BA Music and Portuguese (WR35)

2024 entry | view 2025 entry

Course summary

This degree combines Music with the study of Portuguese, the most widely spoken language in the southern hemisphere. The political importance of countries like Angola and Brazil means that Portuguese speakers are increasingly in demand. The course offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges and a range of options that will allow you to pursue your own interests.

Music offers a broad range of units in musicology, composition and performance across diverse styles and genres. These are complemented by weekly concerts, regular masterclasses and performances in the department, and opportunities to get involved in the dynamic music scene in the city of Bristol. The department has a track record of international academic excellence and is exceptionally friendly and welcoming, with several of the staff running ensembles and performing with students.

You will follow a structured language course in Portuguese, as well as explore the rich literature, cinema, history, thought, politics, and visual culture of Portuguese-speaking countries and communities. You will spend your third year abroad in a Portuguese-speaking environment, extending your language skills and cultural knowledge. To find out more about studying abroad, visit Centre for Study Abroad.

Both departments encourage strong synergy between research and teaching, as well as stimulating performance opportunities in music, resulting in a vibrant learning environment as staff respond to new research in their teaching.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, and one-to-one project supervision. Assessments may include presentations, essays, commentaries, exams, collaborative projects, debates, podcasts, video essays, and dissertations.

Our course will ensure you practise a range of skills, which will make you attractive to future employers in the globalised workplace and in the sector of your choice.

Portuguese can be studied from beginners' level only. As a modern languages student, you will have access to our state-of-the-art Multimedia Centre. You can also access extracurricular activities such as talks by visiting speakers, societies, language cafes, student newspapers, and talent shows.

Music teaching and music-making take place in the magnificent 19th-century Victoria Rooms, a familiar Bristol landmark with a 530-seat auditorium, a recital room, extensive studio facilities and a suite of practice rooms. Several organ and choral scholarships are available with our local churches and with Bristol Cathedral.

Course structure

This joint degree provides a wide range of units that allows you to pursue your own interests in both fields. In your first year, you will take 60 credits in each department and in years two and four you can specialise in one subject (by taking 80 credits in one and 40 in the other).

You will have full access to the Department of Music's Victoria Rooms and to the School of Modern Languages' state-of-the-art multimedia centre.

In year one, the music harmony and analysis unit Technical Studies is compulsory, you will also have a choice of composition, orchestration, performance or a history unit. Second and fourth years allow even more choice and your third year is spent abroad. Alongside music, you will study Portuguese language, history and culture units, choosing from a wide range of options that allow you to pursue your own interests.

In performance, we offer a wide range of instruments and vocal styles. In the event that tuition on your particular instrument/vocal type is not currently offered in Bristol, you will be able to discuss options with the Department.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Go to programme catalogue

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

AAB including Music. Where a candidate is not taking A-level Music, we will accept AAB plus Grade 8 Theory or Practical (ABRSM or Trinity) at Pass.
BBB including Music. Where a candidate is not taking A-level Music, we will accept BBB plus Grade 8 Theory or Practical (ABRSM or Trinity) at Pass.

Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
DDD either in Music Technology BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma or in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma. All applicants must also meet our Music requirement (B in Music at A-level (or equivalent) or Grade 8 in a Trinity or ABRSM practical or theory exam).

Find out more about BTEC entry requirements
34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level, including 5 at Higher Level in Music. Pass in Grade 8 Theory or Practical (ABRSM or Trinity) can be accepted in place of Higher Level Music.
31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level, including 5, 5 at Higher Level in Music. Pass in Grade 8 Theory or Practical (ABRSM or Trinity) can be accepted in place of Higher Level Music.

Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
80% overall, with 8.0 in Music. Where a candidate is not taking EB Music we will accept 80% overall plus a Pass in Grade 8 Theory or Practical (ABRSM or Trinity).
Advanced Higher: AB including Music, and Standard Higher: AAABB. Pass in Grade 8 Theory or Practical (ABRSM or Trinity) can be accepted in place of Advanced Higher Music.
Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include 24 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit or above, plus either B in A-level Music or Pass in Grade 8 Theory or Practical (ABRSM or Trinity).

More about Access to HE entry requirements
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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