BA (Hons) Applied Music Bachelor's degree at UHI
BA (Hons) Applied Music at UHI was founded in 2011 and awards a nationally recognised UK degree. Study covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project and professional skills.
About this course
Course type: BA (Hons) International: Available to study online Study at: Argyll; Moray; North, West and Hebrides; Orkney; Perth; Shetland Start in: September Learning mode: Online You access classes and/or materials digitally. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Applied Music is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at UHI, based in UHI Argyll,UHI Moray,UHI North West Hebrides,UHI Orkney,UHI Perth,UHI Shetland. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Music & Performing Arts, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 75% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 8 modules
- Creativity is more important than knowledgeCore
- Ensemble 1Core
- Music in its widest context: social, cultural, historicalCore
- Performance practice 1Core
- Remote digital music collaborationCore
- Gaelic for learners 1AOptional
- Music and the creative industries: the portfolio musicianOptional
- Music sync and placementOptional
Year 2 6 modules
- Creation through technologyCore
- Creative skillsCore
- Music, power and commerceCore
- Performance practice 2Core
- The effective contributorCore
- Music in the creative industriesOptional
Year 3 6 modules
- Applied music research skillsCore
- Creative identityCore
- Creative technology applicationsCore
- Music in educational and community contexts 1Core
- Music in the arts and societyCore
- Professional practiceCore
Year 4 5 modules
- Applied music: critique and evaluationCore
- Applied music: performance, creation or researchCore
- Music and cultureCore
- Music in educational and community contexts 2Core
- Sustainable creative endeavourCore
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This part-time degree is available to study online, giving you flexibility to balance music study with other commitments. You'll typically begin with performance and musicianship foundations, principal-study lessons, ensembles, harmony and aural skills, alongside music history and repertoire from early music to contemporary work. In your second year, you'll deepen practical performance through recitals and larger projects, whilst exploring composition, music technology, and pedagogical skills. The final year introduces specialist pathways such as Performance, Composition, Music production, Musicology, Music education, or Ensembles, alongside professional development covering the business of music. You'll conclude with a final recital, portfolio or major project that showcases your accumulated learning.
Who it's for
Half of accepted students enter with a previous degree, so this course attracts a mix of direct entrants and those returning to study. The part-time structure suits those balancing music with other commitments. It is taught in English across six geographically dispersed campuses, making it accessible to learners across the Highlands and Islands region.
Careers & job market
Across Music and Performing Arts courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically range from £20,000 to £28,000, rising to £19,975–£28,200 after five years. These figures reflect the broader labour market for the field rather than outcomes specific to this institution.
University & format
The BA (Hons) Applied Music is delivered by the University of the Highlands and Islands, a university with multiple campuses across Scotland: Argyll, Moray, North, West and Hebrides, Orkney, Perth, and Shetland. The course is available to study online and is taught in English. You study part-time, accessing classes and materials digitally. The degree is a nationally recognised UK degree-awarding qualification.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| a previous degree | 50% |
| another higher-education qualification | 40% |
| Other | 10% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Published UHI fee framework
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Music & Performing Arts graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in music & performing arts · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Music & Performing Arts nationally
National figures for Music & Performing Arts graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Job market & outlook
How Music & Performing Arts graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Music & Performing Arts graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Orchestras & ensembles
- Schools & conservatoires
- Studios & venues
- Media & freelance
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Music & Performing Arts graduates.
Music Tech Beta Liaison & Support SpecialistinMusic Brands, Inc.Music QTSColmore Education Recruitment LtdMusic Teachers in HuddersfieldAcademicsMusic Rights Operations & Data Services LeadPPLMusic Engagement Officer - Alternative Provision · Coventry MusicMusiceducationukMusic Audio & Tech Support Desk SpecialistMandarin RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Fees and funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.5 out of 10: continued 75%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the Highlands and Islands
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Music & Performing Arts right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International eligibility
The provider publishes this course-specific status:
Available to study online
Eligibility depends on the programme, study mode, delivery and approved study location. No visa or online-study eligibility is inferred beyond the provider statement.
Related courses
More at UHI
Music & Performing Arts at other universities
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated foundation year)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated year in professional practice)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama & Theatre StudiesAberystwyth University
BA (Hons) Creative Industries Futures (including Foundation Year)ACMCommon questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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