About This Course
This degree is an ideal blend of music and drama with a strong emphasis on practice. It is designed to train musicians and drama-based makers in a mixture of academic, creative and practical skills, to instill broad and specialist knowledge and understanding of musical and theatrical repertories, and to develop students as independent critical thinkers. In drama you will develop your own creative work, experiment with devising performance work from scratch and explore and develop playwriting, directing, media training and acting skills.
You will also be encouraged to venture beyond the artistic and understand how producers, marketing managers and artistic directors work within the industry and explore professional practice on a local and international level.
At Bangor you will be part of a thriving music and performance community, performing and attending music and theatrical performances at Powis Hall, John Phillips Theatre and the magnificent Prichard-Jones Hall. You will enjoy unrivalled facilities in our arts and innovation centre, Pontio, which includes a Studio Theatre for performance with technical support from industry professionals. Pontio also features a Cinema and the 450-seat Theatre Bryn Terfel which regularly attracts world-class theatre productions, the latest films and musical events. You will also benefit from Bangor’s close links with local and national theatre and film companies, and music and drama practitioners who regularly visit and offer workshops and masterclasses.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- Creative Freedom of the course - shape your studies to reflect your interests and strengths.
- Our excellent facilities, including a fully equipped center with editing suites, the latest 4K digital filmmaking equipment for drama related projects, and Pontio's Arts and Innovation Centre for theatre production and cinematic practices.
- Two dedicated Music and Drama buildings, two professional concert halls, rehearsal rooms, soundproofed practice suite and four state-of the-art electroacoustic studios.
- Close supported community - inclusive teaching environments and excellent pastoral care.
- Excellent industry and community connections.
- Music and theatre making community: choirs, orchestras, bands, student ensembles, drama and musical theatre societies, opportunities to perform and collaborate with local and national practitioners
Additional Course Options
This course is available with a Placement Year option where you will study for 1 additional year. The Placement Year is undertaken at the end of the second year and students are away for the whole of the academic year.
The Placement Year provides you with a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills and contacts through working with a self-sourced organisation relevant to your degree subject. The minimum period in placement (at one or more locations) is seven calendar months; more usually you would spend 10-12 months with a placement provider. You would normally start sometime in the period June to September of your second year and finish between June and September the following year. Placements can be UK-based or overseas and you will work with staff to plan and finalise the placement arrangements.
You will be expected to find and arrange a suitable placement to complement your degree and will be fully supported throughout by a dedicated member of staff at your academic School and the University’s Careers and Employability Services.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider this option when you have started your course at Bangor and can make an application for a transfer onto this pathway at the appropriate time. Read more about the work experience opportunities that may be available to you or, if you have any questions, please get in touch.
This course is available with an International Experience Year option where you will study or work abroad for 1 additional year. You will have ‘with International Experience’ added to your degree title on graduating.
Studying abroad is a great opportunity to see a different way of life, learn about new cultures and broaden your horizons. With international experience of this kind, you’ll really improve your career prospects. There are a wide variety of destinations and partner universities to choose from. If you plan to study in a country where English is not spoken natively, there may be language courses available for you at Bangor and in your host university to improve your language skills.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider this option at any time during your degree at Bangor and make your application. If you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch.
Read more about the International Experience Year programme and see the studying or working abroad options on the Student Exchanges section of our website.
Entry Requirements
For all Music courses the ability to read staff notation is required.
Offers are tariff based, 96 - 128 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification e.g:
- A Levels: including grade B Music (in lieu of Music A-level we will also consider other A-level subjects in conjunction with other level 3 qualifications in Music or merit in the ABRSM/Trinity/LCM/Rockschool Grade 5 Theory/Grade 7 Practical; or IB Higher in Music.). General Studies and Key Skills not normally accepted.
- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Music: MMM - DDM (including a unit demonstrating the ability to read staff notation or see **)
- Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM - DDM
- City & Guilds Advanced Technical Extended Diploma (1080): Case by case
- Access: Pass required**
- Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted in conjunction with other level 3 qualifications
- International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass required including grade H5 in Music.
- T-levels: considered on a case-by-case basis
- Points can include a relevant Extended Project (EPQ) but must include a minimum 2 full A-levels, or equivalent.
We are happy to accept combinations of the qualifications listed above, as well as alternative Level 3 qualifications such as City & Guilds, Access and Cambridge Technical Diplomas. We also welcome applications from mature learners.
International Candidates: school leaving qualifications that are equivalent to A levels/Level 3 and/or college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements), details at: www.bangor.ac.uk/international/applying/entryrequirements
**Level 3 qualifications can also be considered in conjunction with a grade B in A level Music, 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.
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.
