Course Overview

Building on our long-standing reputation for Popular Music and Recording, our course is well-known for producing artists such as members of the British art rock band Everything Everything (Mercury Prize nominees 2018), recording artist and award-winning entrepreneur Caroline Redman Lusher (Founder and Creator of Rock Choir); Film and television music composer Louis Dodd (Love and Hate Crime, EMMY nominated Strike Back: Retribution, Amazing Hotels and BAFTA winning Long Lost Family), and songwriter/producer Rick Boardman (member of indie dance band Delphic and co-writer of hit singles including ‘Back to You’ performed by Louis Tomlinson and Bebe Rexha; ‘Real Love’ Clean Bandit/Jess Glynne and ‘Love On Me’ Galantis). 

This course builds upon our long-standing reputation and has been ranked the number one Popular Music and Recording course in the North West and number two in the UK in the 2021 Guardian university league tables.

You will study popular music as a discipline from a broad range of perspectives, developing technical and creative skills while placing an emphasis on academic and theoretical aspects. Our masterclass series involves leading professionals from the popular music industry – whether performers, composers or producers - designed to assist you in your professional development and career management.

You will regularly contribute to programmes, theatre productions, concerts and gigs as music performers and composers, and the course provides ample opportunity for you to engage with like-minded creative artists.

The foundation year of this four-year programme aims to provide you with an understanding of the subject to allow you to progress on to the BA (Hons) Music: Popular Music and Recording course.

You will: 

• Study on the number one Popular Music and Recording course in the North West (Guardian 2021) 

• Be taught by practicing professionals on a high achieving course well-known for producing graduates in the popular music industry today. 

• Be able to fully explore your creative ideas and passions through specialist portfolio work 

General Eligibility

GCSE

English Language at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent) is preferred. Maths at grade C/level 4 or above is preferred but not essential.

You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below.

UCAS tariff points

72 points

A level

72 points including Music

Part Time Work Details

20 Hours of Work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• The IELTS score for international applicants is 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in each component).