ability to present confidently to an audience (developed through performing an eight minute recital on a chosen instrument or voice).

• The ability to develop ideas with imagination and creativity which are framed within given conventions (developed through completing free compositions, inspired by the work of other composers).

• The ability to deal with ambiguities and use language to frame these (developed through reading and making multiple analyses of the set works studied).

• The ability to listen critically (developed through all of the units of the A level music course).

Further preparation for university music courses

To give all students fair access to university courses, for subjects such as music, competitive universities make clear that no special tuition is required to succeed at interview or in entrance tests. Rather, completing the A level, IB or Pre-U courses to the highest possible standard (a standard which many students will not achieve) is the most important way both to prepare for a competitive academic undergraduate music course and to set oneself apart from other candidates. The knowledge and experience required to achieve an A* at A level is the same as that required to begin a competitive university music course. The purpose of further study at sixth form beyond the A level course is not to gain additional knowledge (which, given the variety in undergraduate music course content, may or may not be useful at university), but to demonstrate that, like the best undergraduate students, the candidate is capable of independently studying subject matter and, without adult intervention, producing work which reflects this study. 

Further Information on University Music Courses

The Complete University Guide: 'Music Subject League Table'     The Guardian: 'Best UK universities for music'    UK University Times: 'Top UK Universities for Music'    Study International: 'Top Universities for Music'      The Uni Guide: 'Music Courses Guide'     UCAS Subject Guides: Music