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Popular Music at University of Northampton - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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University of Northampton has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

18Jan
University of Northampton - open day event
Undergraduate

Course summary

Why choose this course? By studying Popular Music with us you'll develop your performance skills, music industry know-how, music technology abilities, theory and musicianship knowledge, learn how to record in the studio, as well as traditional academic proficiently. Highlights:

  • We offer one-to-one instrumental/vocal tuition to all of your first year students, and we offer masterclasses with international top musicians
  • We are accredited by Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES) meaning we have their industry seal of approval
  • Our lecturers and tutors are predominantly professional musicians still working in, and with many years in the music industry, including working with The Specials, AC/DC, The Book of Mormon
  • Fantastic resources, including contemporary rehearsal booths, industry standard equipment recording studio, Mac Suites, software and hardware equipment to use in your music
  • 95% of our graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 minutes after the course*
  • Students have the chance to audition for Northampton Music Festival and other local festivals.
When you graduate you will be more than a performer and engineer, you will understand why music is important culturally and economically and understand how the music industry fits together. With the changes to music distribution and marketing that have taken place over the past ten years, musicians need to be a part of this change rather than pursuing old ideas of labels and deals. By studying at the University of Northampton, you can be sure that:
  • You will experience student life at the University’s £330 million Waterside Campus. Come along to an Open Day and find out more.
  • Students enrolling on this course at Northampton will be provided with their own brand new laptop** to keep at no additional cost. All sports clubs and societies are free to join at Northampton and every essential course text book is available via the library, meaning you won’t have to purchase copies. For more information on this visit our website (northampton.ac.uk/benefits).
  • At UON we guarantee a room in our Halls of Residence for all new full-time, first year students who apply and accept their room offer by June 2025 - and we won't ask for a deposit for September 2025***.
  • Our expert academics teach in small groups supported with one to one assistance. Our academics and students form a tight bond, providing individualised support and guidance whilst challenging students academically.
  • Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd.
The Northampton Employment Promise
  • In fact, we’re so confident in our careers and employability support that if you achieve at least a 2:2 degree and complete either our Employability Plus Gold programme or achieve a Changemaker Gold Certificate during your time studying with us, but still haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating, we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you or support you into postgraduate study.
✱ National Student Survey (NSS) 2023 ✱✱ eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply. See northampton.ac.uk/benefits for more information ✱✱✱ eligibility criteria apply. See northampton.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/ for more information

Modules

STAGE 1: • Digital Audio Workstation 1: Implementation (Compulsory) • Digital Audio Workstation 1: Creation (Compulsory) • Professional Music Studies (Compulsory) • Performance 1 (Compulsory) • The Recording Studio: Driving Test (Compulsory) • The Recording Studio: Basic Recording (Compulsory) • Cultural Theory 1 (Compulsory) • Composition and Theory 1: Basic Music Theory (Compulsory) • Composition and Theory 1: Application of Theory (Compulsory) STAGE 2: • How Music Works (Designated) • Performance 2 (Designated) • The Creative Practitioner (Designated) • Performance with Technology (Designated) • Composition and Theory 2 (Designated) • Cultural Theory 2 (Designated) • Digital Audio Workstation 2: Synthesis (Part 1) (Designated) • Digital Audio Workstation 2: Sampling (Part 2) (Designated) STAGE 3: • Professional Project 40 (Designated) • Popular Music Dissertation (Designated) • Pop and the State (Designated) • The Philosophy of Music (Designated) • Music and Sound Design for Media (Designated) • Performance 3 (Designated) • Music Education (Designated) • Advanced Recording and Production: Client Demos (Part 1) (Designated) • Advanced Recording and Production: Final Product (Part 2) (Designated) Module information is quoted for 24/25 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly. 25/26 entry modules will be released in June 2025.

Assessment method

The course is assessed in a number of ways: • Performances and gigs • Solo performance • Practical performance assessments, tests and exams • Creative Project Work • Vlogs/podcasts • Formal academic writing • Presentations • Creative portfolio work

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W340
Institution code:
N38
Campus name:
Waterside Campus
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Additional entry requirements

Interview

We look forward to welcoming you to an interview or audition at the University of Northampton. Interviews and auditions are designed to be positive, supportive experiences and around 40% of our courses include one of these as part of the process. If you are invited for an interview or audition you will receive an email from us with all the details about what you need to prepare. You may also see an interview/audition notification via UCAS on your UCAS Hub account. Please note that school servers can block emails from us so make sure to use your personal email address in your application. This is also a good idea as it allows you to still have access to your UCAS account once you have left school/college. You can see the details about what will happen at the interview or audition for your subject area at www.northampton.ac.uk/undergraduate/applicant-interviews. If you have questions about the interview or audition process here at UON you can email [email protected].

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
85%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Popular Music at University of Northampton - UCAS