The OU Music department believes that music is for everyone. You can study music with us regardless of your background or formal qualifications. We are the sector leader in delivering a diverse, rigorous, distance-learning curriculum, with study materials that have been created by a team of experts. Our BA degree enables you to develop valuable skills for a wide range of music-related careers as well as transferable skills that are highly valued in any field: critical thinking, collaborative working and technological facility.

If you already have an undergraduate degree and want to pursue your study of music further, we also offer a taught MA in Music and PhD studies in a wide range of specialisms, including through joint supervision with another discipline.  

Our academics

With diverse specialisms in historic and present-day musical experiences, technologies and creative practices, the Music team share a passion for music. The course materials only give a flavour of some of our projects and publications.

Research

Our research is ambitious, wide-ranging and multi-disciplinary. It includes historical musicology, music analysis, ethnomusicology, music for screen media, performance practice and sound studies. Follow the link to our research page to find out more.  

How we work with others

OU Music has academic partnerships with Trinity Laban and several of the UK’s leading professional ensembles including the Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment (OAE), the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The Music department is also a regular contributor to programmes created through the OU’s partnership with the BBC.