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Music courses

Whether you’re looking to study for your profession or for purely personal interest, our music courses offer you the opportunity to learn how music is created, study a wide range of styles, and unlock your own creativity. Choose from our range of degrees, diplomas and certificates.

Music teacher giving guitar lesson

MusicDegrees 

Stage 1120 credits
Stage 2120 credits
Stage 3120 credits
Total of 360 credits 

How long will it take?

Part time: 16–18 hours per week for 6 years
Full time: 32–36 hours per week for 3 years


Music Diplomas 

Stage 1120 credits
Stage 2120 credits
Total of 240 credits 

How long will it take?

Part-time: 16–18 hours per week for 4 years
Full-time: 32–36 hours per week for 2 years


Music Certificates 

Stage 1120 credits
Total of 120 credits 

How long will it take?

Part-time: 16–18 hours per week for 2 years
Full-time: 32–36 hours per week for 1 year

Why study Music with The Open University?

Our music modules and learning materials are recognised as among the best in the country, offering in-depth and up-to-date study of a wealth of musical styles, historical periods and themes, ranging from medieval to modern film scores.

The benefits of studying music with us are:

  • No academic entry requirements, such as A-Level Music or passes in music performance exams.
  • The opportunity to develop practical music and performance skills at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
  • Course materials prepared by world-leading experts in European music, ethnomusicology, music and theology, music technology, and film music.
  • Music research rated joint first in The Guardian’s analysis of the 2014 Research Excellence Framework.

Careers in Music

The breadth of study and range of musical repertoire and practice explored, combined with clear thinking and communication, make our music courses relevant to a wide range of careers, including:

  • Music Teacher
  • Arts Administrator
  • Sound Recordist
  • Events Organiser

Looking for something other than a qualification?

The majority of our modules can be studied by themselves, on a stand-alone basis. If you later choose to work towards a qualification, you may be able to count your study towards it.

See our full list of Music modules

All Music courses

Browse all the Music courses we offer – certificates, diplomas and degrees.

See our full list of Music courses