Do Music Degrees Really Pay Off? Sarah Winter on Life After Uni

Written by Emma Bramwell

Photography via Sarah Winter

A year after graduating with a music degree, many emerging artists find themselves asking the same question: after years of studying, creating, and balancing performances with student life, has it actually helped them get closer to where they want to be? 

Sarah Winter is a singer-songwriter who graduated from BIMM Brighton with a degree in vocals. Like many music courses, her degree offered a mix of specialist skills alongside broader industry knowledge. In January 2026, she released her debut single ‘I Don’t Hate You’ and independently put on her own event at The Folklore Rooms in Brighton, collaborating with artists she met during her studies. Now, a year on from graduating, she is navigating the realities of building a career in music. 

Speaking about her day-to-day life, Sarah describes a shift away from structured education towards self-management and discipline. “Right now I basically try to plan what I'm going to do for the next day, which is mainly just seeking opportunities, writing emails to people, trying to get radio interviews and more shows.” 

Her experience reflects a wider reality for emerging artists. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, digital platforms are now one of the primary ways audiences discover new music. As a result, artists are no longer focused solely on making music, they are also responsible for building an online presence, developing a brand, and consistently engaging with audiences. 

Sarah highlights how this plays out in practice. “I do a lot on TikTok. I now change my algorithm to people always looking for support acts or for people to collaborate with. So I'm always like commenting, writing, DMing people and trying to get opportunities from that. Honestly, anything to basically grow bigger. Even one connection can change your whole life, you know?” 

Before moving to Brighton, Sarah began her studies at BIMM Hamburg, where she studied songwriting before the campus closed. She later transferred to Brighton and shifted her focus to vocals. Like many universities, BIMM places strong emphasis on networking, something Sarah identifies as one of the most valuable aspects of her degree. 

“I just don't think I would be where I'm at now, it helped me to get out of my comfort zone and find connections that I never would have had without it. For me, a big thing was also all the talks that I had with the teachers, like the mental support because that's a very big thing.” 

Photography via Sarah Winter

One of the strengths of studying at institutions like BIMM is the industry experience that lecturers bring. Many have worked directly within the field, whether that’s running a PR company, managing events, or performing as touring musicians. This real-world knowledge gives students a valuable insight into how the industry actually operates, offering a level of understanding that goes beyond the class. In a field with no clear entry route, relationships often play a crucial role in shaping early careers. University, in this sense, functions less as a direct pathway into employment and more as a space to build networks that can support future opportunities. 

Alongside practical skills and connections, Sarah also points to a shift in her artistic identity during her time at university. “When I first came to BIMM, I was like, I want to be the next Taylor Swift. And then eventually I was like, I want to be me.”

While music degrees aim to be diverse, some genres can still feel underrepresented within university environments. “I don't think pop was overlooked because, I mean, I'd say the main genres like BIMM are like pop and rock… because the punk rock scene is quite big in Brighton,” she explains. However, she also experienced moments where her own musical preferences felt undervalued. “Collaborating with people, they made me feel quite bad for liking pop because I mean, it's the usual like four chord song, it's too easy or blah, blah, blah. And I like that. I like to have like easy chords and cool hooks.” She also notes that other genres received less visibility: “R&B is overlooked… country as well… jazz… wasn’t really like a thing, which is a shame because I think jazz is so interesting and so important to kind of understand music theory.” It also raises questions about how well music degrees reflect the full diversity of the industry, particularly for genres that sit outside the mainstream focus.

However, a degree is not a guaranteed pathway into stable work within the music industry. Data from Prospects Luminate shows that only 45.8% of creative arts graduates are in full-time employment 15 months after graduating, compared to 56.4% across all subjects. A significantly higher proportion also enter part-time work or self-employment, reflecting the freelance and portfolio nature of creative careers. 

Ultimately, the value of a music degree isn’t always clear straight away. Careers in music rarely follow a straight path, and success can take years to build. At the same time, plenty of artists are finding their own way without going to university at all. They’re releasing music independently, building audiences online, and creating opportunities for themselves. A degree can help speed things up by offering structure, connections, and support early on, but it’s not the only route in. Rather than a guaranteed outcome, it’s one of many ways into the industry and for those who take it, the “payoff” often comes gradually, through experience, growth, and the networks built along the way.