CARDIFF: A MUSIC CITY

Cardiff is renowned for music and you’ll study right in the heart of the city centre. In 2019 it was officially declared a Music City – the first of its kind in the UK. This new status has already helped to develop Cardiff’s music scene and boost the city’s international profile.

The city offers many opportunities for work experience, project collaboration and live briefs with the industry. Our students are already a major part of Cardiff’s vibrant music culture, with a number of successful industry start-ups and artists emerging from USW.

Employability is central to our mission, so we’ll encourage you to gain experience from the start and build your CV. By graduation, you’ll have the skills for a wide range of pathways in the music, media and entertainment industries.

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN MUSIC

We support our students to feel part of the music industry, as professional, performers and producers. Our students host the annual Immersed! Music Festival, leading on all event management, including ticketing, artist management, marketing and sales.

The immersive project has been running for five years and involves intensive collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including cross-subject disciplines, music fans, commercial venues, charities, professional bodies, booking agents, artists, communities, policymakers and technicians. The festival has evolved from a programme that mainly featured student bands, to multi-platinum and Ivor Novello award-winning headliners such as Richard Ashcroft, Peter Doherty, Tom Greenham, Bad Sounds and Bang Bang Romeo, selling out 1000-capacity city centre venue, Tramshed raising thousands for charitable causes.

INDUSTRY COLLABORATION AND PROFESSIONAL FACILITIES

USW Music and Sound provides real-world opportunities, education and networks to prepare you for a successful career in the music industry. All students work on live projects and competitions, supported by industry visits including to local recording studios and venues. Collaboration with industry partners is at the heart of our courses, and current partnerships include NatWest Bank, Orchard Live, Warner Music, Longwave Studio, Music Declares Emergency, Boomtown and Sŵn Festival.

On campus you’ll have access to a mix of digital and vintage analogue equipment that’s among the best at a UK university. We have excellent facilities, including nine industry-standard recording studios with live and control rooms, plus separate practice spaces and a range of live performance spaces. You’ll create and collaborate to gain the range of skills you need to work in the music industry.

At USW, music performance students can professionally produce music and make it available commercially through our vinyl ‘Create’ sampler.