Study music abroad
An in-depth guide to studying music as an international student.
Music degrees abroad
Music is a hugely broad subject that offers a number of specialisms and can cover performance, composition, production and theory. It is a creative subject that will allow passionate students to explore different genres, gain practical skills, and develop their own musical interests.
You can study music at universities, art colleges or a conservatoire, which specialize in performance based study programs. Music programs are available all over the world, so by studying abroad you’ll have a huge number of options to choose from.
Studying music abroad is a popular option for international students because it can mean learning a new approach to music. Every country has it’s own musical traditions and heritage, which can give you a new and unique perspective you wouldn’t get by studying at home.
Music program structure
At undergraduate level you can study for a BA or a BMus (Bachelor of Music) over three or four years. BMus degrees often include more technical modules, with a concentration on performance, and BA programs can be more academic and theory focussed.
It’s possible to study music as a joint honours program with another subject, for example, music and English, or music and technology. If you choose to study at a liberal arts college, you can study music as a major or minor, alongside other subjects.
You can also study music at other levels including certificate, diploma, master’s and doctorate. At master’s level you can study for an MA or MMus over two or three years, and it’s also possible to earn a PhD in music which can take up to six years to complete.
Most music programs are taught through lectures, seminars and tutorials, but you also get individual tuition and workshops to develop your solo performance skills. Most universities give regular performances which you can take part in and some offer field trips to concerts. How you’ll be assessed will differ depending on the module, but they will usually include essays, exams and performances.
Music programs can cover a huge number of areas, genres and techniques, so the structure and content will never be the same, however here are some common modules you could study:
- Music history
- Music composition
- Performance
- Harmony and harmonic analysis
- Orchestration
- Music business
- Music technology
- Musicology
- Music psychology
Types of music degrees
How to study music abroad
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Music study abroad programs
Music undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in music
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Interdisciplinary Studies: Music - BSc Keiser University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 33,120 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Music - BA Concord University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 18,186 USD
- Start date
- January, September
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Music Management - BA Macromedia University of Applied Sciences, Germany
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 42 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 8,200 EUR
- Start date
- October
-
Music Education (Birth - Grade 12) - BMusEd Long Island University Post, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 35,736 USD
- Start date
- January, September
-
Music Industry Studies - BSc Greenville University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 27,580 USD
- Start date
- January, August
Diploma in music
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Music Industry (Sound Production), Advanced - AdvDip RMIT University, Australia
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 1 year
- Tuition fees per year
- 20,500 AUD
- Start date
- February, July
-
Music Industry Arts and Performance - OCADip Centennial College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 16,531 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Contemporary Music - NZDip Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, New Zealand
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 10 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 18,900 NZD
- Start date
- February, July
-
Music Business Administration/Music Business Management - OCADip Durham College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 28 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 15,022 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Music - UGDip Douglas College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 18,000 CAD
- Start date
- September
Pathway in music
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Integrated Foundation of Music and Performing Arts - FD Bath Spa University, UK
- Program type
- Undergraduate pathway
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 14,300 GBP
- Start date
- September
Certificate in music
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Music, Introduction to Commercial Jazz Music - Cert Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Tuition fees per year
- 14,200 CAD
- Start date
- September
Associate in music
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Music - AA Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 21,383 CAD
- Start date
- September, January, May
-
Music - AA Douglas College, Canada
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 18,000 CAD
- Start date
- January, May, September
-
Music - AFA St. Charles Community College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 5,520 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Music Therapy - AA Hesston College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 28,992 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Fine Arts: Music - AFA Elgin Community College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 9,510 USD
- Start date
- January, February, June, August, September
Music graduate programs
Master's in music
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Music Management - MA Macromedia University of Applied Sciences, Germany
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 18 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 13,000 EUR
- Start date
- October
-
Music Education - MSc Long Island University Post, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 44,100 USD
- Start date
- January, September
-
Music Education - MM Arizona State University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 25,118 USD
- Start date
- August
-
Music - MMus University of Newcastle, Australia
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 35,000 AUD
- Start date
- February, July, September
-
Music - MMus University of Tasmania, Australia
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Tuition fees per year
- 36,422 AUD
- Start date
- February, July
Doctorate in music
-
Music Education - PhD University of Southern Mississippi, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 10,770 USD
- Start date
- January, August
-
Music - PhD Maynooth University, Ireland
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 14,000 EUR
- Start date
- September
-
Music and Media - PhD University of Gloucestershire, UK
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 13,200 GBP
- Start date
- January, September
-
Dance, Theatre and Music - PhD University of Chichester, UK
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 13,950 GBP
- Start date
- September
Diploma in music
-
Music - PGDip University of Tasmania, Australia
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 1 year
- Tuition fees per year
- 31,516 AUD
- Start date
- February, July
-
Music Industry Arts - OCDip Fanshawe College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 14 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 18,136 CAD
- Start date
- September
Certificate in music
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Music - PGCert University of Tasmania, Australia
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 6 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 15,758 AUD
- Start date
- February, July
-
Secondary Music - PGCert Bath Spa University, UK
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Tuition fees per year
- 13,300 GBP
- Start date
- January, September
Future music careers
A music degree provides the perfect training for a wide range of careers both within and outside of the music industry. You will develop a number of transferable skills that employers value, including teamwork, communication and analytical skills.
Here are some of the most popular careers for music graduates:
- Music producer
- Music therapist
- Orchestra musician
- Music teacher
- Orchestra administrator
- Sound engineer/technician
- Community arts worker
- DJ
If you’re unsure what career path you want to follow after graduation, you can talk to the university’s career advice service. They can help you work out what roles might best suit you, and guide you on the best way to get your ideal job after graduation.
