Many students find joint honours both stimulating and rewarding for the similarities and differences they encounter between the two subjects. Often there are complementary issues and perspectives as well as skills that link the subjects, be they critical analysis, historical contexts or the ability to experience and contribute to cutting–edge of research.You will spend a similar amount of time on each subject, developing your music understanding and skills and pursuing a range of enquiries in different historical periods and topics.The School of Music and the School of History, Archaeology and Religion offer challenging and fascinating suites of modules in their respective subject areas. The flexibility of the course allows you to specialise and develop your own interests, while acquiring a solid, broad-based education and developing transferable skills.Home to the arts, Cardiff is a great location for the study of music and history in the UK. The city has a professional opera company, Welsh National Opera, and a professional symphony orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The School of Music enjoys a fruitful relationship with both organisations that allows, for instance, students to attend dress rehearsals and buy cut-price tickets for concerts.The University has a superb historical research collection and historical sites in the city include Cardiff Castle and the resources of the National Museum. You are expected to have gained or shown evidence of working towards Grade 8 in one or more instruments or voice at the time of your application. You may be considered if you are not taking A-level Music but have Grade 8 Practical and Grade 7/8 Theory and are studying appropriate Humanities subjects at A-level. Distinctive features•This course is especially suited to those interested in seeing music within a broad cultural context, embracing the literary, the social, the historical and the political•There are no compulsory modules in either discipline•Your optional third year dissertation may draw on both disciplines•Instrumental tuition is fully funded by the School of Music on your principal study instrument•Business of Music modules offer a short work placement•Composition workshops, performance masterclasses, the University concert series, the John Bird lectures presented by visiting academics and the careers talks provides many opportunities for contact with active music professionals