USW Music and Sound provides real-world simulation, education and networks that prepare students for successful careers within the music industry.
Our location and connections with the music industry provide an ideal backdrop for students and our collaborations with Natwest Bank, Music Managers Forum, BBC Horizons, Warner Music, Swn Festival and Boomtown are at the heart of our courses.
Watch conversations and masterclasses with industry professionals and USW Alumni including Hollie Evans, Romesh Dodangoda and famous musician, producer, DJ, Grammy nominee and remixer High Contrast.
Cardiff has officially been declared a music city – the first of its kind in the UK. Students will be part of our city's vibrant music scene and benefit from our creative industry networks.
Our students host the Immersed Music Festival each year, leading on all event management including ticketing, artist management, sales and marketing. In 2021, the festival went digital, with 48 artists performing on the festival’s virtual stages. It also featured a Production Masterclass from Grammy nominee High Contrast.
Our students and graduates celebrate prestigious award wins including current student, Hollie Singer, who was announced as the winner of the Welsh Music Prize 2019, with her band Adwaith and David Newington aka Boy Azooga in 2018.
With an emphasis on original work, our Popular and Commercial Music course will teach you how to collaborate with your fellow students in performance, songwriting and production.
BA (Hons) Popular and Commercial Music
BSc (Hons) Creative Industries (Popular Music Technology) (Top-Up)
If you have a passion for music and making things happen, our BA Music Business degree provides the opportunity for you to explore the many avenues available in the music business, be entrepreneurial and develop specialist business skills.
BA Music Producing is a highly practical programme, where you will identify, examine and refine your creative music production process. Students are provided with a fast-tracked learning experience through access to USW’s innovative studio facilities, tutor expertise and collaborative learning environment.
Designed for those interested in lyrics, music and studio production, you’ll learn a range of creative techniques, as well as the history of popular song and the world of music publishing.
At the nexus of creativity, technology and business, the MSc Music Engineering and Production is designed for graduates who want to further develop their music engineering and production skills, to establish a career as a professional producer in the music industry or related fields.
MSc Music Engineering and Production
Do you want to become a music therapist? The part-time MA Music Therapy course provides students with a unique opportunity to develop the skills necessary to become a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered music therapist.
We offer a number of Masters by Research and PhD postgraduate research programmes which allow you to make an in-depth study of a topic that interests you. You can study full-time or part-time, on campus or by distance.
Masters by Research (Music & Sound)
Each year we take time to celebrate the work of our Faculty of Creative Industry students through a festival called 'Gradfest'.
This dedicated festival is home to project work, blogs, videos, social posts and so much more from our Music and Sound students.
Students from across the university have the opportunity to showcase their work to the masses and take pride in doing so.
Take a look at what our students have worked on over the past year or so by viewing the Grafest 2021 Music and Sound website page.
Cardiff is a modern capital city that will surprise you.
It’s the UK’s fastest growing major city and has been multicultural and cosmopolitan from the start. Here, you’ll find an amazing quality of life, more green space per person than any UK city, and fantastic people.
Cardiff is one of the most affordable cities in the UK too, so it’s perfect for cash-strapped students. There’s always something happening or new places to discover. From shopping and live sport to music, arts and history, there’s something for everyone and great company to do it with.
Cardiff is a popular student city that knows how to enjoy itself. Wherever you turn, you’ll find somewhere to eat, drink or dance the night away.
Join us at an open day or live event and discover the opportunities waiting for you at the University of South Wales.
You'll have the chance to explore our campuses at Cardiff, Newport or Pontypridd, meet academic staff and current students, learn about life at USW and student money, and take part in interactive activities related to your course.
For those who can't attend an on-campus event, we run online and on-demand events. There's plenty of ways to discover what USW is all about.
Ready to apply? We can't wait to welcome you to the #USWFamily. You can apply via UCAS or USW.
Chat to our students, lecturers or staff. We're here to help answer any questions you may have.
Make friends for life, try out lots of new things and become more independent than ever before.
Where you live is just as important as what you study. Let's find your home away from home.