BA (Hons) Popular Music Bachelor's degree at UHI
BA (Hons) Popular Music at UHI. You'll engage with core concepts in popular music studies, undertake research and develop specialist expertise in areas that matter to you, alongside building professional skills for the music industry and beyond.
About this course
BA (Hons) Popular Music is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at UHI, based in UHI Perth. 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 2 - DipHE 12 modules
- Creative industries analysisCore
- Creative projectCore
- First study 1Core
- Applied music theoryCore
- Songwriting, composition and productionCore
- Music industry touringOptional
- Second study 1Optional
- Recording technology for popular musiciansOptional
- Audio for multimediaOptional
- Live audio productionOptional
- Multitrack studio techniquesOptional
- Digital music industriesOptional
Year 3 - BA 12 modules
- Themed research projectCore
- EntrepreneurshipCore
- First study 2Core
- Ensemble performanceCore
- Songwriting: context and processOptional
- Screen compositionOptional
- Teaching and learning practicesOptional
- Second study 2Optional
- Multitrack mixdown techniquesOptional
- Transmedia applicationsOptional
- Managing and leadershipOptional
- Music publishing and lawOptional
Year 4 - BA (Hons) 9 modules
- Research paper or dissertationCore
- Creative honours projectCore
- Personal employability strategyCore
- Final composition projectOptional
- Community placement projectOptional
- Sound design for fixed mediaOptional
- Digital businessOptional
- Performance practice labOptional
- Social media campaign managementOptional
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
You'll study performance, composition, production and the history of popular music. A course like this typically moves from foundational performance and musicianship in Year 1, principal-study lessons, ensemble work, harmony and aural skills, to deeper technique and specialist options in Year 2, where you'll develop composition or music-production skills alongside teaching practice. In Year 3, you'll often choose a focus such as Performance, Composition, Music production, Musicology, Music education or Ensembles, supported by professional development covering the business of music, funding, promotion and portfolio careers. You'll usually complete a final recital, portfolio or major project. The course balances practical musicianship with contextual study of repertoire and its cultural history.
Who it's for
You're suited to this course if you have a genuine curiosity about how popular music works, its history, structures and cultural contexts, and want to deepen that understanding through sustained study. You'll thrive if you're comfortable balancing independent project work with classroom engagement, and if you're keen to apply what you learn to real creative or professional challenges. Most students entering bring a previous degree; if that's your background, this offers a focused second qualification in a specific field.
Careers & job market
Across Music & Performing Arts courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months, and 55% of working graduates move into highly skilled roles or continue their studies. Starting salaries range from £20,000 to £28,000; after five years, graduates typically earn between £19,975 and £28,200 (these are national figures from Graduate Outcomes data, not guaranteed). The course emphasises professional skills and applied practice, preparing you for roles within the music industry, cultural organisations, or related sectors where creative and analytical thinking are valued.
University & format
This BA (Hons) degree is taught at University of the Highlands and Islands, a recognised UK degree-awarding body, at its UHI Perth campus. It is offered on a part-time basis in English. The course is suitable for students seeking flexibility; notably, 50% of recent accepted students held a previous degree. Check the university's funding pages for bursaries and scholarships.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
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.
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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