The programme is particularly useful to students who are considering a career in any aspect of arts management, arts marketing, venue management, music education and outreach. It is also really valuable to those students who want to develop professional contacts and organisational skills to support a performance or composing portfolio career.

Even if you are not sure what you want to do on graduation or wonder whether a career in arts management is what you want, the professional training year could be very useful to help you to determine what you are looking for. The professional training experience is a unique chance to explore your strengths and interests and to find out which areas of working life inspire you. Students who have been through professional training have a much better idea of the kinds of organisations or areas of work that they want to pursue on graduation. Students considering the four year programme are sometimes concerned that working in a particular area will limit their career choices later on. In fact, the opposite is true!

Students on the programme have found that the knowledge and experiences gained through professional training have opened them up to a wide range of career opportunities that they might not otherwise have considered. Students from the C course have gone on to postgraduate study in a diverse range of subjects, have taken PGCEs, taught English as a foreign language, travelled the world, gone to work for their host organisation, or gained employment in other branches of the arts - they have certainly not been limited to working just in the area of their professional training. There is a list of job titles later on.

The Senior Professional Tutor works with you during the second year to identify your strengths and interests in specific organisations or working practices. You will work with the Tutor to research and identify suitable host organisations. Interviews are set up with the assistance of the Professional Training Administrator. You might be the only person being interviewed for a specific position or opportunity that the Department has established for you with a host employer; you may be interviewed with several of your peers, if they are also interested in that work; or you may interviewed with external candidates who may already be graduates.  

It is expected that the training period will last for a minimum of 30 weeks (unpaid, the University definition of which in this context is ‘below the tax threshold’) to 46 weeks (if a salary or payment over the tax threshold is received), although in exceptional circumstances the Senior Professional Training Tutor may agree a shorter period. There have also been students who have worked beyond 46 weeks with agreement from the Senior Professional Training Tutor. Students are placed with UK-based nationally or internationally renowned music and arts organisations; most professional training opportunities have been based in London or the South East, because that is what students have wanted so far, but placements can be anywhere in the country through negotiation.

Not all music students receive a salary, but employers usually cover travel expenses or offer small bursaries. Depending on the type of placement, students may additionally receive tickets to concerts and be given valuable specific training, eg graphic computer programmes, presentation techniques. The most important fact is that all students benefit from high-quality mentoring and support from placement hosts who are experts in their field. This is a unique and distinct feature of professional training, which, again, distinguishes it from general internships.

Host companies have ranged in size from two or three people working for a charity to large, national organisations. When we look for placements we are particularly looking for organisations that will offer real, practical, hands-on experience that is structured, monitored and mentored. Students have worked for orchestras, venues, publishing houses, classical music record companies, music education services, charities. There is no typical type of placement! Each one is varied and organisations work with us to ensure the widest range of experiences and skills development possible.

Organisations and companies that have taken professional training students include the London Symphony Orchestra, South Hill Park Arts Centre, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Royal School of Church Music, Schott Music Publisher, The Orchestra of St John’s, Faber Music Publishers, Sherriff Rosebriars Trust, the Royal Opera House, GU2 Radio, the Chelsea Festival, HMV, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Cambridgeshire Music, Floating Earth and Signum Records.

We have developed strong relationships with these employers, many of whom not only take a professional training student each year, but have employed students upon graduation. We now have many students working in host organisations.

Students sometimes feel apprehensive about coming back to study at University after a year 'out', but usually settle back in to University life fairly quickly. Most students say that working at University is easier than working out in the arts sector! You will return to the final year of the programme with a deeper understanding of the policies and practical issues that affect the arts which you can then apply effectively to academic study. You will find that your organisational, time management and prioritising skills really help you with your academic work. C course final year students often find that their academic marks improve quite dramatically, which helps them gain a better final degree mark.

The professional training placement is a unique chance to explore your strengths and interests and to find out which areas of working life inspire you. Even if you are not sure what you want to do on graduation or wonder whether a career in arts management is what you want, the professional training year could be very useful to help you to determine what you are looking for.   Students who have been through professional training have a much better idea of the kinds of organisations or areas of work that they want to pursue on graduation.

Working with highly-regarded experts and leaders, students are mentored through real-life working situations as members of professional teams and projects.  This experience allows students a wide variety of opportunities in which to develop their communication, organisational and interpersonal skills in a music- or arts-based organisation.

Benefits of undertaking a one-year professional placement include:

• The opportunity to test strengths and abilities in a real and busy work context
• Developing transferable skills and improvement in presentation, communication and inter-personal skills in a professional context
• The opportunity to establish a network of useful contacts which could lead to employment
• A wide variety of experience in the application of theory in a practical context
• Enhanced team working and leadership
• A deeper understanding of the policies and practical issues that affect the arts
• Developing skills and knowledge in specific areas which can contribute towards project work and study in the final year
• Increased motivation for study as the relevance of academic work becomes clearer
• Discovering how you respond to the challenges of your potential future career
• Greater awareness of employment opportunities and options after graduation
• Development of a greater sense of career direction
• Personal development through increased self-confidence, independence and maturity
• Valuable experience on your CV

Students considering the four year programme are sometimes concerned that working in a particular area will limit their career choices later on.  In fact, the opposite is true!  Some graduates do go on to work in the music industry in some way, others use the skills and abilities learnt and apply them in many different ways. Have a look at what students say about their experiences and see what some of them are doing now.

Please view the Quotes from Students section

Also, look out for the  ‘Where are they now?' section... coming soon!

Prior to embarking on your training placement you will be briefed by the Senior Professional Training Tutor through the Professional Placement Training module and by personal tutorials. All students will have opportunities to discuss placement options, details and concerns with the Tutor before any placement is finalised. You will also be given a copy of the University’s Professional Training Handbook, which offers detailed advice on matters such as tax, national insurance, and other administrative issues.

Three tutorial visits by department staff are normally arranged during the training period. The Senior Professional Training Tutor normally visits all students, but may also draw up a schedule of other Music academic staff who are to visit each student during the course of the year. These visits are used to talk with you about any issues (either personal or work-related) which may be appropriate, to monitor your work, to meet with your supervisor and to find out just how well the placement is progressing. You are encouraged to keep in touch with the Senior Professional Training Tutor throughout the placement to discuss new projects or developments at work or to talk over any problems or concerns as they arise. In addition to the formal visits you should feel free to contact the Senior Professional Training Tutor or other departmental staff by telephone or email if you need to discuss anything. It is better to tackle any problems before they become too large, and tutors will always help if difficulties develop during the training period.

Throughout the placement you will continue to receive the same information about module, programme or departmental/University changes as other students, as appropriate. Students often return to the Department during the year to visit, and this is encouraged where possible. Some students also maintain their performance activities and play with the Orchestra, ensembles or bands, or sing with the Choir or Chamber Choir during their placement year

You are entitled to instrumental/vocal lessons if you propose to take a performance option in your final year. You should discuss this option with the Head of Performance before you start your professional training period.

With regard to the placement you will be required to submit two written reports, one mid-way through the placement (<2500 words) and one upon your return to the University (<3500 words). These reports are reflections upon the experiences you have encountered at work and should articulate your professional development throughout the professional training period.

On returning from the training period, in addition to submitting your final report, you will be expected to make a short professional presentation to staff and students, describing key features of your placement and including examples of your work where appropriate. Your placement host is also asked to provide a confidential report on your progress.

Successful completion of the Professional Training Period is currently dependent upon tutors’ assessments, based on visits and discussions with your supervisor; the supervisor’s report; your two written reports; your presentation.

Modules and credit values

Each module will contribute a percentage mark towards the final degree classification in proportion to the number of P credits allocated.  The proportion of the final degree represented by the total Level P mark is 10%.