Music Grades and University Application Timings

[Smorgasfjord]

I'd be very grateful for advice.

DD will be (hopefully!) going to university in 2026. When should she make applications?

The reason I ask is that she'd like to include her ABRSM Grades in her application. Her piano teacher said that she could take Grade 8 in the autumn, but would this be too late?

Her cello teacher said that she needs to do it this summer.

Thank you

@LifeD1lemma The IFS study on work after degree would disagree with you. Certainly earnings of history grads outperform music grads. Some music degrees can be academic but they are not all the same. DDs friend with a music degree from Oxford is a barrister. Another friend with a music degree from a decent RG married another musician and she’s the main earner by a long way. She didn’t go to university at all. Brit School sufficed.

I haven’t looked at that study but it’s probably a partial picture in numerous respects - eg musicians are not well paid but neither are historians; I suspect a greater number of music grads become musicians than history grads become historians.

For the vast vast majority of graduate jobs that are agnostic as to degree subject, a music degree is just as good as a history degree, and degree result and institution will be the main factor that determines employability. So a music graduate from Oxbridge will be more employable than a history grad from a university that is not well regarded. This isn’t surprising given that music and history (and all arts) degrees teach exactly the same transferable skills.

For a student choosing between the two, they should aim for the one they’re likely to get into the best uni with/highest degree result in. In fact, Music is usually less competitive than History so might well be a better shout if targeting RG unis.

@LifeD1lemma Yes. University matters. Also I suspect few history grads become historians and, of course, there are a lot more of them! However I do believe students should think beyond their degree. It might matter what their earnings are.

Nonsense! I didn’t have Grade 8 when I applied to an RG uni to study music, and I know several others who were in the same position and have applied and been accepted to Oxbridge on the strength of A levels and G7.

yes I have said that I was basing it on those I knew....