POPULAR MUSIC @ HIGHER EDUCATION
This section is intended as a one-stop resource for music students looking to undertake a popular music, or music technology, course at higher education level.
Students on Level 3 Access to Music courses should be able to progress to most popular music and music technology higher education courses as long as they have successfully gained both Level 3 diplomas in a relevant pathway. These diplomas generate 96 ten-hour credits. Some courses may require additional credits and, in this case, students should undertake one or two additional units during their course.
Please note that the Rockschool diplomas attached to Access to Music Level 3 courses are not linked to UCAS points. Instead, students should use the ten-hour credit tariff together with the overall grade(s) (e.g. 96 Level 3 credits graded Merit/Merit).
Access to Music has its own Higher Education Courses which we recommend as the ideal progression route for students completing their Level 3 studies. We also have a Music Educator music tutor training course for those wanting to gain teaching skills.
Other institutions offering higher education popular music and music technology courses are listed below. We have only listed non-scientific music technology courses. There are other music-related higher education courses available, but please note that additional, or alternative, entry requirements may apply to these.
GENERAL HIGHER EDUCATION INFO
Please go to the following links to find out more about Higher Education and how to apply through UCAS. Please note all these open in a new window.
WHY CHOOSE HIGHER EDUCATION?
VALUE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
INFO ON APPLYING THROUGH UCAS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
APPLY THROUGH UCAS
UCAS APPLICATION GUIDES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT APPLICATIONS
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU APPLY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AFTER APPLYING
Please go to the following links to find out more about applying through CUKAS for courses such as ATM's Popular Music Practice (Session Musician) Foundation Degree. Please note all these open in a new window.
REGISTERING WITH CUKAS
STARTING YOUR APPLICATION
TRACKING YOUR APPLICATION
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
The following institutions offer higher education courses in popular music and/or music technology. Institutions are listed under the place where they are located and places are listed alphabetically. Where possible we have provided a brief description of the institution together with a list of suitable courses. Please note that Access to Music is not responsible for the accuracy of information provided by other institutions and does not endorse any third party provider. All links open new windows.
ACCESS TO MUSIC
Access to Music has an expanding range of higher education and music teaching courses which provide excellent opportunities for advanced skill development and progression from level 3 courses. Courses are available at the British Academy of New Music in London and at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
BATH
BATH SPA UNIVERSITY
The School of Music & Performing Arts offers a full range of music, dance and drama programmes from Foundation Degrees through undergraduate honours degrees to postgraduate and research degrees. The high quality of these programmes has long been recognised by external agencies, external examiners, employers and practitioners within the creative industries and, most importantly, their own graduating students. All of their programmes, which are characterised by an emphasis on practice-based, vocational learning, attract around ten applications for each place. Their Popular Music foundation degree is run in partnership with Weston College at their campus in Weston-Super-Mare on the coast about 25 miles from Bath. The Commercial Music course is run from the Newton St Loe campus about 2 miles west of Bath.
BOURNEMOUTH
BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY
The Media School, at Bournemouth University, is the largest centre of vocational higher education for the media industries in the UK, offering high-quality, industry-recognised courses in Media Production and Media Management, Journalism, ComputerAnimation, and Communications; including Public Relations and Marketing. The Media School is the UK's only Centre for Excellence in Media Practice (as designated by Higher Education Funding Council for England) and is also an accredited Skillset Screen Academy. The Popular Music foundation degree is run from the Knighton Heath Music Centre on the outskirts of Bournemouth. Please note the university also offers BSc engineering degrees in Music Technology but you will need science qualifications and/or experience for these.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (High Wycombe)
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE CHILTERNS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
The School of Music, Entertainment & Moving Image offers an exciting and innovative range of vocational graduate and post graduate programmes specifically designed to give students a head start in management and production for the creative industries. Home to the first leading music & entertainment management programmes in the UK, the School is now entering its twelfth successive year of offering students the opportunity to combine a solid understanding of applied management skills, with an appreciation of the unique nature of music and entertainment products. Delivered by a team of dedicated staff, the majority of whom still work in influential positions in the industry, the result is a teaching approach that prioritises the importance of ‘hands on’ management experience. Management courses are run from the Wellesbourne Campus about one mile from High Wycombe. The Commercial Music course is run in partnership with Amersham & Wycombe College.
CAMBRIDGE
ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY
Anglia Ruskin University's Music provision has been awarded an 'Excellent' rating in the Higher Education Funding Council of England's Teaching Quality Assessment of all higher education institutions. Drama also achieved, alongside English, a '5' rating for the quality of its research in the Research Assessment Exercise, which reported in 2001. The department has 17 full-time staff and over 50 visiting and part-time staff, reflecting teaching and research expertise at national and international level.
CARDIFF
UNIVERSITY OF GLAMORGAN
The newly established Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries brings together the creative disciplines within the University of Glamorgan, including Art & Design, Media & Communication and Drama & Music. From September 2007, a new campus, ATRiuM, will open in downtown Cardiff and provide the Faculty with a new home. This multi-million pound facility will be an architectural icon, as well as a platform for an eclectic mix of teaching and research in the theory and practice of media, design and the arts. As well as state-of-the-art teaching and learning spaces and facilities, like-minded individuals from a broad range of subject areas will work together in an environment geared to sharing expertise across the disciplines. Please note the university also offers BSc engineering degrees in Music Technology but you will need science qualifications and/or experience for these.
ROYAL WELSH COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND DRAMA
The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama provide specialist practical and performance-based training that enables students to enter and influence the music, theatre and related professions. The college presents over 300 public performances every year, including concerts and guest recitals, opera, musical theatre and a range of drama productions. Performances take place at the college's theatre and recital spaces and at a variety of external venues.
CHELTENHAM
UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE
The Department of Media Production at the Pittville Studios in Cheltenham specialises in courses that are practical and creative and that provide a vocational outcome in the media industries. Students learn to create in a studio environment and access state of the art technologies in doing so.
CHESTER
UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER
The Department of Performing Arts is housed on the main campus in Molloy auditorium with access to more facilties on campus. Department staff are concerned with the management, study and practice of performance, the forms performance takes and the uses it is put to.
CHICHESTER
UNIVERSITY OF CHICHESTER
The music programme focuses on music as an applied art, one that is engaged with the musical world in all its diversity and excitement; from improvisation, composition, and professional performance, to music therapy, and community music, as well as the traditional music analysis and critical theory. There is something available to suit all interests. Please note that the Commercial Music foundation degree is run by Platform One on the Isle of Wight. You must be a resident of the Isle of Wight during the course. The course can provide progression to their BA in Music which is run at Chichester.
COLCHESTER
THE COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
The Centre for Music and Performing Arts at Colchester Institute has been successfully providing the building blocks for careers in this industry for well over 30 years.Every student has the opportunity to specialise in their chosen area of study and perform, evaluate and develop their skills with dedicated professional tutors and lecturers. They host a thriving concert series, annual competitions, rock gigs and workshops, and produce dance and theatre performances that both contribute to students’ courses and are open to the public.
DERBY
UNIVERSITY OF DERBY
Housed in the Markeaton Street building, the courses have excellent facilities and resources. There are a number of dedicated auditoriums so there’s space for music performance, sound and light rigging, and preparing multimedia events.Two fully-featured recording studios provide you with the opportunity for music production, or if you’re a performing musician, for training in studio performance skills. There’s also a set of laboratories so you can study music and lighting technology, and experiment in psychoacoustics and music perception. Meanwhile, in dedicated PC and Mac computer studios, you’ll be able to use a wide range of music and multimedia software packages. Please note the university also offers BSc engineering degrees in Music Technology but you will need science qualifications and/or experience for these.
DONCASTER
DONCASTER COLLEGE
The faculty of arts offers an 'alternative' approach to the traditional study of music at with the aim of embracing and celebrating the diversity of new music in today's culture. Courses use the application of new technologies to musical practice in both performance and composition. Critical study of diverse genres such as sound art, music for the moving image, electroacoustic and popular music. The courses are designed for students excited by the possibilities afforded to enhancing performance via music technology.
EDINBURGH
NAPIER UNIVERSITY
Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities including three recording studios and fully networked MIDI suites. The School also has well-equipped teaching and rehearsal rooms as well as a recital area which plays host to a lively programme of performances involving both students and visiting artists.
ESSEX
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
The Colchester Institute aim to provide students of all ages with the knowledge, skills and experience to equip them for life. The Institute works in partnership with employers locally, nationally and internationally to ensure the courses offered are matched to today’s standards and the needs of tomorrow.
GLASGOW
SAE INSTITUTE
All SAE colleges are equipped to a high professional standard. Students get access to industry standard equipment and can gain valuable experience in using it.Each college has several recording studios, exclusive for educational use.
HUDDERSFIELD
UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD
The purpose-built accommodation on the main University campus includes a recital hall, comprehensively stocked music library, common rooms, lecture rooms, teaching and practice rooms, keyboard laboratory, percussion studio, organ studio and five electro-acoustic studios. The music department is the major user of the fine new campus concert hall, St. Paul's, a beautifully converted Georgian church. Please note the university also offers music BA's and MA's with a combination of other subjects and BSc engineering degrees in Music Technology but you will need science qualifications and/or experience for these.
HULL
UNIVERSITY OF HULL
The Music Department is one of the most sought after places to study music in the country; it has an excellent reputation for teaching and research and has high academic and performing standards.
LANCASTER
LANCASTER UNIVERSITY
Music has a deserved reputation for high-quality and innovative teaching. The university have a consistently strong research record and all our staff are research-active, meaning that students benefit from the latest developments and discoveries in musicology and music technology. In Music Technology the focus is on creative work and you will experience a mix of practical and theoretical approaches that will prepare students for work in the creative industries and other areas where digital literacy is important.
LEEDS
LEEDS COLLEGE OF MUSIC
Students are taught in a vibrant and creative atmosphere by academic staff at the forefront of their fields. The College provides the highest quality education and training to help each individual student fulfil their potential and achieve a career as a professional musician.
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
The School of Music is one of the largest academic music departments in the country and brings together internationally acclaimed scholars, composers and performers. The quality of teaching at Leeds has been rated 'excellent' and the school has a high reputation for research. Please note the university also offers music BAs and MAs with a combination of other subjects.
LEICESTER
DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY
This is a uniquely named and distinctive course, which is reflected in a strong ethos amongst the large musical community of undergraduates, postgraduates and staff. The University is acknowledged as a leading innovator in this area, and is proud of a high national and international reputation for teaching, music making and research.The subject has recently been awarded Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning status. One result of this is the multi-million pound development of further state-of-the-art, fully digitally equipped, performance and teaching spaces, the Centre of Excellence for Performance Arts (CEPA). This development will also offer music students exciting possibilities for collaboration with Dance and Drama in innovative artistic projects housed in purpose built spaces.
LIVERPOOL
JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY
Within the current portfolio of Popular Music Studies courses, a percentage of modules are production-based/hands-on (including Music Production and DJing). These modules provide students with an appreciable, but not dominant, dimension within an overall degree profile geared primarily towards scholarly research. There is some scope for work-based learning, but the rationale of this particular programme is rooted within the scholarly traditions of Popular Music Studies, rather than geared towards performance or training.
LIVERPOOL HOPE UNIVERSITY
Liverpool Hope University offers opportunities to be actively involved in music and music making throughout your studies and is designed for the student who has already decided that music is going to be an important part of their life. The programme aims to produce creative and dynamic musicians with a broad range of experience. The City of Liverpool, as European Capital of Culture 2008, merits its world-wide reputation for popular music. It also has a world-class Symphony orchestra, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, which, like Liverpool Hope, was founded in the 1840s. It is in this context that Music at Hope takes place, within a vibrant community of musicians offering popular and classical music and music technology. Music BA's are also offered as a combined honours programme.
UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL
The Institute of Popular Music (IPM), established in 1988, was the first academic centre in the UK created specifically for the study of popular music. The IPM specializes in the provision of popular music teaching, research, information and archives and has a national and international reputation. The IPM deliver teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level, opportunities for postgraduate research, and research seminars and projects. These activities are supported by good library and archival resources.
SAE INSTITUTE
All SAE colleges are equipped to a high professional standard. Students get access to industry standard equipment and can gain valuable experience in using it.Each college has several recording studios, exclusive for educational use.
THE LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE OF PERFORMING ARTS
LIPA are not a conventional dance, drama or music school, although the standard of professional training reflects the best of such institutions. LIPA's programmes also differ from traditional university departments that focus on academic study. LIPA combine the best of both. Students will leave with a high level of professional skill or skills, an ability to reflect on their work and a deep understanding of the performing arts and their place within them.
LONDON
UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON
The Popular Music Performance BMus is only offered at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London.
GOLDSMITHS COLLEGE (UNIVERSITY OF LONDON)
The Music Department's commitment to eclectic and high quality performance is unrivalled amongst university colleges. This is reflected in the number of graduates who have made a career from their music making. In return, the Department demands from its students a high level of commitment to the various groups that it runs as well as encouraging students to form their own ensembles.
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PERFORMANCE
The Institute have recently installed world-class teaching and training rooms and performance studios, an industry-standard music technology and production suite, practice facilities, administrative areas and recreation space in their new building in Kilburn, close to central London.
ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE
The Music Technology programme acknowledges new ways of generating music, sound and visual media and as such, is designed to educate and train you in the particular creative and technological methods, strategies and skills demanded by
media in this context.
SAE INSTITUTE
All SAE colleges are equipped to a high professional standard. Students get access to industry standard equipment and can gain valuable experience in using it. Each college has several recording studios, exclusive for educational use.
TECH MUSIC SCHOOLS
(Drumtech, Vocaltech, Guitar-X & Keyboardtech)
The teaching centre at Tech Music Schools covers 15,000 sq ft. Facilities include: band performance rooms, multi-purpose classrooms, specially equipped acoustic drum booths, 2 state-of-the-art tech suites, 2 keyboard labs, student areas, office and student support centre. Facilities are air conditioned, extensively sound proofed and fully available for student rehearsals seven days a week as part of the full time course package.
THAMES VALLEY UNIVERSITY
An exceptional team of eminent concert artists delivers first class training in instrumental and vocal disciplines. Concerts are a regular feature of and frequently include new student compositions. The music technology course is managed and taught by a dedicated and versatile team who interact with a busy team of technicians, supervisors and demonstrators.
KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
Music at Kingston provides training in practical musicianship and criticism. Please note the university also offers BSc engineering degrees in Music Technology but you will need science qualifications and/or experience for these.
UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER
As one of the first departments of its kind in the UK it has a strong reputation and links with leading popular music centres around the world.
WEST THAMES COLLEGE
- Music Technology (Foundation Degree)
LUTON
UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE
The combination of staff expertise in these fields and the well established media department within the School of Media Art and Design gives this course its unique flavour and marks it out from other music technology courses available.
MANCHESTER
CITY COLLEGE MANCHESTER
City College Manchester run a range of courses for budding musicians, from the practical to the technical, beginners to advanced. The majority of our Music provision is based at the City Campus on Whitworth Street in the heart of Manchester, which boasts digital recording studios, DJing booths, editing suites and rehearsal rooms. The College's unique record label RawFish Records is based at City Campus. Also known as RF Records, the label is well known in the music industry, having close links with Radio 1, Channel 4 Ideas Factory, BPI, Manchester's In the City Convention and many others.
FUTUREWORKS MANCHESTER
A new college dedicated to creative media including audio, film & TV, digital arts and games. Facilities include 4 recording studios and 2 post-production suites.
MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Popular Musics is designed for students with a demonstrable background in non-traditional music-making, who wish to develop their skills and appreciation in a critical context. A substantially practical teaching and learning experience is combined with written and verbal contextualisation. Teaching at all levels is by means of staff-led discussion, seminars, individual tutorials and group-based workshops.
UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD
The Music Division is one of the largest comparable divisions within the Higher Education sector, with over 400 undergraduate students studying on two degree programmes, some 25 Masters students and 16 Doctoral candidates. Music at Salford has an enviable reputation for innovation, and we are continuing to develop new programmes and modules in response to the changing technological and musical environment. The Music Division's teaching was rated as excellent by the last QAA exercise.
MERSEYSIDE
ST HELENS COLLEGE
The Foundation Degree has been designed in consultation with local and regional employers and in response to the changing needs of the industry. The programme gives students the opportunity to develop your academic knowledge, practical, technical, analytical, transferable and work based skills.
NEWCASTLE
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
Music students have access to our wide range of facilities and equipment. These include: brand new teaching and work spaces; a growing suite of music practice rooms; outstanding library holdings (including scores and recordings); electro-acoustic, recording and post-production studios; and instrumental resources.
NEWCASTLE COLLEGE
Newcastle College has a national reputation for the quality of its Music and Performing Arts courses. The courses are challenging, rewarding, as well as highly practical, and have been recognised by inspectors as outstanding. Facilities in the award winning Performance Academy include 10 recording studios, a music venue, a keyboard and a synth lab, 2 music production suites and 10 music rehearsal rooms.
NEWPORT (WALES)
UNIVERSITY OF WALES
The course exposes students to activities such as music composition, sound and music production, multimedia and performance. An emphasis on the distribution and performance of your work encourages students to consider and discuss sociological and cultural forms of production and consumption.
NORFOLK
THE COLLEGE OF WEST ANGLIA
The course will require students to prepare for, arrange and undertake a number of gigs at a variety of venues throughout the course. Students will also have the opportunity to develop
their academic knowledge and understanding of aspects of popular music.
These academic modules will be balanced modules that concentrate on musical
performances and various aspects of music technology.
NORTHAMPTON
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON
The Division of Performance Studies foregrounds the exploration of contemporary arts practices across a range of fields as well as drawing upon the traditions that inform them. The degrees in Acting, Music, Dance, Drama and Performance are taught by practitioners/academics which ensures that not only do students benefit from their expertise but they are fully aware of current debates with-in the creative industries. Given the practical nature of the divisional degrees, students spend on average 70% of their degree in a workshop environment. This practical approach is supported by an exciting series of lecturers and discussion based seminars that allow the students to acquire a broader understanding of their subject area.
NORTHUMBRIA
NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY
The common purpose of all our courses is to provide students with a rich practical experience underpinned by a rigorous theoretical analysis and strong subject-specific understanding of their chosen medium in order to offer a sound base from which to consolidate and further develop their own performance practice.
NOTTINGHAM
CONFETTI STUDIOS
Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies is a unique educational establishment; a custom-designed facility, in Nottingham, which houses a progressive learning institute alongside commercial recording studios and pre and post production film and television companies.
NEW COLLEGE NOTTINGHAM
The BA Sonic Arts is one of only a handful of courses in the country that will allow students to top-up their HND or Foundation Degree to a full BA. With access to great facilities and performance spaces this will allow students to fully explore and develop their musical skills and creativity.
PORT TALBOT (WALES)
NEATH PORT TALBOT COLLEGE
Lecturers are specialist practitioners in their subject area and have a broad range of professional experience. As a consequence, the majority of students are successful in progressing to a wide range of Higher Education courses, other FE courses or employment. The School has a reputation for excellence with many past students currently enjoying high profile careers in the arts world.
SOUTHAMPTON
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
The Music division of the University of Southampton offers expert tuition and guidance to a large community of students, its staff covering one of the broadest ranges of interests in the country. From medieval music to indie pop, from formal analysis to feminist musicology, and in contemporary composition in all its forms, Music at Southampton is at the leading edge of research and practice worldwide. Composition and performance are taught by active practitioners of international standing, and our musicology staff are in demand as experts and authors by performers, record companies and publishers in Britain and abroad.
SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY
Southampton Solent University has a wealth of resources, primarily the knowledge and expertise of its staff but also its facilities and equipment.Together, the creative and innovative use of these resources is the key to passing on the benefits to students, the internal academic community and external customers.Students can enjoy a modern, comfortable and efficient environment in which to study, following extensive refurbishment and modernisation over recent years.
STAFFORDSHIRE
STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY
The Media Centre in the Faculty of Arts, Media & Design includes Post Production areas, computer labs, animation labs, a professional-standard news room, three teaching Radio Studios, and a whole raft of portable video and audio production equipment to give our students the best possible start in their careers.
STOKE ON TRENT
KEELE UNIVERSITY
Music Technology is situated in the early 19th-Century Clockhouse in a scenic part of the Campus. Its facilities include seven designated studios, lecture and seminar rooms, purpose-built practice rooms and a multi-speaker system for audio-visual concerts and events. Staff expertise in contemporary music, sonic arts, music technology, audiovisual art, music programming, a range of 20th-century musics and their precursors, and in cultural studies. Please note: Music Technology can also be combined with a variety of other subjects.
SURREY
THE ACADEMY OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Students at the Academy benefit from the thousands of hours of high level industry experience that have enabled the ACM teaching staff to create and deliver programmes that are internationally recognised for their quality and innovation.
SUSSEX
NORTHBROOK COLLEGE
Courses are delivered through a series of production assignments and other projects led by a lecturing team who themselves continue to work professionally at the highest levels of the music industry. The courses also incorporate substantial work experience within their framework.The studio complex at Northbrook College is extremely well resourced and includes thirty soundproofed studios along with sampling, sound and keyboard laboratories. The studios are supported by dedicated music computer rooms containing over one hundred Mac G5 and Pentium IV computers.
TRURO
TRURO COLLEGE
WOLVERHAMPTON
UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON
The music department is well equipped with a music technology lab, which runs Cubase SX and Sibelius software on 22 iMacs.
There are two recording studios with high-end digital recording facilities, incorporating G5 computers with audio hard disk recording technology. Work has just been completed on a brand new recording studio which has been developed in conjunction with our Industry Partners Major Key Studios. Facilities in the studio include a state-of-the-art KRK Monitor System, Industry Standard Neumann U87 vocal mic and a TLA Mixing desk which uses valve technology. Performance facilities include five ensemble rooms with vocal PA, backline, and a comprehensive collection of ethnic and percussion instruments.
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