This degree is based at USW’s purpose-built campus, in the creative centre of Cardiff. If you have a passion for music and making things happen, this Music Business degree is a chance to explore the many avenues available in the music business, be entrepreneurial and develop your specialist business skills. Students come from a range of backgrounds, sharing the common goal of wanting to develop a career in the music industry. These career options include label management , A&R, event management, publishing, artist development, enterprise, marketing and radio. The Music Business degree has a clear emphasis on entrepreneurial skills and strategic career development, culminating in a final year project that could be the start of your bright career in the music business. Real-world music projects in the vibrant music scene of Cardiff and South Wales will be part of your student experience on the Music Business course. You’ll be encouraged to work with students from other disciplines, benefiting from the creative community you’ll have access to at the University. Staff have a wealth of experience working within the music industry. You’ll also benefit from regular visits and masterclasses from high-level music industry professionals such as former Coldplay manager, Estelle Wilkinson, Managing Director of leading digital agency Edition, Adam Biddle, and Alun Llwyd and Kevin Tame from notorious Welsh independent label Turnstile.
USW’s Music Business degree provides you with the skills and expertise you need to be at the forefront of the music business, enabling you to create and model your music business career. By the time you graduate, you will have the skills for a wide range of careers in the music, media and entertainment industries, including publishing, marketing, A & R, radio, event and tour management. You will learn management principles and a broad range of business skills helping you to maximise the creative and commercial potential of the artist/business relationship. Your studies will promote entrepreneurship and creative thinking, helping you to create and launch your own business initiative before leaving the course. Graduates will also have transferable and practical experience that can be applied in many other areas of the business environment.
Which department am I in?
Drama and Music
Study options
Full Time
(3 Years)
Tuition fees
£16,800.00 (US$ 21,696)
per year
Accommodation - Mountain Halls En-Suite Rooms - Cost -138/week - (40 or 51 weeks contract)
This is a fixed fee
Start date
Expected September 2027
Venue
Cardiff Campus
86-88 Adam Street,
Cardiff,
CF24 2FN, Wales, United Kingdom
Entry requirements
For international students
Typical A-Level Offer
CCC to include a relevant subject (this is equivalent to 96 UCAS tariff points).
Typical Welsh BACC Offer
Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C in the Skills Challenge Certificate and CC at A Level with a relevant art and design subject (this is equivalent to 96 UCAS tariff points).
Typical BTEC Offer
BTEC Extended Diploma Merit Merit Merit in a relevant subject (this is equivalent to 96 UCAS tariff points).
Typical Access to HE Offer
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points
Additional Requirements
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances
IELTS - 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component. TOEFL - 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing (including Home Edition).
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.