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Music and Popular Music BA (Hons)

UCAS code: W301 | Full-time | 3 years

Entry requirements

View entry requirements

UK/Ireland fees:

£9,250 per year

International fees:

£22,400 per year

Starts on:

Not a UK or Republic of Ireland student?
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Clearing 2024: find your place at Liverpool

We may have limited places for entry in 2024 for high achieving applicants.

Clearing is open for applications from international students, as well as UK and Republic of Ireland students who have their results. Limited places are available for high-achieving students.

About this course

This degree offers you a great deal of flexibility and allows you to select from both our classical and popular music modules. There is no better place to study music than Liverpool: we work closely with musical venues and organisations throughout the city, including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic; and we established the world’s first specialist centre for its study - the Institute of Popular Music - in 1988.

Introduction

The modules on this programme vary, with some being practical – concerned with musical performance, composition and orchestration, song-writing or creative music technology – while others focus on music history topics or music analysis and theory. Our studio and performance modules cater for both classical and popular musical styles, allowing you to choose the route best suited to you; and a generous range of optional modules includes specialist topics such as music psychology, audio-visual media (films and videogames), and vocational modules. Throughout, you will learn to write about music from a historical, critical, sociological, or philosophical viewpoint.

Year in industry

Undergraduate students in the Department of Music have the opportunity to spend a year in industry, either in their third year, or by adding a ‘follow-on year’ at the end of their academic studies. These are paid placements within an organisation in industry, broadly defined, and you will receive support from the Department and the School of the Arts to source and apply for opportunities. Find out more about the difference between these options, including how to apply.

What you'll learn

  • A critical understanding of music from a wide range of aesthetic, cultural and social perspectives
  • A detailed understanding of Western (and some other) music repertoires
  • Advanced proficiency in performance, and composition
  • Academic research skills
  • Critical and cultural awareness
  • The ability to devise and sustain complex arguments
  • Written and oral communication and presentation
  • Creativity
  • Time management and organisations skills
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Entry requirements

As part of our application process, applicants are normally required to attend an Applicant Interview and Music Experience Day where you will either have an interview or a short audition with an academic member of staff. This is your chance to demonstrate your passion for the subject and allow us to make a decision on your application. (There is an option for phone or Skype interviews).

Home entry requirements

If you've received your results, you can apply now. You’ll usually need to have achieved BBC or above at A level or meet our requirements for other accepted qualifications. Higher entry criteria may apply for a small number of courses.

If you live in a postcode area where you’re less likely to go to university, or if you’ve spent any time in social care, we’ll take this into account when considering your application. We may be able to make you a reduced offer for the course you want to study.

International entry requirements

International Baccalaureate

26 points overall with no score less than 4, including 5 in HL Music, 5 in SL English or 4 in HL English plus 5 in SL Maths/Maths Studies or 4 in HL Maths/Maths Studies

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

443 from 2 electives (including Music) plus one core subject (excluding Citizenship and Social Development) and a minimum grade 3 in core Mathematics. Grade 4 (with no component less than 4) in HKDSE English Language

India Standard XII

Overall average of 70% from four core subjects including 75% in Music, a minimum of 75% in English dependent on exam board (not including Hindi, Regional Language, Environmental Education and PE) and a minimum of 50% for Standard X Maths
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Course options

Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.

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Fees and funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.

Tuition fees

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)
Full-time place, per year £9,250
Year in industry fee £1,850
Year abroad fee £1,385
International fees
Full-time place, per year £22,400
Year in industry fee £1,850
Year abroad fee £11,200
Fees are correct for the academic year 2024/25. Please note that the Year Abroad fee also applies to the Year in China.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. Learn more about paying for your studies.

Additional costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.

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Additional study costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about additional study costs.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to provide tuition fee discounts and help with living expenses while at university.

Check out our Liverpool Bursary, worth up to £2,000 per year for eligible UK students. Or for international students, our Undergraduate Global Advancement Scholarship offers a tuition fee discount of up to £5,000 for eligible international students starting an undergraduate degree from September 2024.

Discover our full range of undergraduate scholarships and bursaries

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Contact us

Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.

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Last updated 27 June 2024 / Programme terms and conditions