University of Liverpool

Music and Popular Music

University of LiverpoolLiverpool, United Kingdom

Course overview

This degree offers you a great deal of flexibility and allows you to select from both our classical and popular music modules. There is no better place to study music than Liverpool: we work closely with musical venues and organisations throughout the city, including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic; and we established the world’s first specialist centre for its study - the Institute of Popular Music - in 1988. The modules on this programme vary, with some being practical – concerned with musical performance, composition and orchestration, song-writing or creative music technology – while others focus on music history topics or music analysis and theory.

Our studio and performance modules cater for both classical and popular musical styles, allowing you to choose the route best suited to you; and a generous range of optional modules includes specialist topics such as music psychology, audio-visual media (films and videogames), and vocational modules. Throughout, you will learn to write about music from a historical, critical, sociological, or philosophical viewpoint. Undergraduate students in the Department of Music have the opportunity to spend a year in industry, either in their third year, or by adding a ‘follow-on year’ at the end of their academic studies.

These are paid placements within an organisation in industry, broadly defined, and you will receive support from the Department and the School of the Arts to source and apply for opportunities.Find out more about the difference between these options, including how to apply.

Key highlights

  • Choose freely between classical and popular music modules
  • Close links with city venues including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
  • Home to the world's first Institute of Popular Music, founded 1988
  • Practical modules in performance, composition, song-writing and music technology
  • Options include music psychology and music for film and videogames
  • Optional paid year in industry with departmental support

Entry requirements

  • A-level: ABB — grade B in Music or ABRSM Grade 8 in Music Theory at Pass
  • A-level: BBB — to include with A in the EPQ; with EPQ
  • GCSE: 4/C — to include English, Mathematics
  • BTEC: DDM — application on its merits and may make offers
  • International Baccalaureate: 33 — International Baccalaureate: 33 including Higher Level 6 in Music, with no score less than 4 Irish Leaving Certificate: H1, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3 including H2 in Music Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher: Scottish Highers at AA…
  • Irish Leaving Certificate — H1, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3 including H2 in Music
  • Scottish Highers: AABBB — plus
  • A-level: AB — to include to include Music or ABRSM grade 8 in Music Theory

Scholarships

  • Bridge House College Nigeria Law Scholarships

    Value: £2,000

    Up to £2,000
  • Kaplan Digital Pathways Excellence Scholarship

    Kaplan Digital Pathways Foundation Certificate, will receive a £5,000 tuition fee reduction for the first year of study.

    Up to £5,000
  • Liverpool Excellence Scholarship for Undergraduates

    If you’re an international undergraduate student who hasn’t studied with us before, you could be eligible for a scholarship offering a tuition fee discount of £7,500.

    Up to £7,500
  • Sport Liverpool Performance Programme

    A very limited number of grants, worth up to £3,500, are available through the High Performance Athlete Programme.

  • University of Liverpool Graduate Association Hong Kong and Tung Undergraduate Scholarships

    The University of Liverpool Graduate Association Hong Kong undergraduate scholarships are worth £10,000 per year for three years and are awarded to students originating from Hong Kong.

    Up to £10,000
  • University of Liverpool International College Excellence Scholarship

    £5,000 tuition fee reduction for the first year of study.

    Up to £5,000

Careers this course leads to

  • Musician
  • Composer
  • Songwriter
  • Music teacher
  • Music producer
  • Arts administrator

Cost of study

UK/Home: Full-time place, per year - £9,790; Year in industry: £1,955; Year abroad: £1,465 | International: Full-time place, per year - £27,000; Year in industry: £1,955; Year abroad: £13,500

Admission

Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to University of Liverpool, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.

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