Undergraduate · Oxford Music
Oxford's Music course is a three-year academic degree in which performance, composition and scholarship sit side by side, and it is assessed through papers, portfolios and recitals rather than a single performance diploma. It is not conservatoire training. Applicants must show a musical-theory background, record a performance video of up to five minutes, and submit two essays and an example of harmony and counterpoint. The decision is whether you want a broad university degree in music, and whether your preparation matches the evidence Oxford asks for.
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
Taken from Oxford's Music course page and read on 31 October 2026. For a normal 2028-entry application, made in 2027, every requirement below is last verified for the previous cycle and may change; Oxford's 2028-entry requirements and dates are awaiting publication.
Oxford says it studies music by reading, listening, performing and composing, across Western classical, popular, global and community musics. The course is broadly based, with increasing specialisation as you proceed.
The A-level requirement is AAA and the IB requirement is 38 points including core points with 666 at Higher Level.
Applicants are expected to have Music to A level, Higher Level in the IB or equivalent, or Music Theory Grade 7 or above. If a school does not offer A-level Music, Grade 7 theory plus three A levels is needed.
All applicants submit a continuous video of a musical performance on their instrument or voice, in any genre, with a score. No written test is taken. The quality of performance is assessed, not the recording.
Candidates submit two teacher-marked essays of around 1,500 words, from any subject, and one teacher-marked harmony and counterpoint exercise. Original composition is optional.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on Oxford's Music course page, which describes 2027 entry. Oxford's Faculty of Music pages, the harmony and counterpoint guidance, fees, the contextual-offer details and the 2028-entry values were not read and are not stated.
What the degree is
Oxford describes a course that analyses relationships within a piece of music and between it and its genre and context. The first year has compulsory Foundations in the Study of Music, Stylistic Composition, Topics I and Musical Analysis and Critical Listening, with two options chosen from areas such as an extended essay, composition, performance, ethnomusicology, historically informed performance and musical skills. Later years add two compulsory Topics papers and a wide list of options, from dissertation and composition to chamber music, choral conducting, community music and recording and producing. Final-year assessment combines take-away papers, coursework, portfolios, recitals and practical tests. Oxford says whether you are a performer, composer or a budding scholar, the course offers something.
Academic degree or conservatoire
A conservatoire trains a performer; Oxford educates a musician within a university degree. The differences are in how you are assessed and what the course asks of you.
you want to analyse, compose and perform within a broad degree, write essays and dissertations, and study music in its social and cultural contexts as well as its notes.
your priority is the highest level of performance training for most of the week, with academic work in a supporting role. Check each conservatoire's own entry route; it is not covered here.
Oxford requires a performance video and says the Faculty does not require qualifications in performance or Keyboard Skills. It also says no applicant should be dissuaded if they have not performed to a high level.
Entry rules
The A-level standard is AAA and the IB standard is 38 points with 666 at Higher Level. Oxford expects Music to A level, Higher Level or an equivalent, or Music Theory Grade 7 or above from any board, and accepts Level 3 vocational Music in place of A-level where a school cannot offer it. The performance video is up to five minutes of continuous performance, accompanied or unaccompanied, in any style, with a score uploaded to a shared drive. The writing is two essays from any subject, a harmony and counterpoint exercise, and optionally original composition. Oxford's page reports an interview rate of 92%, a success rate of 42% and an intake of 77 for the three-year average to 2025; these are historical figures, not a prediction.
A decision framework
This is Avandy's own framework, not Oxford's.
Music A level or Grade 7 theory is the stated expectation, and harmony and counterpoint is part of the written work.
The video can be classical, folk, jazz, Hindustani or musical theatre. Choose music that shows your best performing skills.
The degree includes essays, a dissertation option and analysis. Two essays are part of the application.
Planning for 2028 entry
Applying for 2028 entry means applying in 2027, under rules Oxford has not yet published for that cycle. Each item below carries one of two labels. Last verified for 2027 entry means Oxford published it for the previous cycle and it may change. Awaiting publication for 2028 entry means Oxford has not yet published it.
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Oxford has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Check Oxford's Music course page for the 2028-entry values when they appear.
Check your theory qualification, plan the performance recording and choose two essays and a harmony exercise.
Support
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the University of Oxford or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here means course-fit advice, music-theory and academic-writing mentoring and ethical interview practice; Avandy gives no scores or probabilities and does not write submitted work. No outcome is promised.
Questions
AAA at A level, or 38 IB points including core points with 666 at Higher Level, with Music to A level or equivalent or Music Theory Grade 7 or above. This is Oxford's wording for 2027 entry.
Oxford says the Faculty does not require qualifications in performance or Keyboard Skills, and no applicant should be dissuaded if they have not studied a keyboard instrument.
A performance video of up to five minutes with a score, two teacher-marked essays of about 1,500 words and a teacher-marked harmony and counterpoint exercise. Composition is optional.
No. Oxford says you do not need to take a written test as part of an application.
Yes. Oxford says the Faculty welcomes auditions in any genre or style, including jazz, folk and Hindustani classical music.
No. They are Oxford's wording for the 2027 application cycle. Check the course page again when Oxford publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their music qualifications, the performance they could record and the writing they could submit, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.
