Year in Industry
Undergraduate students in the Department of Music have the opportunity to spend a year in industry, between their second and final 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.
Students taking either of these options will have ‘…with a Year in Industry’ noted on their degree certificate.
Year in Industry
If you choose the traditional year in industry, you will spend year three of your degree on a paid placement. A dedicated second year module – SOTA260 (Professional and Career Development) – will help you source and prepare for your role, and your reflexive written account of the experience will contribute towards your final degree result. If you wish to study this programme with a year in industry, please put the option code ‘YI’ in the ‘further choices’ section of your UCAS application form.
Follow-on Year in Industry
If you choose to add your year in industry to the end of your studies, you will take a single fourth year module (MUSI600) which will extend your studies to work full-time in a music related company. This module is designed to help you develop the skills and knowledge required to apply for work, and to support you in securing full-time paid placement related to music industries.
You will be supported by the Department of Music and the School of the Arts throughout your placement. The follow-on year is assessed on a pass/fail basis and does not contribute to your final degree result.
Please note that this option is currently only available on our Single Honours Music programmes (BA Music; BA Popular Music; BA Music and Popular Music; BA Music and Technology). You do not need to apply for this option at the point of applying through UCAS – simply choose MUSI600 as one of your Year Three optional modules.
Testimonies
"I have really enjoyed my time at Ditto thus far. From the beginning, everyone on the content team was very helpful and supportive and so I felt at home very quickly. I feel like I’m getting better at the job each week, and if there is anything I’m unsure of, I know the team is there to help me out. I have since gone on to get to know members of the other departments, specifically marketing and design, all of whom have treated me with warmth and kindness and have helped me to obtain a greater understanding of how the company operates.
“I believe the Year in Industry has been very effective in giving me an honest view into the music industry and the work that goes into music distribution, and has allowed me to get my foot in the door of an industry that isn’t always the most welcoming. The process has been overwhelmingly positive, the people I have met during this process I do not view as just colleagues, but as friends, and I believe that other students would definitely benefit from taking part in the programme." – Declan Mahoney
“As a current participant in the Year-in-Industry at the University of Liverpool, my role as a Junior Content Manager at Ditto Music has been extremely rewarding, affirming the effectiveness of the opportunity. Engaging in the day-to-day responsibilities of processing music and metadata for artists and labels globally has provided me with valuable real-world experience in the dynamic field of music and content management. Furthermore, it has served as a platform to apply and enhance the theoretical knowledge acquired during my studies within a real-world, professional context.
“I am confident that the skills and insights gained during my placement will not only enhance my future career prospects but also position me as a valuable asset within the music industry. Having experienced it firsthand, I can attest that the Year-in-Industry acts as a vital bridge between academic learning and professional application, effectively preparing students for the challenges in their chosen fields. I truly believe others, especially those aspiring for a career in music, would greatly benefit from this opportunity, as it serves as a starting point in the music industry—an industry known for its specific nuances in job attainment and professional advancement.” – Charlene Soo