Chris Martin Completed a Degree in a Surprising Subject

Chris Martin is the frontman for the band Coldplay, a group that has been making music together since the late ’90s. From alternative rock tunes like “Yellow” to mellow songs like “Speed of Sound,” Martin and his band have received acclaim for always remaining on the cutting edge of the music industry, as well for their willingness to work with a wide variety of other artists.

A celebrity who has often made headlines for his personal life, Martin has been linked to superstars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lawrence. Still, there’s more to Martin than meets the eye, and few of his fans likely realize that he studied a very surprising subject in university. 

Chris Martin’s was drawn to music early in life

Martin was born in England in 1977. As the oldest of five children, Martin was raised in a rambunctious household by a father who worked as an accountant and a mother who taught music.

Martin’s family has deeply-held ties to various political and business figures in England, and Martin was able to enjoy access to some of the best educational facilities around. As a child, he attended the pre-preparatory Hylton School and the preparatory Exeter Cathedral School, which is where he began learning about different musical stylings.

Martin discovered that not only was he drawn to music, but that he was very talented at playing instruments. Although Martin was already leaning towards pursuing a career in music, after he graduated from high school, he decided to attend college. 

What did Chris Martin study in college?

In 1996, Martin began attending University College in London. During the very first week of his studies, he crossed paths with Jonathan “Jonny” Buckland, a talented guitarist, and the two decided to form a band. By the following year, the group had recruited several more members, Guy Berryman and Will Champion, and after several name changes, they decided to dub their group Coldplay.

Buckland later recalled the first meeting between him and Martin, describing how “I can remember meeting Will for the first time and I can remember meeting Chris for the first time. Chris was running up and down the corridor with this really long curly mop and I thought he was a bit mad, a bit wacky and Will was very nice.”

The fledgling band Coldplay composed many of their earliest tunes on campus, writing and performing in the residence halls. Still, Martin continued his studies at University College, and ultimately, he graduated with a degree in Ancient World Studies, with an emphasis in Greek & Latin. 

What is Chris Martin best known for today?

While Martin might have graduated from college well-prepared to tackle a career in Ancient Studies, he never got the chance — Coldplay released their debut album in 2000, and almost immediately after, began enjoying the perks of success. Their first hit song, “Yellow,” was an international success, and earned the band their first Grammy Award nomination.

Ever since, Coldplay has been unstoppable, releasing hit after hit and adapting with the times to always stay on the edge of musical trends. 

These days, Martin is one of the biggest stars in the music world, and is still at the top of his game, more than twenty years after he first burst onto the scene — and he’s done it all on his own terms, utilizing the education that he received so many years ago.