BA in Music and Drama University of Manchester

Explore your passion for performance through the interdisciplinary study of music, theatre and film.

Course overview

• Study at one of the best Music departments in the UK (Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021).
• Develop new writing, performance and direction skills with our ambitious, student-led Music and Drama societies.
• Learn from first-class instrumental and vocal teachers from the city's three professional orchestras.
• Explore diverse areas of drama; from literary adaptation to street theatre, from activist performance to audio design, from playwriting to directing and experimental film cultures.

Our BA Music and Drama joint honours course is one of only a handful of such courses available at any university in the UK, providing you with a rare opportunity to pursue your passions for all aspects of performance and creativity in a world-class university environment.

We attract many singers and actors, as well as students with passions in, for example, screen, film sound and digital media; the politics of avant-garde performance; performance, social policy and community arts; or the history of the voice and the body on a variety of theatrical and operatic stages.

With a huge range of course units to choose from, this course is diverse and flexible, enabling you to build upon existing interests while allowing you the room to discover new forms and traditions of performance, practice and media.

With a mix of academic and practical learning, you will be taught by internationally recognised academics, guest speakers and a roster of professional instrumental and vocal tutors drawn from Manchester and the northwest.

All our teaching and practice takes place in the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama where you will rehearse, workshop and perform in the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall and the John Thaw Studio Theatre, and where you can get your hands on the latest digital-audio technology in the award-winning NOVARS studios for electroacoustic music and interactive media.

The Martin Harris Centre itself is in the centre of the oldest part of the University, just 15 minutes on foot from the city centre and its many venues including The Bridgwater Hall, HOME, The Albert Hall, The Royal Exchange Theatre and plenty more besides.

From there, it is a 20-minute tram ride to MediaCity in Salford, home to the BBC, ITV and The Lowry Theatre.

Many of the performances that you'll be involved in are presented by one of our Music or Drama student societies, offering students opportunities in direction, production and management as well as performance, new writing, sound design and composition.

The course requires you to achieve the same musical entry requirements as those on our single-honours MusB Music, enabling you to pursue any area of study in the Music department.

Your first-year tutor group, peer support and academic advising will normally be provided by the Music department.

Course content for year 1

You'll be introduced to the core disciplines of performance practice and theatre studies in Drama, and to musicology and ethnomusicology in Music. You'll then select the remaining credits from a breadth of optional courses.

You will take a minimum of 40 credits in Music and a minimum of 40 credits in Drama, with 40 credits in areas of your own choice (including units from elsewhere in the University).

Course content for year 2

Continue to tailor your studies by selecting from a huge range of optional course units offered by the Music and Drama departments.

You will take a minimum of 40 credits in Music and a minimum of 40 credits in Drama, with 40 credits in areas of your own choice (including units from elsewhere in the University).

Course content for year 3

Select at least one option from the following: Long Essay (Drama), Dissertation (Drama), Dissertation (Music), Composition Portfolio, or Recital, and you may opt to take two options if desired.

You will take a minimum of 40 credits in Music and a minimum of 40 credits in Drama, with 40 credits in areas of your own choice (including units from elsewhere in the University).

Our course provides excellent training for a host of careers, both within and outside of Music and Drama.

Employers will recognise that you are dedicated, creative, versatile, an excellent team player, highly organised, can work independently and have exceptional powers of concentration.

Graduate career destinations include:

• Digital Content Producer, BBC;
• VoiceLab Manager, Southbank Centre;
• NHS Graduate Management Scheme;
• Accountant, PricewaterhouseCoopers;
• Music Supervisor, PlayNetwork;
• Account Manager, Saatchi & Saatchi;
• Composer, Faber Music;
• Marketing Officer, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Many of our alumni and recent graduates have established successful careers as freelance performers and composers.

You'll find our Drama graduates in a broad range of occupations, including theatre, TV, radio and film, as well as journalism, teaching and community arts.