Philosophy & Religion and Music Undergraduate - 2021 Entry

You can study Philosophy and Religion as a joint honours degree with Music (50% Philosophy and Religion, 50% Music).

Philosophy and Religion offers the opportunity to study some of the most important and challenging philosophical ideas that have shaped Western culture, and to consider how they interrelate with Western religious thought. Philosophy and Religion at Bangor has developed out of a longstanding tradition in these subject areas within the University since the 19^th century, and you will find here a friendly and informal atmosphere that will help you to cultivate the skills of debate and independent thinking.

The Music aspect of this course includes performing, composing and studying music of all eras in a lively atmosphere of creative activity and scholarly endeavour.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• You will benefit from our staff’s expertise and commitment to teaching, student care and welfare.
• Our staff are research active and incorporate current research into their teaching.
• We offer a large number of optional modules, allowing you to shape your course to reflect your interests and strengths. Our enthusiastic staff comprises active composers, musicologists and performers, whose expertise covers all angles of musical study.
• Much of the teaching is in small groups, providing a stimulating and supportive learning environment. The options include ensemble coaching and tuition in conducting.
• Our concert series is one of the most extensive and varied of any British university. It includes concerts of chamber music (including residences by Ensemble Cymru and the Benyounes Quartet, who also give masterclasses), recitals by leading singers and instrumentalists, concerts of acousmatic music by Electroacoustic Wales, and regular visits by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In addition, there is an annual New Music Festival. Tickets are available to students at greatly reduced prices.
• We have a large choir and orchestra, a chamber choir, early music groups and various other ensembles. Performers have the opportunity to play concertos withthe University orchestra. Pieces composed by our students are performed frequently by visiting professionals. The University Music Society also runs an orchestra and choir; other Students’ Union societies include a brass band, a jazz band, and a musicals society.
• We have 2 fine concert halls, and our very own building with teaching rooms, rehearsal space, and a number of individual practice rooms. We have a full complement of pianos, harpsichords, organs, harps and percussion. Our 4 studios are equipped to international standards for recording, research and composition. Our Music Library has over 3,000 CDs and 20,000 scores.
• Music Performance scholarships are offered to the most promising instrumentalist.
• We have an extensive range of electronic resources, including the Naxos Music Library and Grove Music Online. There are also fully-equipped open-access computers, with Sibelius and other music software installed.
• We have a strong engagement with and commitment to the study in Welsh culture. We are home to the Archive of Traditional Welsh Music (which also contains over 300 world instruments), the Welsh Popular Music Archive (which includes a significant library of records), and the Crossley-Holland Collection (which includes over 900 world instruments).

Teaching is mainly by lectures, seminars, and individual tutorials. Many modules also make use of Blackboard, the University’s online learning environment. During each semester you will study modules equivalent to 60 credits, making a total of 120 credits per year. We use a wide range of methods for assessment, including essays, book reviews, case studies, reports, presentations, and written examinations. In the second year you have the option of taking an ‘independent study’ module, wherein you can choose a topic in which you have a special interest and undertake independent study under the guidance of a supervisor, leading to a 5,000-word essay. In the final year, you will be encouraged to develop this topic further, or choose a different one of your choice, to undertake independent research under the guidance of a dissertation supervisor, leading to a 10,000-word dissertation.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Philosophy & Religion and Music Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Philosophy and Religion:

Optional Costs:

Purchase of books for required reading for some modules at a discounted price (though copies of required reading are available in the University Library): Approx. £0-25 per module, £0-35 per year, and £0-45 per course.

School Graduation Lunch – free for student and 2 guests, additional guest £10 per head.

Music:

Mandatory Costs:

Core module (WXM 1002, The Study of Music): purchase of text book A History of Western Music: £25 (usual price £39) or core module (WXC 1002, Astudio Cerddoriaeth): purchase of text book Hanes Cerddoriaeth y Gorllewin: £15 (usual price £25) [earlier edition of the English version].

Although we are moving to online submissions as of AY 2017-18, a minority of modules may require students to print out a copy of the assignment (i.e. they will not be suitable for online submission). These costs will vary according to students.

Necessarily Incurred Costs:

Instruments, instrument consumables (e.g. reeds, strings), instrument repairs, will vary from student to student.

Pontio concert tickets - varies, but on average around £50 a year.

Optional Costs:

Optional year 1 module, Composition (WXK 1011) or Cyfansoddi (WXC 1011): purchase of text book, Composing Contemporary Music or Cyfansoddi Cerddoriaeth Gyfoes: £10 (usual cost £15).

Optional year 3 module, Teaching in Context (WXM 3270): DBS check, if applicable (may not be to all students, depending on project chosen): £44.

Software (if students wish to work at home rather than on campus).

Sheet music (if students wish to have their own copies rather than using those in the Library).

Optional trips (e.g. annual BBC National Orchestra of Wales workshop in Cardiff) – cost varies.

Additional Tickets for School Graduation Tea: £10 per head.

General University Costs

Home (UK) students

• The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry and 2022/23 entry).
• The fee  for all placement, international and sandwich years is £1,350 (2021/22 and 2022/23).
• More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.

International (including EU) students

• International Student Tuition Fees
• International Student Living Costs and Scholarships

Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

• If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
• If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

For 2021 entry:

Offers are tariff based, 80 - 104 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.
A Levels (incl. Grade C in Music)

• BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMP - DMM**
• City & Guilds Advanced Technical/Extended Diploma**: considered on a case by case basis
• International Baccalaureate Diploma
• Access**
• Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted.

**Can be considered in conjunction with grade C in A level Music; or merit in the ABRSM/Trinity/LCM/Rockschool Grade 5 Theory/Grade 7 Practical; or IB Higher in Music   

Points from grade examinations are taken into consideration where appropriate, although are not normally included in the offer                                                                        
For all our Music course the ability to read staff notation is required

International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here. 

We also welcome applications from mature applicants.

*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.

General University Requirements

To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com.

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Bangor section of the website.   

EU and International Students' Entry Requirements

For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

Studying Philosophy and Religion will open up opportunities in a broad range of areas, including teaching, communication, publishing, social work, librarianship, the media etc. Many students will go on to pursue postgraduate degrees leading to an MA, MRes or PhD.

While many graduates pursue careers in the area of music, a degree in Music is also good preparation for a wide range of employment in administration, commerce, management, and other professions. Our graduates have become professional performers, composers, university lecturers, researchers, teachers, arts administrators, music therapists, music publishers, librarians, concert managers, stage managers, recording and broadcasting producers, and sound engineers. Many former students have followed these degrees with further musical training, as performers, scholars or composers, and there are opportunities for all these at Bangor.

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. 

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) 

With the BEA, you can gain recognition for your extra-curricular activities (e.g. volunteering, clubs and societies, part-time work, etc.) 

Internships

Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments. 

Student Volunteering

Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about the volunteering on the Students’ Union’s website.