By Steve Wright

Published: Tuesday, 20 February 2024 at 16:18 PM


The Complete University Guide has published its annual findings on Britain’s best universities for studying a wide range of subjects – including music. We have gathered them together to create a list of the best music colleges in the UK (and the universities that score highest for teaching music).

The survey arrives at its findings via a variety of metrics including entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects.

According to the Guide’s findings, the 50 best UK universities for studying music are as follows.

The best music colleges in the UK

  1. University of Cambridge
  2. University of Oxford
  3. University of Southampton
  4. University of Manchester
  5. University of Sheffield
  6. Durham University
  7. University of Leeds
  8. Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London
  9. Royal Holloway, University of London
  10. Kings College, London
  11. University of Birmingham
  12. University of Surrey, Guildford
  13. University of Bristol
  14. Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
  15. University of York
  16. University of Edinburgh
  17. Royal Academy of Music, London
  18. Bangor University
  19. Queen’s University, Belfast
  20. University of Glasgow
  21. Birmingham City University
  22. University of Nottingham
  23. Cardiff University
  24. Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
  25. Royal College of Music
  26. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
  27. University of Plymouth
  28. University of East London
  29. University of Aberdeen
  30. University of Liverpool
  31. Newcastle University
  32. Ulster University
  33. University of Huddersfield
  34. University of Brighton
  35. City, University of London
  36. University of Kent
  37. University of Chester
  38. Leeds Arts University
  39. York St John University
  40. University of Lincoln
  41. Brunel University London
  42. University of Winchester
  43. Falmouth University
  44. Edinburgh Napier University
  45. University of Chichester
  46. Oxford Brookes University
  47. Goldsmiths, University of London
  48. Bath Spa University
  49. University of Sussex
  50. University of Salford