Find out what it’s like to study at Leeds Conservatoire by coming along to an Open Day.
Both Online and On-Campus Open Days allow you to find out more about our postgraduate courses, meet our teaching staff and see our facilities.
Find out more
Launch your career in music with our MA in Popular Music (Writer Performer). Designed to empower you with a blend of musical expertise, a professional mindset and creative ingenuity, this postgraduate degree will prepare you to enter the ever-changing landscape of the modern music industry.
At Leeds Conservatoire students are in control of their personal, creative, and intellectual growth, emerging as skilled musicians and reflective practitioners who are prepared for enduring success in the music industry.
You’ll be challenged to explore, experiment, and uncover fresh perspectives and methodologies, being empowered to craft your best work and stand out in today's competitive global music scene.
When you enrol at Leeds Conservatoire you will join a lively community of creative practice. We celebrate creative diversity, fostering collaboration among practitioners from varied stylistic backgrounds to pioneer new musical frontiers and build foundations for sustainable careers in the industry. Through dynamic group sessions, students from diverse stylistic backgrounds will collaborate, sparking innovation and forging lifelong connections.
Alongside developing your music practice as a performer, we also provide our students with vital networking and entrepreneurial skills, essential for thriving in diverse professional arenas.
Specialist tutors, peers, and industry guests provide invaluable support, constructive critique, and expert insights across a spectrum of disciplines.
You’ll also engage in theoretical and research activities that will place your talent within a range of philosophical, historical, sociological, industrial and critical contexts.
By combining both performance and songwriting in this specialism, you develop both performance and composition skills equally. You’ll receive comprehensive training in both disciplines, allowing you to refine your stage presence while developing your songwriting skills.
The degree offers a balanced curriculum that includes one-to-one tuition, ensemble work, group workshops and live performance opportunities allowing you to gain insights into both the creative and technical aspects of music-making.
This holistic approach will help you develop a cohesive style and connection with audiences through your music and performance and you’ll graduate as a multi-faceted artist in the competitive music industry.
Specialist Study modules in trimesters 1, 2 and 3 give students opportunities to reach their musical potential through one-to-one tuition and group workshops in songwriting and/or performance.
Creative Practice in Context modules in trimesters 1 and 2 engage students in research activities that place their music within a range of philosophical, historical, sociological, industrial and critical contexts.
Check out a selection of tracks from Postgraduate students, developed during their time at Leeds Conservatoire.
With a deep understanding of the creative and industrial contexts within which your practice exists, as an alumnus you will be prepared for a career as a musician.
Our postgraduate students have received commissions, performed at regional and international festivals including South by South West, The Reeperbahn Festival, Glastonbury and Live at Leeds, progressed to teaching positions, and created public installations.
Meet our AlumniCourse Type: MA Postgraduate Degree
Duration: 1 year
Study Mode: Full Time
Start date: September
Validated by: University of Hull
UCAS Code: MA Popular Music (Writer Performer) – 809F
UCAS Institution Code: L31
Alternatively you can apply directly to Leeds Conservatoire.
Academic requirements
OR
Musical proficiency requirements
International applicants requirements
Appilcants will be expected to submit an audition. The auditions process will be communicated later in 2024.
Find out more about Fees & Funding for Postgraduate study.
Student Loans for Masters level study are available for many Home applicants.
There are also a range of Scholarships & Bursaries available.
Read more on our Postgraduate Fees & Funding page.
There are a range of options to help you fund your postgraduate course, including postgraduate student loans. There are also several scholarships available to apply for, including the following:
Our eclectic community comes from all over the world to write, interpret, discover, explore and reflect upon original and existing forms of music.
Postgraduate students have the opportunity to meet industry guests from across the spectrum, with recent guests including:
Find out what it’s like to study at Leeds Conservatoire by coming along to an Open Day.
Both Online and On-Campus Open Days allow you to find out more about our postgraduate courses, meet our teaching staff and see our facilities.
Find out more
