Studying music at university is both intellectually and musically demanding, and it is one of the most varied and diverse degree subjects available. It requires you to engage in a broad range of practical and intellectual activities including performance, composition, improvisation, data analysis, research, and critical intellectual enquiry.
Music graduates therefore develop a wide range of key skills through both the academic and practical content of their degree, which opens a wide variety of opportunities.
Teamwork and initiative are fostered through participation in music ensembles, and communication skills through performance, presentations and written work.
Flexibility, self-discipline and good time management are all required to attain high technical standards and to balance the demands of study, practice and performance. This wide range of transferable skills means that music graduates can easily move into the career or training pathways that are open to graduates of any discipline; for example:
Graduates who want to use their music degree in their work often progress to become self-employed musicians, performers, composers, teachers, academics, music therapists, studio managers or sound engineers.
Other opportunities include specialist magazine journalism, music librarianship or music publishing.
Many musicians enter careers that seek graduates of any discipline but offer the opportunity to use the specific skills developed in their studies. Possible occupations include arts administrator, community arts worker, museum curator or film/video production.
Find out more about the career options for Music from Prospects: The UK's Official Careers Website.
Find out what recent graduates went on to do and view graduate destinations statistics. These statistics are based on what graduates were doing on a specific date, approximately six months after graduation:
Newcastle University consistently has one of the best records for graduate employment in the UK. 93.4% of our 2011 UK/EU graduates progressed to employment or further study within six months of graduating. More than three quarters (78.7%) of our graduates who entered employment achieved a graduate level position.
We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through an initiative called ncl+ which enables you to develop personal, employability and enterprise skills and to give you the edge in the employment market after you graduate.
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers.