Overview and entry requirements
The BA Music (combined degree) programme is a unique opportunity to study the musical traditions of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and their global diasporas. Students are taught the basic principles of ethnomusicology and survey a variety of Asian and African musics. In years 2 and 3 they are encouraged to focus on the music of specific regions and to consider cross-regional themes. Performance is a central component of the degree. Students have the opportunity to develop expertise in a great variety of musical performance traditions.
See Department of Music
Combine Music with other subjects
This two-subject degree allows more scope for studying language or other non-musical aspects of particular cultures.
- Other disciplines: Development Studies, East Asian Studies, History, History of Art, Language and Cultures, Social Anthropology, World Philosophies
- Languages: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean
Some two-subject programmes are completed in three years while others take four years and include a year abroad. The single-subject degree allows greater concentration on music, including Western music and Performance.
Why study Music at SOAS
- SOAS is ranked 13th in the UK in the 2022 QS World University Rankings for Arts and Humanities
- 100% overall student satisfaction (NSS 2021)
- the Department of Music at SOAS has been ranked best in the UK for research impact and 5th overall in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
- SOAS has the only Music department in the UK devoted to the study of world music.
- very active musical life, including concert series, student ensembles and a successful summer school in which students can become involved
- taught in the heart of London, home to many vibrant and diverse communities and to a breath-taking array of world music concerts, workshops and festivals.
- students actively participate in this rich and varied musical scene
- graduates possess not only musical and cultural expertise, but also a portfolio of widely transferable skills sought by employers in professional and creative industries.
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings
Start of programme: September
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Entry requirements
- duration:
- 3 or 4 years
Fees 2022/23
Fees for 2022/23 entrants per academic year
- UK fees:
- £9,250
- Overseas fees:
- £20,350
Please note that fees go up each year. Further details see 'Fees and funding' (tab on this page) or the Registry's undergraduate tuition fees page.
Please see the Unistats data for the various combinations of this programme under the Combinations tab.
May be combined with:
- Arabic+, TW63 BA/MSA
- Chinese+, TW13 BA/MSCH
- Development Studies, LW93 BA/MSDVS
- East Asian Studies, T4W3 EaMu
- History, VW3 BA/MSH
- History of Art, VW33 BA/HAAM
- Japanese+, TW21 BA/MSJ
- Korean+, TWLJ BA/MSKO
- Languages and Cultures, TTW3 LC/Mu
- Social Anthropology, LW63 BA/SAMS
- World Philosophies, W302 BA/MSSEA
+ 4-year degree with (compulsory) one year abroad
++ 3 or 4-year degree with option of one year abroad
Key Information Set data
Click on a combined programme to load KIS data
Structure
First-year modules provide an introduction to ethnomusicology and popular music studies from global perspectives, explore debates in music and aesthetics, and develop students’ academic and interpretative skills. Students also study a variety of Asian and African music cultures through performance.
In Years 2 and 3, students can study music cultures from different regions (Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and Jewish music) and may also choose to study thematic courses, skills-based and industry-related topics, and performance.
Occasionally the availability of optional modules changes as a result of staffing and other circumstances. Students who had signed up for such modules will be notified as soon as possible and given the opportunity to choose from available alternatives.
Year 1
Compulsory Modules: Year 1
Students will take the following compulsory modules:
AND
Modules from second subject
Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject
Year 2
Compulsory Modules: Year 2
Students will take the following compulsory modules:
AND
Guided Options: Year 2
Students take modules to the value of 30 credits from the Year 2-3 Guided Option module list.
AND
Modules from second subject
Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject
Year 3
Compulsory Modules: Year 3
Students will take the following compulsory modules:
AND
Guided Options: Year 3
Students take modules to the value of 30 credits of any of the following combinations:
AND
Modules from second subject
Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject
Year 2-3 Guided Option modules
Programme Specification
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.
Teaching & Learning
The Department of Music has been highly rated for teaching and research in all recent assessment exercises, and is regularly ranked amongst the top Music departments in the UK in Good University Guides.
Music students have access to the large Main Library of the School which holds numerous books, journals and recordings relevant to the study of ethnomusicology and world music, as well as the nearby British Library Sound Archive and other London libraries and museums.
The SOAS Library holds copies of standard reference works on music, such as the current edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. The Grove dictionary and the RILM database can also be accessed on line from computer terminals in the Library or elsewhere on the SOAS network. Listening facilities are provided in the Library, and most CDs are available on short loan. Among special items in the Department’s collections are:
- field recordings, films and slides
- a large working collection of musical instruments from Asia and Africa
- extensive staff collections relating to specific research interests
Contact hours
All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, in modules of 30 or 15 credits. They are taught over 10 or 20 weeks. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.
As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study (see Approaches to teaching and learning at SOAS). It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. In the School of Arts, most undergraduate modules have a one- or two-hour lecture or seminar every week. Some, but not all, also have a 1-hour seminar or tutorial every week.
More information is on the page for each module.
Year abroad
If you are studying a language as part of your combined honours degree, you will usually study for 4 years, with year 3 spent abroad.
Tuition fees
Fees for 2022/23 entrants per academic year
| Programme |
Full-Time |
UK
Students |
Overseas
Students |
|
BA, BSc, LLB
|
£9,250
|
£20,350 |
| BA/BSc Language year abroad |
£1,385 |
£10,175 |
Please note that fees go up each year.
For full details of undergraduate tuition fees, see our Registry's undergraduate tuition fees page.
Scholarships
Application Deadline: 2020-04-30 15:00
For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section
