Best universities for Music (2026)

100 UK universities teaching Music as a full-time degree, ranked on graduate pay, jobs, student satisfaction, students staying on and entry points.

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#	University	Score	Salary 5 yrs on	Working or studying	Satisfied	Typical UCAS
1	University of Oxford Oxford, South East · TEF Gold	68	£35.5k	87%	82%	184
2	University of Durham County Durham, North East · TEF Silver	68	£31k	90%	91%	184
3	University of Cambridge Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	67	—	95%	87%	216
4	University of Southampton Southampton, South East · TEF Silver	64	£30.5k	92%	86%	160
5	University of Surrey Guildford, South East · TEF Silver	64	£28.5k	95%	89%	152
6	University of Bristol Bristol, City of, South West · TEF Silver	63	£30k	90%	87%	168
7	Royal Holloway, University of London Runnymede, South East · TEF Silver	63	£28k	95%	91%	152
8	University of Liverpool Liverpool, North West · TEF Gold	63	£24k	100%	92%	160
9	Royal Academy of Music Westminster, London · TEF Gold	63	—	100%	84%	152
10	University of Glasgow Scotland	62	£28.5k	95%	80%	216
11	University of Birmingham Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	61	£29k	95%	84%	152
12	University of Manchester Manchester, North West · TEF Silver	60	£29k	90%	83%	184
13	University of Hull Kingston upon Hull, City of, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	59	£25k	—	93%	104
14	University of Sussex Brighton and Hove, South East · TEF Silver	59	£24k	100%	91%	128
15	University of Leeds Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	58	£27.5k	95%	83%	152
16	Guildhall School of Music & Drama City of London, London · TEF Gold	58	—	95%	80%	152
17	University of Edinburgh Scotland	57	£27k	85%	87%	192
18	Momentum Performing Arts Academy Ealing, London	57	£26k	—	83%	152
19	Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Gold	56	£27k	100%	85%	120
20	Bournemouth University Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, South West · TEF Silver	55	£33.5k	85%	74%	120
21	University of Sheffield Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	55	£27.5k	72%	87%	160
22	University of Huddersfield Kirklees, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	55	£25k	100%	79%	120
23	University of Portsmouth Portsmouth, South East · TEF Gold	55	£24k	95%	88%	104
24	University of Chichester Chichester, South East · TEF Gold	55	£23.5k	100%	81%	136
25	King's College London Westminster, London · TEF Silver	54	£28.5k	100%	72%	136
26	University of York York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	54	£26k	75%	89%	144
27	Bath Spa University Bath and North East Somerset, South West · TEF Silver	54	£25k	96%	87%	120
28	Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance Bexley, London · TEF Silver	54	£22.5k	100%	83%	152
29	Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Scotland	54	—	95%	82%	168
30	Royal Northern College of Music Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	54	—	94%	81%	112
31	Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales	53	£27k	85%	80%	152
32	Leeds Arts University Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	53	£25k	90%	90%	120
33	Bangor University Gwynedd, Wales	53	£25k	95%	85%	120
34	Birmingham City University Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	53	£24.5k	87%	88%	136
35	University of Winchester Winchester, South East · TEF Silver	53	£23.5k	98%	85%	128
36	Queen's University Belfast Northern Ireland	53	—	92%	81%	144
37	University of Aberdeen Scotland	52	£26.5k	90%	82%	168
38	Coventry University Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	52	£25.5k	100%	78%	120
39	University of Hertfordshire Welwyn Hatfield, East of England · TEF Silver	52	£25.5k	90%	87%	120
40	City St George's, University of London Islington, London · TEF Silver	52	£25k	80%	91%	136
41	University of Keele Newcastle-under-Lyme, West Midlands · TEF Gold	52	£25k	—	88%	104
42	University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	52	£25k	90%	81%	144
43	Edinburgh Napier University Scotland	52	£24.5k	—	84%	184
44	Millennium Performing Arts Worcester, West Midlands	52	£24k	—	83%	152
45	York St John University York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	52	£22.5k	95%	92%	120
46	Southampton Solent University Southampton, South East · TEF Gold	52	£22k	90%	91%	120
47	University of the West of England, Bristol South Gloucestershire, South West · TEF Silver	51	£24k	85%	92%	112
48	University of Plymouth Plymouth, South West · TEF Gold	51	£23.5k	90%	80%	136
49	Falmouth University Cornwall, South West · TEF Silver	51	£23.5k	90%	89%	120
50	Liverpool Hope University Liverpool, North West · TEF Silver	51	£22.5k	90%	92%	120

How the score works: universities are compared within each subject on salary five years after graduating (27%), the share in work or further study (18%), student satisfaction (18%), students staying on (13.5%), typical UCAS points (13.5%, compared within each nation) and the TEF rating (10%, England). 50 is typical. Figures: Discover Uni (Office for Students, HESA), National Student Survey, Graduate Outcomes, HMRC LEO earnings; full-time first degrees.

Questions

What is the best university for Music?

On our measures University of Oxford ranks first for Music, followed by University of Durham, University of Cambridge, University of Southampton. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Music graduates earn the most?

University of Oxford: typical earnings of £35.5k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).