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So, you want to study music? Whether you’re hoping for a career in music journalism, a career as a classical musician or even becoming the world’s next pop star, you’ll want to be thinking about where you go to study. To help you decide, we’ve used Complete University Guide’s 2025 music league tables to put together a list of some of the best places to study the subject in the UK. 

Best university for music in student satisfaction

University of Surrey

Guildford has a long history of producing excellent musicians, so it's no surprise that the University of Surrey in Guildford ranked highly for music students, which a particularly impressive score in student satisfaction. 

Read what students think of the University of Surrey. 

Best university for music in research quality 

Royal Holloway, University of London

Found on a picturesque campus in Surrey, Royal Holloway is situated a short distance outside the vibrant city of London. The uni has academics with specialisms spanning traditional, modern and world music, so no matter what your area of interest, you’ll find someone publishing high-quality research in the area here. 

Read what students think of music at Royal Holloway, University of London. 

Best university for music in graduate outcomes 

University of Oxford

Graduates from the University of Oxford will often find that their degree helps them greatly when it comes to finding work after university, and that's no different here – it came top of graduate outcomes for music students.

Best university for music in England

University of Cambridge 

World-renowned and one of the oldest universities in the UK, it’s no surprise that Cambridge would be the best university in England overall to study music. Several significant figures in contemporary British music have studied here over the past decades, so you’ll be following in some very highly-regarded footsteps if you choose to study here. 

Read what students think of music at the University of Cambridge. 

Best university for music in Scotland 

The University of Edinburgh

The UK’s sixth oldest uni, The University of Edinburgh offers students the chance to study in Scotland’s beautiful, historic capital. The city has plenty of parks, as well as a bustling nightlife and plenty of opportunities for shopping. The uni is highly-regarded and world-famous, and is respected for the high quality research published by its academics.

Best university for music in Wales 

Bangor University 

With its location between the Welsh mountains and the sea, Bangor University is a popular choice for students. It has a rich academic history and delivers high-quality teaching, making it a great choice for any student. The uni is also proud to be one of the most diverse and multicultural unis in the UK, with over 120 countries represented in the student body. 

Read what students think of music at Bangor University.

Best university for music in Northern Ireland 

Queen’s University Belfast 

A member of the research-driven Russell Group, Queen’s University Belfast is world-renowned for its research, and provides excellent quality teaching to its students. Centrally located in Northern Ireland’s capital, students are within walking distance of everything Belfast has to offer. The uni offers music students the chance to hone skills to professional standard, providing training to set students up for a career in music while also equipping them with transferrable skills useful for any graduate role.

Best university for music overall 

University of Cambridge 

The top uni in England and the top university overall, the University of Cambridge is certainly an excellent choice for any aspiring music students. Congratulations to the University of Cambridge! 

Read what students think of music at the University of Cambridge. 

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