DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATES

Admissions statement

Name of Admissions Tutor/s: Dr. Guido Heldt

Admissions Process

UK/EU Applicants

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  • At the beginning of the admissions cycle, a meeting is convened for the entire admissions team to discuss general matters of policy, assessment of UCAS forms, scoring systems, conduct and assessment of interviews, and intake targets. The admissions process is led by the Admissions Tutor, Dr Guido Heldt. He reads the UCAS forms initially and makes preliminary recommendations as to unconditional or conditional offers, invitations to interview before deciding on whether to make an offer, or rejection. The UCAS forms are then distributed among other colleagues for checking and/or comment (occasionally - eg., where there is uncertainly as to whether or not an interview would be appropriate - the Admissions Tutor asks the colleague for specific advice). Presently, Dr Heldt is assisted by Dr. Glyn Jenkins (Head of Education for Music). We aim to contact the candidate within four weeks of receipt of their UCAS application and inform them of the progress of their application.
  • We receive applications from candidates with a variety of educational backgrounds (including comprehensives, grammars, independents and specialist music schools). None of these sectors is treated with any greater or lesser credence than any other. Ideally, we are looking for candidates who can demonstrate an intellectual curiosity about music, which might (but need not) involve a high level of skill on an instrument, or a creative talent for composition, or for addressing music in a historical or analytical context (or a combination of all these). Different schools will support these aspects of their students' musical development in different ways and to different levels. Our role is to identify, support and enable students with the ability to take their existing musical prowess further within the structure of our BA programme. We take into account the school's reference (in particular, projected A-level grades); the candidate's own personal statement (for instance, insofar as it expresses an enthusiasm for exploring different aspects of music; for studying music in a broad intellectual context; performance skills and experience; teamworking skills; aspirations for self-development); past GCSE grades; Associated Board Examination grades (NB normally, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Grade 8 standard is expected on the candidate's first instrument (or voice) on entry, but this is not a absolute requirement).
  • All candidates made an unconditional or conditional offer are invited to attend one of several Open Days held in the Music Department each year (candidates are offered alternative dates if they are unable to attend on the first date given). Students whose UCAS forms leave some doubt about the extent to which their particular A-level syllabus prepares them adequately for the BA programmes may be invited to an interview at one of these Open Days. Students are always interviewed by two members of staff, including a member of staff with training in fair and effective recruitment techniques, in accordance with the University's policy on equal opportunities. The format of our Open Days is typically as follows:
    • attendance at lunchtime concert
    • talk about the Department, our Degree programme, etc.
    • meeting with a member of staff in small groups (3-5) of students
    • guided tours of the Department and of the central University precinct (including Sports Centre, Arts Library, Wills Building and Clifton hall of residence).
  • At the interview, we seek to discover in some detail evidence of a knowledge of the repertoire being studied by the candidate within their particular A-level syllabus; the extent of historical, technical and practical content within that syllabus; ways in which the candidate would wish to develop musically through three years of intensive musical study at university (and ways in which our particular course would suit those aspirations). We may ask to see samples of recent essay or compositional work if the information provided on the UCAS form is not sufficient to enable a decision to be made. We do not require candidates to perform on their instrument or voice in these interviews (though in certain circumstances this may be appropriate; the precise nature of the interview depends on varying circumstances and particular problems or concerns raised in UCAS forms), nor are they required to sit any formal entrance examination (though detailed discussion of particular pieces of music might emerge in an interview - especially if initiated by the candidate - and candidates may be asked to comment on short unseen musical extracts). Equally, this occasion is an opportunity for candidates to ask questions of us (especially if there are matters relevant to them that have not been covered in the broad-ranging talk given earlier in the day by the Admissions Tutor). A written record of the interview is made (including a recommendation to offer or reject) and passed to the Admissions Tutor for action.
  • The interview procedures at Open Days (including times/details of interviews) are allocated by letter in advance of the Open Day itself; at the same time, candidates are invited to bring along samples of their work. Candidates and their parents are welcomed by the Departmental Administrator and student Stewards on arrival at the department. Interviews take place in the context of Open Days, and all visitors are given literature on arrival explaining the outline for the day. Interview times and locations, including the names of interviewers, are advertised on noticeboards. The Admissions Tutor and other staff, as well as the student stewards, are available at the Open Days and are able to answer informal queries. In addition, candidates who may have queries about their interviews ahead of their visit may contact either the Admissions Tutor or the Department Administrator by email or telephone. Following interviews, the next stages in the process are explained to the candidates, so that they have an idea of the likely timescale before hearing a result.
  • At the end of each academic year, the admissions process is revisited in the Annual Programme Review Meeting attended by all academic staff and by student representatives, and the discussion minuted.

Joint Honours candidates

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The procedures we adopt with regard to applicants for joint courses are as follows:

  • UCAS forms first read by the Music Department admissions team (as for applications for single honours) - provisional offers recorded
  • Forms then forwarded to the Administrator of the Language Department for the attention of the Admissions Tutors concerned (French, German or Italian)
  • Once returned to the Music Department, final offers are confirmed and the candidates are invited to an Open Day (for both Music and the Language Department on the same day)

Mature students

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  • UCAS forms are read by both members of the admissions team. In cases of doubt/uncertainty, the opinion of the Head of Subject or Professor of Music (if not a member of the team) is also sought.
  • Details of non-standard qualifications are assembled and circulated to all concerned by the Admissions Tutor
  • Any mature student who applies is invited to visit the Department at a time convenient to the candidate (not necessarily on an Open Day)
  • An interview is arranged with the Admissions Tutor and another member of staff.
  • Candidates for interview are requested to bring along samples of written and composition work. If they so wish, they may also perform a short piece on their principal instrument (or voice)
  • NB. The approval of the Undergraduate Dean of the Faculty is sought before an offer is made to a candidate without an approved qualification.

Overseas applicants

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  • UCAS forms are read by all three members of the admissions team. In cases of doubt/uncertainty, the opinion of the Head of Department or Professor of Music (if not a member of the team) is also sought.
  • Where possible, the Admissions Tutor provides details of the relevant overseas qualifications and of the appropriate equivalent examination scores.
  • Samples of essay work and compositional exercises are always requested (and, occasionally, recordings of performances). Once received, these are circulated among the members of the admissions team for comment and assessment. Where more specialised advice is required (e.g., in the case of a candidate with particular interests in composition), other members of staff are consulted.

Criteria for assessing candidates

UK/EU Applicants

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  • Candidates hoping to study performance as part of their University work are normally expected to have passed the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Grade 8 examination on their principal instrument or voice on admission.
  • Offers to candidates for a place on the BA Joint Hons. Music and a Modern Language programme will be determined in consultation with the relevant language department, but will typically be AAB, ABB, BBB or ABC (with at least a B in Music), depending on the consideration of all the relevant criteria in each individual case..
  • AS and GCSE requirements: careful note is taken of results at these levels, and we might consider making a lower offer than we would otherwise have made (i.e. BBB or ABC instead of ABB or BBC instead of BBB) to candidates who have achieved outstanding results to encourage them to accept our conditional offer of a place or to candidates from under-performing schools who have shown particular promise and potential.
  • Treatment of additional A-levels or GCSEs (beyond three A-levels and eight GCSEs): General Studies is not accepted as an A-level; in the case of any other combination of four A-level subjects, we simply take into account the three highest grades (including that for Music)
  • English language requirement for International Students: a minimum of 6.5 in IELTS
  • We take considerable account of the school reference and personal statement in identifying factors in the candidate's career to date that suggest exceptional promise or commitment, or which may have hindered the candidate's progress to date. These are weighed in relation to our own vision to provide an educational experience that will allow students reading for a BA Music degree at Bristol to develop a secure knowledge-base and a range of skills that will prepare them for lasting and flexible employment after graduation.
  • Our department has an enviable record of serving the local community through a long-standing and varied programme of Continuing Education activities, feeding into the successful part-time BA programme in Music that we have been offering since the late 1980s. We seek to develop this further and have already established several Widening Participation activities to encourage local students to consider a career at Bristol. A good number of local students have studied in our Department in recent years.
  • For information on criteria for assessing the Personal Statement, see Section 1, point 2 above. Particular notice is taken of evidence suggesting that the candidate is enthusiastic about music, shows a degree of commitment towards musical study and seeks to pursue that study further within an academic context that aims to challenge students and deepen their intellectual engagement with music in a variety of ways.
  • In assessing the school reference, we are looking for
    • information on relevant performance indicators of the school (eg., in relation to national benchmarks), number of A-level students, etc. that might help us place the candidate's academic achievements in context
    • independent confirmation of qualities described in the personal statement (especially motivation, commitment, ability to deal with change and challenge, team working)
    • up-to-date and detailed reports on progress in the subjects being studied as a back-up to the grades predicted
    • comments on the extent and quality of any contribution made to the musical and general life of the school (and beyond)
  • In assessing the candidate at interview, we are looking for evidence of
    • an existing detailed knowledge-base (for instance about 'set-works', or different compositional styles)
    • a capacity for self-criticism (for instance, in relation to the present state of technical development for composers and performers, or ability to research and make use of information in the case of essay-writing)
    • a sense of where gaps in existing knowledge or ability lie, and how these might be addressed; self-motivation and organisation
    • enthusiasm for music, whether as a listener or performer
    • evidence of a continuing programme of lessons and personal practice

Criteria for the assessment of mature students/those not applying directly from school

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  • past academic record
  • work and life experience
  • interest and commitment to the subject, particularly as evidenced in the amount of private reading and listening undertaken or their involvement in musical activities (e.g., orchestral playing, choral singing )
  • practical skills
  • quality of written English (samples ideally to be provided)
  • evidence of clear thinking and ability to solve problems
  • evidence that they will work successfully as part of a team

Criteria for assessment of international students

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  • The criteria here are largely the same as those for Home applicants (see Paragraph 1/A/ii and Paragraph 2/A/viii above), though particular importance is attached to their command of the English language. Samples of written work are always requested.

Whatever their background, the Music Department is committed to the identification of candidates with the potential to benefit intellectually from the programmes of undergraduate study that we offer, and to the maintenance of high standards in degree-level studies. We are confident that the admissions procedures that we operate ensure that candidates are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, religion, disability or age.

Offers

UK/EU Applicants

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  • For applicants for Single Honours Music, the standard offer is AAB, ABB, BBB or ABC (with at least a B in Music), depending on the consideration of all the relevant criteria in each individual case. A-level General Studies is not normally included in the terms of conditional offers.
  • In those rare cases where candidates have not been able to take Music as an A-level subject, we will accept as an alternative a Merit or Distinction in the Grade 8 Theory examination of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
  • For promising candidates from disadvantaged educational backgrounds, the offer we would normally make may be reduced (i.e. from ABB to BBB or ABC, or from BBB to BBC); a similar offer may be made to encourage outstanding candidates to consider Bristol as their first choice.
  • International students who cannot offer an A-level in Music may, in addition to two other suitable A-level subjects, be required to pass Associated Board examinations at Grade 8 level in both theory and practical (with either Merit or Distinction). Singers and instrumental players will also be required to pass the Grade 5 piano examination.
  • For Scottish Awards, International Baccalaureate and overseas qualifications, the examination equivalents suggested by the Admissions Office are rigorously observed.
  • For Single Honours programmes, the Department normally receives in the region of 340-350 applications for its target of 38 places. On the basis of 'offer-acceptance' and 'acceptance/conditions-met' trends in recent years, we make around 250 offers.
  • For Joint Honours programmes, the Department normally receives in the region of 30 applications for its target of six places. On the basis of 'offer-acceptance' and 'acceptance/conditions-met' trends in recent years, we make around 25 offers.