Popular Music (Joint Honours) BA/BSc (Hons)

• Overview

  The Popular Music (Joint Honours) BA/BSc (Hons) is intended to prepare you for a growing, and ever-evolving industry which contributed £4.5 billion to the economy in 2018. The course is specifically designed to ready you for a range of potential avenues of music creation, for example working as a freelance musician, working in the video game industry or in the world of live music, or working as an educator.

  We aim to provide you with the broad range of transferable skills required to be a self-producing Artist. You will develop a breadth of musical skills and skills within the digital domain, the studio environment, and – perhaps most importantly – academically.

  We will support you to achieve your career and study ambitions, which is why if you complete our Employability Plus Gold programme or Changemaker Gold certificate alongside your studies and if you 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.

  *with a 2:2 degree classification or higher

  Course

  Highlights

  • Accredited by Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES)
  • Flexible study, combine with another discipline to create your own degree
  • Supportive and dedicated teaching staff with industry experience.
  • Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  Popular Music Joint Honours at the University of Northampton is split into three stages. In the first stage you’ll develop proficiencies across all three domains of the music: production, performance and critical analysis.

  In the second and third stages you’ll have the opportunity to specialise; choosing from a range of areas, including music production, composition, performance and sound for media and gaming industry, sound design, and music education.

  Partnerships and Accreditation

  This programme is accredited by Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES)

  Our modules are informed by staff actively researching, composing, performing and publishing in their specialist areas within the music industry. These modules introduce you to music principles and techniques which will help you develop the necessary analytical and creative skills, to aid you when evaluating and implementing real-life practise.

  Music’s role in culture is critically and philosophically examined throughout this course. Using musical examples, you will learn to engage with esoteric and difficult concepts around inter alia genre, gender, race, politics, capitalism, culture, power, evolution, and science.

  The first year focuses on fundamental principles across our three areas of music production, performance and academic study, critical listening skills, and reasoning, writing and debating. In the second and third year you are able to specialise and focus on areas that you are particularly interested in.

  Methods of Learning

  You will be taught through lectures, seminars, workshops and practice sessions.

  Assessments

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

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  Subject Futures Week

  Since 2013 we have invited creative industry guest speakers to share invaluable knowledge and insights with our students about the reality of working life after University. See below the 2016 Subject Futures Week video, which highlights just some of the creative industry guests who visited.

• Careers and Events
  • The Northampton Employment Promise.

    *We promise to secure paid experience for you, if you need it.

    We work with employers to understand what they’re looking for and we’re confident that if you follow one of our structured awards, as well as committing to your studies you’ll be in a competitive position when it comes to applying for graduate jobs.

    We’re so confident, that we promise to secure a paid 3-6 month internship for you, if you need it. Find out more about the Northampton Employment Promise, including how it works and who is eligible.

    
  • Open Days

    Come Say Hello

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a packed programme of subjects talks, advice sessions and activities designed to give you all the information you need about studying with us.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    When you complete the BA (Hons) Popular Music degree you will be well equipped to enter into a range of professions within the music and wider entertainment industries, whether as a performer, producer, writer, critic or in the teaching profession.

    
• Requirements

  Standard entry requirements apply. A typical offer is BCC at A-Level or DMM at BTEC. 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.

  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.

   

  Contacts

  Course Enquiries

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Applying for 2020
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Stage 1
  • Stage 2
  • Optional Placement Year
  • Stage 3

  You will develop your practical musical skills and gain a detailed understanding of musical theory. You will also be introduced to the workings of the digital recording studio. Other modules will provide an historic account of the development of musical forms, industrial practice and technological developments.

  • DAW 1 (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS1124

    Core Module Y
  • Popular Music Studies 1 (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS1125

    Core Module Y
  • Performance 1 (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS1127

    Core Module Y

  You will have the opportunity to work with digital technology as a compositional tool, while studying the effect of digitalisation on the way in which the music industry operates in a constantly changing global environment, as well as the impact digitalisation has had on the ways in which we create and listen to music.

  • Performance 2 (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS2127

    Core Module N
  • How Music Works (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS2140

    Core Module N
  • DAW 2 (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS2124

    Core Module N
  • Performance with Technology (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS2132

    Core Module N
  • Composition and Theory 2 (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS2130

    Core Module N
  • Cultural Theory 2 (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS2129

    Core Module N
  • The Creative Practitioner (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS2141

    Core Module N

  • The Placement Year Experience: Organisations in Context (40 Credits)
    Module code: HRM2053

    Core Module Y

  In your final year, alongside the self directed professional project, students will study modules that engage with the future of the digital music industry, popular music and politics and avantgarde practices in mainstream pop.

  • Professional Project 40 (40 Credits)
    Module code: MUS4121

    Core Module N
  • Professional Project 20 (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS4122

    Core Module N
  • Popular Music Dissertation (40 Credits)
    Module code: MUS4125

    Core Module N
  • Popular Music Short Dissertation (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS4126

    Core Module N
  • Popular Music Joint Interdisciplinary Dissertation (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS4127

    Core Module N
  • Pop and the State (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS3125

    Core Module N
  • The Philosophy of Music (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS3135

    Core Module N
  • Music and Sound Design for Media (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS3127

    Core Module N
  • Performance 3 (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS3128

    Core Module N
  • The Record Label (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS3121

    Core Module N
  • Advanced Recording and Production (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS3129

    Core Module N
  • Music Education (20 Credits)
    Module code: MUS3130

    Core Module N

  Facilities &

  Special 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 condensors, 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 – Beckstein 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 students to a critical engagement with popular music
  • fostering musicianship and studio craft
  • developing performance skills
  • exploring the music industry in the digital age
  • full access to a range of instruments and free tuition on an instrument you don’t play
• Further Studies
  • Postgraduate Opportunities

    Further your Study

    Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on postgraduate fees to give yourself a CV that will catch the eye of employers.

    Visit our Postgraduate Hub to see what opportunities are available for you.

    
  • Research

    We are committed to delivering outstanding research that makes a difference to society. Our Research Institutes and Centres work closely with external partner organisations, locally, nationally and internationally. We produce internationally renowned and relevant research and disseminate knowledge on an international scale.

    Visit our Research Hub page for more information.

    
  • Business and Enterprise

    We are committed to supporting and encouraging business growth and we are involved in a variety of initiatives which seek to benefit the wider community as well as students and staff of the University.

    Discover what businesses we work with and what opportunities may be available to you on our Business and Enterprise pages.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250
  Part Time: £1,450 per 20 credit module

  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

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250
  Part Time: £1,400 per 20 credit module

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £12,900

  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

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £12,500

  For information on the scholarships available to you as an international student, please see our International scholarships page.

  Scholarships

  EU and International Scholarships

  We’re committed to offering the opportunity to study in the UK to the best and brightest students from around the world.

  Sir Thomas White Scholarship

  The Sir Thomas White scholarship will support and acknowledge an academically gifted student, with the proviso that the selection panel is confident that there is…

  TD Lewis Scholarship

  The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

  Wilson Endowment Scholarship

  The Wilson Endowment Scholarship provides a £1,500 scholarship to undergraduate students from the Northamptonshire area. The endowed scholarship was donated in memory of Mr Lynn Wilson,…

• Joint Honours Study

  The award for this course will be a BA if taken as a major or joint. Students may be awarded a BSc if they study this subject as a minor subject and pair it with a BSc subject. Please refer to the Academic Regulations for more information on Joint Honours Degree designations.

  If you choose to study a Joint Honours degree at the University of Northampton you can select a programme that suits your interests and strengths. This option opens up a host of possibilities to you, offering a wide range of opportunities for careers and further study at your fingertips. In the Joint Honours programme, you will select two subjects as joint for stage one. You may continue with equal emphasis on two subjects as a joint degree in stages two and three, or switch to a major or minor split. The degree title is derived from the two subjects.

  With a Joint Honours degree you can ensure that your programme has:

  • Breadth: you are not focused on a single specialism, but are able to study across two disciplines
  • Flexibility: you can adjust the balance of your programme depending on the interests and skills you develop during your time with us
  • Embedded skills: you will have all the graduate level skills that employers are looking for
  • Student support: your own personal tutor will work with you as you learn and progress.

  Click here for further information on Joints Honours.

  Read more

*Course data provided by Unistats