Popular Music BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  Our degree in Popular Music equips you with the skills your need to compose, record and produce music. You will graduate with a 360° view of the music industry, your place within it and how you can move forward from here. The course follows three strands:

  • Performing and Composing
  • Recording and Producing
  • Thinking and Writing

  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.

  Take a guided tour of our brand new music facilities:

  The Popular Music course at the University of Northampton offers students incredible opportunities to succeed after graduation. This stems from the support and guidance of academics, who have worked with global icons and international artists within the music industry.

  Changing Futures Week

  Our annual Changing Futures Week is an exciting event and an excellent opportunity for our students to explore the potential of their course and understand where their university experience can lead them beyond graduation. It offers a unique chance to network with high profile industry professionals from the arts, TV, film, fashion and more.

  Modules

  Information about the modules for this course can be found on the award map:

  View Popular Music BA (Hons) modules

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• Entry Requirements

  Standard entry requirements apply. A typical offer is BCC at A-Level or DMM at BTEC. All qualified applicants will be invited for interview. We welcome international applications and applications from students with a range of non-traditional educational or professional qualifications.

  For more more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

  If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  Integrated Foundation Year Entry Requirements

  Admission to this foundation programme is normally DEE at A-Level or MPP at BTEC. However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the programme you wish to study.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
    for study at undergraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

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• Fees and Funding

  2022/23 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 22/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • UK – Part Time: £1,500 per 20 credit module
  • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
  • International – Full Time: £14,000
  • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £14,000 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply

  Additional Costs

  • 1TB portable hard drive (approximately £50)
  • a good pair of closed back headphones (approximately £60-100)
    core texts for first year modules: Bennett et al. The Popular Music Studies Reader – £28.99
    John Storey, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture:  An Introduction – £27.99
  • consumables for individual instruments (jack leads, capos, plectrums, drum skins, drum sticks, reeds, strings etc.)
  • USB Flash drives (data sticks) for submitting coursework (£10-20 for two)
  • £50 towards travel costs across three years

  21/22 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • UK – Part Time: £1,465 per 20 credit module
  • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £6,780 as part of a four year programme (subsequent years will be charged at standard BA rate)
  • International – Full Time: £13,000
  • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £13,000 as part of a four year programme (subsequent years will be charged at standard BA rate)

  Additional Costs

  • 1TB portable hard drive (approximately £50)
  • a good pair of closed back headphones (approximately £60-100)
    core texts for first year modules: Bennett et al. The Popular Music Studies Reader – £28.99
    John Storey, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture:  An Introduction – £27.99
  • consumables for individual instruments (jack leads, capos, plectrums, drum skins, drum sticks, reeds, strings etc.)
  • USB Flash drives (data sticks) for submitting coursework (£10-20 for two)
  • £50 towards travel costs across three years

  For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

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• Partnerships and Accreditation

  This course is Industry Accredited by JAMES representing APRS, MPG and associate industry bodies. Accreditation of a course by relevant industry bodies provides assurance to students and employers of its potential and value.
  

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join this full time degree at Northampton you will receive a laptop when your course begins. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home. In addition to this, first year Popular Music BA (Hons) students get free one-to-one instrumental lessons.

  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. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks visit our Student Perks page.

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• Integrated Foundation Year (IFY)

  The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  Featuring a reduced tuition fee in the first year, our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

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• Industry Expertise

  Tony Platt is the recording studio tutor at the University of Northampton.

  During his career, Tony has worked as a sound engineer and record producer for a diverse mix of artists, including AC/DC.

  Tony has been involved within music production since the early 1970s, predominantly within the world of rock. However, his personal discography is impressive working with musical idols such as Bob Marley within his early years, and the likes of Two Tone Club in more recent times.

  Tony is also the Managing Director of the prestigious Music Producers Guild Awards held in London as well as member of the steering group for the APRS/MPG education initiative JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support) whilst still undertaking lecturing at the University.

  His depth of knowledge and understanding within music production are vital for students to gain a key understanding of the industry and how to succeed in an extremely competitive environment.

  We are privileged to have Tony’s name associated with the university and are sure he will inspire a new generation of music students in the future.

  Find out more about Tony’s biography and discography.

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught on Popular Music BA (Hons)?

  You will be taught through, small group lectures, seminars, tutorials, online tutorials, workshops, independent and group study, one-to-one supervisions.

  How will I be assessed?

  Assessment includes practical project work, seminar presentations, essays, and examinations. All performance assessments take place in a public venue in Northampton in front of a live audience.

  Are there any specialist facilities and features?

  Your teaching will take place at Waterside Campus, specifically the newly renovated Development Hub.

  Specialist facilities include

  • Two Mac Suites: running Logic Pro X, Ableton 10, Native Instruments Komplete 12, Pro Tools SoundToys bundle, Arturia V studio, Universal Audio Ultimate, Spitfire Audio Hybrid, Steven Slate Drums
  • Two recording studios: running Pro Tools and Audient 8024 mixing console, Neve 1073LB preamps, SSL VHD preamps, Apollo 8P, Apollo Satellite Octo, Rupert Neve Designs 5043
  • Microphones: U87 condensers, AKG414s, Telefunken FET M60s, AKG 451s, Radial DI boxes, Radial SGI and re-amp boxes, and a full range of other industry mics
  • Hardware synthesisers such as Arturia DrumBrute, Novation Circuits, Roland TB303, Behringer Deepmind 12, Roland Juno DS, Novation Bass Stations, Ableton controllers – Launchkey 49s, Launcontrol XLs, Launchpad Mark 1 and Mark 2.
  • Three fully kitted rehearsal rooms.
  • Live performance hardware such as Vox amps, Marshall MG 4×12 amps, Orange Crush Pro amps, Peavey Amps, Ampeg PF500 Bass amplifiers, Yamaha Stage Custom kits, Gretsch Drum Kit, Studio AAX, full PA, three rehearsal rooms.
  • Two grand pianos – Bechstein Boudoir Grand, Steinway Studio B, two Yamaha upright pianos.
  • The BA Popular Music course is supported by a fully ProTools HD enabled recording studio. Students also have access to three digital audio workstation suites and two live rehearsal rooms.

  Special course features include

  • introducing you to a critical engagement with popular music
  • fostering musicianship and studio craft
  • developing performance skills
  • exploring the music industry in the digital age
  • fully equipped recording studios
  • full access to a range of instruments and free tuition on an instrument you don’t play

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Careers and Employability

This course is an excellent foundation for careers in all parts of the music industry including: musician, performer, producer, songwriter, artist liaison and more.