BA (Hons) Music (Popular) - 2025 Entry

Accepting applications for September 2025 through Clearing

Apply for 2025

Study BA (Hons) Music (Popular) at Leeds Conservatoire

In 2005, we became the first UK conservatoire to deliver a specialist course in Popular Music, and we’re still pioneers. We champion original material and encourage you to take creative risks. As well as focusing on your performance skills, you’ll develop composition skills and enrich your commercial expertise with practical guidance.

Please note: Applications for BA (Hons) Music (Popular) are now closed for Voice applicants only, for 2025 entry.

There are currently still places for other instruments for BA (Hons) Music (Popular), and places for vocalists on BA (Hons) Music (Folk, Roots & Blues) and BA (Hons) Voice (Performance and Pedagogy).


*Please note this course is for 2025 entry only*

Looking to study in 2026? See BA (Hons) Popular Music for 2026 entry

  • Starts:
  • Duration: 3 Years /
    4 years (with Foundation) /
    1 Year (Top-Up)
  • UCAS Course Code(s): Popular W302
    W3W2 Popular (with Foundation Year)
    2Q4A (Popular with Jazz)
    9Y5T (Popular with Production)
  • UCAS Institution Code: L30
  • Apply Via: UCAS Undergraduate
  • Study Mode: Full time
  • Validated By: University of Hull

Course Overview

Career-focus

If you haven’t already, you’ll start your music career whilst you’re studying, and be ready to take it to the next step after graduation. In addition to one-to-one tuition and band work, you’ll access masterclasses from professional performers, songwriters, producers, managers and promoters, supporting your artistic development as well as sharpening your creative voice.

Industry links

Strong links with the music industry mean that we are in constant contact with major labels such as Sony/ATV, Universal, Polydor and Decca, as well as local labels like Hide and Seek and Leaf Label, and we regularly welcome them here for student showcases and discussions. Our industry relationships have also seen our students perform at Sound City, Live at Leeds, Eurosonic and on the BBC.

Artistic Identity

We champion original material, and encourage you to take creative risks. By the end of your popular music degree, you will be a specialist in your chosen discipline and will have established your individual artistic identity and voice as a musician, whilst possessing a breadth of understanding, knowledge and transferable skills that will support you throughout your future career.

Live music scene

Leeds has an incredible live music scene, and our students are performing in it every day of the week, from support gigs at the legendary Brudenell Social Club and Belgrave Music Hall, to open mic nights at Oporto, Nation of Shopkeepers and a multitude of other venues. Our regular Friday night showcase, Crosswire, presents some of our best pop and production artists, and our students and alumni have taken the stage at major festivals, including Live at Leeds, Leeds Festival, Tramlines and SXSW.

Career destinations

Graduates from Popular degrees at Leeds Conservatoire have gone on to a wide variety of careers including Recording Artists, Award-winning Folk Artists, Session Musicians, and Producers. Find out more in our Alumni section.

“I launched myself as an artist in first year. I then recorded my debut EP, recorded sessions for BBC Introducing, played at Sound City Festival in Liverpool, supported artists on tour including Newton Faulkner and even had my own headline tour, and that was all in the first two years of studying at Leeds Conservatoire!” – Lauren Rycroft, Popular Music graduate

Foundation Year

If you choose to study the 4-year programme with Foundation Year, your first year will focus on developing you through specialist one to-one tuition, and strengthening your music theory and academic skills, as well as your creativity and artistry.

You will also have access to a weekly programme of workshops and masterclasses, as well as regular individual tutorials with academic staff. Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will automatically progress to year one of the 2026-entry curriculum, and will work towards an award of BA (Hons) Popular Music with Foundation Year.

Important note: There is no option to progress from Foundation Year onto Year 1 of a combined honours course, as these courses will not be running in 2026.

Specialist Group Study (Composition) Foundation

(for Classical and Jazz composers and all Film Music and Songwriting students)

Specialist Group Study (Performance) Foundation

(for Classical and Jazz performers and all Popular Music students)

Specialist Group Study (Production) Foundation (for Electronic Music Production and Music Production students)

 

Specialist Study (Composition) Foundation

(for Classical and Jazz composers and all Film Music and Songwriting students)

Specialist Study (Performance) Foundation

(for Classical and Jazz performers and all Popular Music students)

Specialist Study (Electronic Music Production) Foundation

(for Electronic Music Production students)

Specialist Study (Production) Foundation

(for Production students)

 

Years 1, 2 and 3

For students starting a course with Foundation Year in 2025, Years 1, 2 and 3 will follow the curriculum of the 2026-entry BA (Hons) Popular Music course.

Please note: There is no option to progress from Foundation Year onto Year 1 of a combined honours course, as these courses will not be running in 2026.

Performance 1: Skills 

You’ll build a solid foundation in performance by blending technical development with your own musical expression. Through one-to-one tuition, workshops, and lectures, you’ll enhance your musicianship, part-writing, and instrumental or vocal technique. This module supports your creative growth through structured exercises, helping you become a more confident and adaptable performer ready to engage with collaborative music-making. 

Performance 2: Technique 

You’ll deepen your technical and artistic development, strengthening your individual performance style through tailored tuition and collaborative learning. This module supports your growth as a creative professional, combining workshops, lectures, and practice to improve your musicianship and stage presence. You’ll explore performance from technical and expressive angles, preparing for real-world creative and industry expectations. 

Creative Environments 1

You’ll develop key skills in collaborative performance and digital production using industry-standard tools. Through band rehearsals and Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) sessions, you’ll enhance your stagecraft, musical communication, and technical fluency. This module provides a hands-on introduction to creating, performing, and producing within a digital environment, helping you realise your musical ideas with confidence and precision. 

Creative Environments 2

You’ll build on your collaborative and technical skills by refining your rehearsal strategies and deepening your understanding of DAW-based production. Through live performance and digital workshops, you’ll develop your musicianship, explore arrangement techniques, and learn how to shape ideas into strong demo recordings. This module strengthens your creative process in both live and studio settings. 

Musical Analysis

You’ll explore the structures, techniques, and creative decisions behind influential songs and records. Using analytical tools, you’ll study arrangement, songcraft, and form—then apply these insights to your own music. Through lectures and peer discussion, you’ll sharpen your technical vocabulary, deepen your compositional understanding, and develop a more focused and reflective creative approach. 

Musical Contexts

You’ll examine how music operates within social, cultural, and industry frameworks. This module introduces musicological and theoretical approaches that help you understand music as both an art form and a commercial product. By analysing repertoire and musical discourse, you’ll gain the tools to critically evaluate your work and position your creative output within wider contexts.

Performance 3: Artistry 

You’ll take a more focused approach to developing your unique performance identity. Through personalised tuition, workshops, and lectures, you’ll refine your instrumental or vocal skills while exploring artistry in recorded and live performance. This module supports your growth as a creative performer with a distinct musical voice, ready for collaborative professional environments. 

Performance 4: Creativity 

You’ll continue to develop your expressive range, performance strategies, and artistic direction. Alongside technical and stylistic refinement, you’ll explore the songwriting process and how your influences shape your creative identity. This module supports professional practice and experimentation, helping you evolve as a disciplined, original performer with an understanding of your place in the industry. 

Creative Environments 3

You’ll strengthen your band performance and DAW production skills, focusing on rehearsal efficiency, stagecraft, and stylistic interpretation. In parallel, you’ll gain confidence with mixing techniques like track organisation, gain staging, and balancing. Through feedback and workshops, you’ll refine both your musical performance and your technical execution in a studio environment. 

Creative Environments 4

You’ll further develop as a versatile performer and producer by engaging with live performance techniques and DAW-based creativity. This module explores advanced stagecraft, sound manipulation, and digital effects, helping you shape your identity as a contemporary artist. You’ll prepare compositions for live delivery while aligning your work with industry standards and expectations. 

Industry 1: Infrastructure

You’ll explore the structure and workings of the UK music industry, gaining insights into income streams, management, legal frameworks, and professional bodies. This module provides the essential knowledge to start building a career as a songwriter or performer. You’ll learn to navigate industry mechanics and develop transferable business skills for long-term sustainability. 

Industry 2: Portfolio Skills

You’ll explore three complementary disciplines—Journalism, Pedagogy, and Musicology—to broaden your career prospects. This module helps you develop skills that can support or extend your creative practice. Through lectures and practical tasks, you’ll gain the tools to deliver work in one of these areas, strengthening your employability and portfolio as a music professional.

Major Performance Showcase 

You’ll consolidate your artistic voice and professional identity through a high-level performance project. Supported by tuition and workshops, you’ll refine your technique, stylistic fluency, and creative control. This module gives you the platform to demonstrate discipline, individuality, and professionalism as you prepare for a career in the music industry. 

Focus 1

You’ll design and deliver a specialist project that aligns with your professional goals in ensemble performance, collaborative songwriting, or research. This module lets you showcase the skills and insights developed throughout your degree. You’ll refine your creative or academic approach while producing work that meets professional industry standards and reflects your artistic identity. 

Focus 2

You’ll continue to develop your chosen specialism—whether performance, songwriting, or research—through a major project. Building on Focus 1, you’ll deepen your expertise and creative focus while demonstrating originality and professionalism. This module supports your transition into industry or further study by encouraging self-direction and high-level project delivery. 

Industry 3: Strategy

You’ll learn how to promote and position yourself in the music industry using strategic tools like marketing, branding, and digital presence. Through case studies and practical work, you’ll explore how artists build sustainable careers. You’ll develop networking skills and gain the knowledge to release music, build an audience, and navigate industry landscapes. 

Industry 4: Implementation

You’ll bring together everything you've learned in your industry studies to shape your unique career path. This module helps you develop your creative vision, visual identity, and professional presentation. You’ll gain experience in branding, career planning, and income strategies, preparing you to secure employment or launch yourself as a self-employed music professional.

What You Will Study (See Modules and Specifications)

Each year of the course is structured into three distinct strands:

  • Specialist Study – One-to-one tuition and group study in performance
  • Contextual Studies – Develop your composition, musicology and critical listening skills
  • Professional Studies – Develop your skills for working in the creative industries

Some examples* of Contextual Studies and Professional Studies modules:

  • Working in the Creative Industries
  • Songwriting
  • Music for the Moving Image
  • Introduction to Music Technology
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Self-Promotion and Music Marketing
  • Concerts and Touring
  • Working with Music in the Community
  • Instrumental Music Tuition
  • Music Journalism
  • Software Environments - Performance and Sound Creation
  • Live Music Management
  • Performance with Electronics

*The above examples are chosen to represent a selection of the kind of mandatory and elective module options offered, so you can tailor your degree to your area of interest. See the full list of modules currently available for this course, including mandatory and optional modules, plus detailed module specification documents.

If you choose a Combined Honours programme (e.g. Popular with Jazz), your Specialist Study (e.g. one-to-one tuition) would be in Popular and your Specialist Group Study (e.g. ensemble/band) would be in your second genre.

Popular with Jazz

  • Specialist Study - Popular
  • Specialist Group Study - Jazz

Popular with Production

  • Specialist Study - Popular
  • Specialist Group Study - Production

In addition to your chosen specialist instrument/voice, you can also choose to have additional 1:1 tuition in a second instrument/voice (for students at Grade 6 standard or higher in their second instrument/voice).

This is not part of your course, but there are a limited number of Instrumental, Vocal & Composition Bursaries available, or tuition can be arranged at additional cost.

Academic Requirements

BA (Hons) - 3 Years

96 UCAS tariff points from level 3 studies or equivalent, which normally include A Level Music or a BTEC Extended Diploma in a Music-related subject.

A minimum of three GCSEs including English Language at Grade C / Grade 4 or above or equivalent international qualification, eg IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each component).

BA (Hons) - Top-Up

Foundation Degree, HND or equivalent in a relevant subject.

A minimum of three GCSEs including English Language at Grade C / Grade 4 or above or equivalent international qualification, eg IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each component).

Performance and Musical Theory Standard

Read our full entry requirements to see more  detail on musical performance and theory standards.

Apply via: UCAS Undergraduate (not Conservatoires)

Read our step-by-step application guide

Applicants will need to audition, interview and/or submit a portfolio of work. 

Exact requirements vary depending on which programme you are applying for.

Find more detailed audition information for applicants.

Leeds Conservatoire does not charge audition fees for any Undergraduate or Postgraduate course.

In many cases, if you prefer to submit your audition online rather than attend in person, this is an option. However, we don't want travel costs to be a barrier to attending in-person auditions at Leeds Conservatoire, so help is available for many applicants where finances are an issue. Eligibility and bursary application information is available on our audition information page.

For detailed information regarding tuition fees, payment options, and financial support:

If you are an international applicant, visit our dedicated International section of the website for information on:

Study Mode: Full Time
Apply via: UCAS Undergraduate (not Conservatoires)
UCAS Institution Code: L30
Validated by: University of Hull

Leeds Conservatoire plans to apply to the Office for Students for Degree Awarding Powers. If we are granted Degree Awarding Powers, your degree may be awarded by Leeds Conservatoire rather than validated by the University of Hull.

Course Type: Undergraduate, Single Honours
Duration: 3 years
UCAS Course Code: W302 

Course Type: Undergraduate, Single Honours
Duration: 4 years
UCAS Course Code: W3W2

BA (Hons) Music (Popular with Jazz)

Course Type: Undergraduate, Combined Honours
Duration: 3 years
UCAS Course Code: 2Q4A

BA (Hons) Music (Popular with Production)

Course Type: Undergraduate, Combined Honours
Duration: 3 years
UCAS Course Code: 9Y5T

Course Key Information Document 2021/22

Course Type: Undergraduate, Single Honours (Top-Up)
Duration: 1 year
UCAS Course Code: W305

Alumni Profile

Malaika Shaw

Course Studied: BA (Hons) Music (Popular)

Year of Graduation: 2013

Combining Jazz, Soul and Pop, Malaika has accelerated her own exposure, seeking out opportunities for unsigned artists like the local Trinity Sessions to BBC Introducing, and fervently working to maintain good coverage as an artist.

Within her first year of performing she received airplay on BBC Radio, supported X-Factor Finalist Luke Friend and was hand-picked by Jamie Cullum to perform at The Montreal International Jazz Festival 2015.

Meet our alumni

Tutor profiles

Dr Jack HarbordAcademic Manager - School of Popular Music and Voice

Courses taught: BA (Hons) Music (Popular), BA (Hons) Music (Songwriting)

Read more
about 'Dr Jack Harbord'
Caroline BoadenSenior Lecturer: Popular Music

Courses taught: 1:1 drum tuition to Specialist Study students in Foundation Year (Popular), BA (Hons) Music (Popular)

Read more
about 'Caroline Boaden'

MediaTracks

Our partnership with MediaTracks, an established and successful library music provider, powers our bespoke Quarry Music student library music platform. 

Through Quarry Music, we support talent development within the music industry, while creating new, relevant and authentic compositions for clients and users of library music catalogues.

Find out more
“I was so excited to be selected for the Leeds Conservatoire touring scheme. You get the chance to plan out the whole package, the whole product. It’s not just a one-off show, it’s a series of live performances that allowed me to bring my sound to a wider audience.” – Lucy Whittaker, Popular Music graduate

Performance Opportunities

Students on our Popular pathway play at our regular showcase, ‘Crosswire’, and perform at venues throughout the city, including the Brudenell Socal Club, Belgrave Music hall, Oporto and Nation of Shopkeepers. In addition, many of our students join the Contemporary Pop Choir and other extra-curricular ensembles that the college run.

Recently, students have performed at:

  • Sound City Festival (Liverpool)
  • Eurosonic Festival (Netherlands)
  • The Royal Festival Hall (London)
  • Crosswire (a regular night for Leeds College
    of Music Pop and Production students)
  • BBC One’s Pitch Battle (Winners) – made up of singers from our Contemporary Pop Choir
Find out more
Facilities

We have over 70 teaching rooms, practice rooms and bespoke ensemble rehearsal spaces, as well as a comprehensive library of instruments, mics and recording equipment, that are all available until late during term-time.

Find out more
Open Days

Find out what it's like to study at Leeds Conservatoire by coming along to one of our Open Days. 

As well as talks and tours specific to the courses you're interested in, you can also chat to our staff and students.

Plus, get immediate access to our On-Demand Open Day.

Open Days
Open Days

Find out what it's like to study at Leeds Conservatoire by coming along to one of our Open Days. 

As well as talks and tours specific to the courses you're interested in, you can also chat to our staff and students.

Plus, get immediate access to our On-Demand Open Day.

Open Days
University Of Hull Logo