Best university in or very near London for Music Business

Hi everyone across the pond,

I'm going on tour to Europe with the music artist that I work for in February and I would love to check out some universities while I'm over there. I was looking at London Met however, the main thread about it really puts me off to applying there. I can't help but think that there must to be another university in London that has a Music Business program considering it is the greatest city in England for music. Thanks for your help!

-Maria

Reply 1

coutriumph

I'm looking for a university in the London area for Music Business as well! I've heard some bad things about the University of East London, but they have a few music management programs I've been looking at. Middlesex University has an arts and festival management program, but it's a bit further away from London. London South Bank Uni has an arts and festival management program too, and they're very close to the heart of London, so I'm looking into that a bit. I'm still having a hard time finding a good program for music business though... it's all either music technology or engineering (and you have to be a musician to do most of those courses) or arts and festival management. But if you hear of anything, let me know! I've been looking for the past few months, but I still feel like there's something out there that I haven't come across yet...

Reply 2

Crumpet1

A very specialised degree like this tends to be taught at undergraduate level only by the lower quality universities. If you are coming as an overseas student it would be very rash to study at such a place, given the fees you would be paying. Reading Uni's Henley business school does a music management post grad degree (MBA), so you might want to consider an undergraduate management degree at Reading Uni, in the hope that you might have the opportunity to pick up some music industry related modules? Don't count on it though.

Or just do a general management degree and don't worry about 'studying' music at all ... pick up music related extracurricular activities or work experience instead.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 3

Crumpet1

PS - when are you intending to start university? Although the deadline for international students is different, many international applicants aim to comply with the UK UCAS application deadline in mid January.

Reply 4

Ak1in

Hi Maria,
Bucks New University has excellent Music Business courses. More information on the Music Business courses can be found here:
http://bucks.ac.uk/courses/?k=&l=default&m=default&s=music_and_event_management

You can also contact Bucks New University:
Free phone: 0800 0565 660
Email: [email protected]

Reply 5

Ak1in

Original post by coutriumph

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Try Bucks new University, They have a good variety of Music business courses.

http://bucks.ac.uk/courses/?s=music_and_event_management

Reply 6

mgigante

Original post by Crumpet1

Looking to apply for the Fall semester - yes, I'll also be applying next week with the rest of UK.

I was looking to be in London as I plan on interning in the city so if I was out of London, it would be very financially burdening to my wallet.

What's your suggestions for music business schools in that case?

Reply 7

Crumpet1

Original post by mgigante

Basically there aren't any. Look at this set of rankings for management/business (the closest set of rankings you are going to find for the subject that you're really interested in):
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=Business+%26+Management+Studies

As you can see, the universities that offer music business degrees are right down the bottom. They are the least respected universities in the UK. This is a pattern that is repeated across all subjects and across all rankings.

The truth is there are NO good UK universities which offer a music business under-graduate degree. I don't know how academically able you are, but if you are in the top 60-80% of students then studying a music business degree at undergraduate level in the UK would effectively mean you will be choosing a university that is way way below your academic level.

Your choices in the UK are:

1. Go to a very poorly rated university to study the music business, and be in London.

2. Go to a well rated university (Reading) and study management/business with a possibility of some music business modules because they do a post-graduate degree in the subject that you are interested in.

3. Go to a well rated university which offers a management/business degree with a year in industry, and you could do one of those and use your year in industry to try to obtain a placement in the music business.

4. Go to a well rated university and study management/business, and be in either London or outside London.

5. Do a one year post-graduate masters degree in the music business AFTER you have obtained an undergraduate degree from a decent university in something less specialised. On this particular subject, it will matters less at post-grad level if you spend a year somewhere with a poor reputation, for the sake of doing a more specialised subject.

Of course you don't have to work during term time - there are three 10 week terms, so even if you go to university outside London you always have the option to use your holidays (the other 22 weeks per year plus) to work in the music industry in the London area.

Be aware that at UK universities there are also vast numbers of clubs and societies many of which will be to do with music - playing it, going to it, writing about it, organising bands to come and play at the uni, etc. You can join those, get involved in running them and get far more responsibility than you would get in a 'real' industry. Employers will respect the experience that you get in this way, not least because it demonstrates the interest that you have in the subject.

I'm sorry for speaking so plainly but somebody has to. You are in exactly the same position as my niece was and in the end she chose option 4 (the possibility of option 5 is still there if she wants it).