Music
Manchester is synonymous with music. Over the last half-century, the city established itself as an internationally renowned musical talent factory, producing some of the world’s biggest bands. Today, the local music scene is still thriving, with Manchester’s many venues supporting performances of every style and scale.
Underpinned by highly-regarded traditions of performance, composition and academic research, Music at The University of Manchester combines specialist education in practical music-making with an academic programme led by world-leading researchers.
Studying with us, you’ll have access to state of the art facilities at the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama. Our multiple master’s pathways mean we can offer courses to fit your interests, whether they lie in composition, performance or musicology.Underpinned by highly-regarded traditions of performance, composition and academic research, Music at The University of Manchester combines specialist education in practical music-making with an academic programme led by world-leading researchers.
Opportunities:
Specialise in performance, composition, musicology and more
UK top 5 University for Music
(The Times Good University Guide 2026)
Brand new practice suite facilities
Graduate Destinations
Our graduates include some of the country's leading new performers, composers, conductors, music scholars and music teachers.
The list of professional ensembles Manchester graduates work with includes:
- symphony orchestras (the Hallé, the BBC Orchestras, Manchester Camerata, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, CBSO and the orchestras of Bournemouth, Ulster, Reykjavik and Tucson);
- opera companies (Royal Opera House, Welsh National Opera, Opera North, Glyndebourne, Carl Rosa Opera);
- early music groups (Orchestra of the Renaissance, Gabrieli Ensemble, Monteverdi Choir, Rose Consort of Viols, English Baroque Soloists);
- choirs (BBC and Swingle Singers);
- string quartets (Brodsky, Sorrel, Bingham, Bridge, Archinto, Rivoli);
- brass bands, jazz bands and popular music groups.
A degree in Music doesn't limit you to a career in music by any means. Employers know that Music graduates are dedicated, creative, versatile, excellent team members, natural leaders, highly organised, self-motivated and equipped with exceptional powers of concentration.
Some of our Music graduates go into sectors such as:
- accountancy;
- advertising;
- armed services;
- banking and finance;
- civil service;
- computing;
- healthcare;
- human resources;
- journalism;
- law;
- librarianship;
- medicine;
- publishing;
- senior administration and management;
- social work.
“The course [...] incorporates examples of contemporary music from various cultural traditions, which has broadened my knowledge and enhanced my appreciation for diversity in music.”
Ruihao Tian - MMus Composition
Marion Smith
MusM Music (Ethnomusicology)
"I've found the dynamics of my classes to be very enjoyable.
We've been able to have very in-depth conversations and debates, and we've been able to draw specific focus to the things that we're individually interested in."
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester