UK Music launches searchable online Music Education Directory

This article originally appeared in Music Teacher magazine.

UK Music has launched an online version of their Music Education Directory (MED) in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) – Ariadne Research, the Musicians’ Union and JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support). 

The database, which has been published for 21 years, provides an extensive list of all Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) music courses in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Users can now search for courses by keyword and/or region, with information spanning all genres and careers in the music industry. 

Potential students can also use the MED to see what partnerships institutions have with music industry bodies. This tool is aimed at anyone interested in a career in music.

UK Music chief executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said, ‘UK Music is delighted to be partnering on the new online MED. Having the right information at the right time is so vital to individuals making decisions about their future. This new and improved version of the directory will make it even more accessible to those interested in a career in the music industry.’

‘The directory will make it easier for would-be students to make the right decisions on what to study and where. It also simply and clearly highlights key official industry links that colleges and universities have. I look forward to seeing those considering studying now forge successful careers as industry professionals of the future.’

UWS/Ariadne researcher and editor of MED Allan Dumbreck said: ‘The MED is now in its 12th edition and 21st year. As editor throughout that period, I have tracked the growth of HE, FE and training courses from a few hundred programmes in 1996 to over 1,500 today. The specific choice of course direction is now much more varied. Music management, songwriting, audio production, online music marketing and live sound are just a few examples.

‘It is therefore more important than ever for potential students to investigate centres, staff, facilities and teaching in order to identify the correct programme of study to suit their own skills, needs and desired career trajectory. We hope this database will assist aspiring music professionals to find the ideal course and we wish them luck as they embark on their educational journey.’

You can access the MED here. 

The directory aims to be a complete record of UK education for the professional music industries; any edits or amendments can be requested by emailing the editor on allan.dumbreck@uws.ac.uk