Teaching and assessment
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Teaching format
You'll learn in small groups, typically 15–25 students. Module content is developed alongside ongoing staff research and practice. Most run across years,ncouraging learning from both tutors and peers. Teaching combines lectures, discussions, studio workshops, and practical sessions. With the support of the module tutor, you will produce a portfolio of work in response to your taught sessions. Your contact hours include rehearsals, supervision, tutorials, and concerts. We recommend you spend about 40 hours per week studying independently. Beyond timetabled sessions, you’ll attend seminars, masterclasses with visiting professionals, and take part in ensembles and student-run concerts.
Timetabled activities
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures |
4-6 hours per week |
| Seminars |
1-2 hours per week |
| Practicals |
2-6 hours per week |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
Facilities
Our facilities are some of the finest in the UK, including the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall and Rymer Auditorium. Our five recording studios give you access to 60 years of audio recording - from vintage analogue to contemporary digital software integrations.
John Paynter Music Library
The John Paynter Music Library is an elegant facility, located within the University's JB Morrell Library, and houses the main music collections. It is also equipped with digital pianos and media replay equipment. The physical collection as well as an extensive range of electronic resources are searchable through the YorSearch.
Sound Resources
The University Library houses and extensive collection of CDs and DVDs, which are available for listening and research. There are also archival recordings available for student use in the University of York Sound Archives.
Search our resources
Teaching location
You will be based in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies. Nearly all of your teaching will take place within the School.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
Assessment and feedback
We don't assess through written exams or set essay titles: you’ll work with your tutors to craft research projects that fit your interests, with opportunities to be assessed through creative work, recordings, composition or other practical work that mirror real-world tasks, alongside written submissions that showcase your analytical and critical thinking.
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