BMus (Hons) Music

at Edinburgh Napier University

Your skills as a performer and/or composer will be further enhanced through the study of modules in Music History, Contextual Studies and Music Technologies. In the second and third years, modules in Solo, Ensemble and Jazz performance allow you to develop your skills and expand your repertoire. Our final year Public Recital module equips you with the skills to present a public performance in an external venue. From liaising with venues, designing a programme and creating marketing resources, this module gives you a glimpse into the real world of performance. The practical application of orchestration and composition is emphasised through collaborative projects and workshops with instrumentalists. With modules that prepare you for careers as instrumental/vocal tutors, we are one of the few music departments in the country to offer an undergraduate module in Music Therapy.

Various performance opportunities are available to you through our lunchtime concert series and by membership of one of our ensembles, such as the Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Pop Choir and Wind Ensemble. Composers will receive opportunities to have their work performed by student and professional ensembles.

Additional mandatory costs

In most cases, students are expected to buy their own instruments, which are used when applying for entrance and throughout the course. Some exceptions include piano and percussion, in which case students can access University owned instruments on campus.

Popular modules

Year 1

• Compulsory modules
• Western Art Music 1
• Western Art Music 2
• Contextual Studies: Sampling Musical Worlds
• Music Technologies: Making Music with Technology
• Optional modules
• Performance 1
• Composition 1
• Composition Studies: Originating Popular Music

Year 2

• Compulsory modules
• Contextual Studies: Music in its Social and Cultural Context 
• Optional modules
• Performance 2
• Composition 2
• Historically Informed Performance Practice 1650-1900
• Jazz 1 - America
• Choir Direction
• Music Industries
• Techniques of Score Analysis 1
• Music Technologies and Live Performance 

Year 3

• Compulsory modules
• Music and Modernisms 1890-1945 
• Music and Modernisms 1945-1990 
• Techniques of Score Analysis 2 
• Independent Project 
• Optional modules
• Instrumental/Vocal Teaching 1
• Ensemble Performance
• Introduction to Music Therapy
• Performance 3

Year 4

• Optional modules
• Public Recital
• Major Music Project
• Performance 4
• Instrumental Vocal Teaching 2
• Music Research Project 
• Music Psychology

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught degrees 

IELTS (Academic)
6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5

TOEFL Internet Based Test
80 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing

Pearson’s Test of Academic English
56 overall with a minimum of 51 in each component

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Cambridge B2 First (formerly Cambridge English First (FCE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge English Advanced (CAE))
169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each component

Trinity Integrated Skills Test (ISE)
ISEII, ISEIII, ISEIV with a pass in each component

LanguageCert English language qualification
B2 Communicator Test with overall 39 or above, and 25 or above in all skills

Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study. Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by mainland EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2022 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here. For EU students who commenced their studies prior to 1 August 2022 or hold pre or settled status in the UK, fees will remain the same as Scottish Students.                    
If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.                    

Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2022 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries.

Career opportunities

Recent graduates have been employed in a wide variety of fields of work including:

• Arts management
• Classroom teaching
• Instrumental teaching
• Performance
• Composition
• Postgraduate study
• Music therapist
• Session musician