Popular Music BA (Hons)
Course code W310
What is special about this course?
Let your musical ambitions take centre stage, on our acclaimed and well-established BA (Hons) Popular Music course. With expert advice from our team of professional performers, composers, and academics, find your voice and sing your heart out as you develop your creative and professional skills, in a positive and stimulating learning environment.
Enjoy excellent on-campus facilities including music production workstations (Pro-Tools and Logic), band rehearsal rooms, a professional performance theatre, and three state-of-the-art acoustically-designed Eastlake recording studios. Perform solo and with a band, in renowned venues and festivals around Scotland, and explore your full creative potential in all course work, from song writing and composition, to collaboration and research.
Special features
- You will benefit from excellent facilities on campus, including music production workstations (Pro-Tools and Logic), band rehearsal rooms, a professional performance theatre and access to three acoustically designed Eastlake state-of-the-art recording studios
- You will experience real life scenarios of performance situations
- Instrumental study is part of the course
- An impressive guest speaker programme forms part of the course
- You will have the opportunity to perform solo and with a band
- You will have the opportunity to network with and perform in renowned venues and festivals around Scotland
- You can study full time or part time to suit your personal circumstances
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.
Entry requirements
- Entry to year one, HNC, is 1 Scottish Higher at grade C or above OR
- 1 A level at grade D or above OR
- NC Music
- Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply
- This is a Category 2 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required for specific optional modules/unit(s), where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in optional module/unit(s), but an alternative pathway exists to achieve target qualification. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage
You will be asked to attend an audition and interview. You should prepare and perform a piece that demonstrates your skillset on your instrument or voice and, for writers, this can be an original composition or song. As a guideline, grade 4/5 is a rough equivalent of performance level for this course. However, consideration will also be given to musicians with similar experience that have not participated in graded repertoire.
The interview will give you the opportunity to see our campus, meet staff and learn more about the course, including the resources and learning opportunities we offer to support your development.
Advanced entry to year two:
- Direct entry to year two may be possible if you have completed the HNC Music, with 15 credits, and a B in the graded unit
Access routes
- NC Music
Year 1 - HNC
Year one is the HNC Music.
Year 2 - DipHE
Core modules are:
- Creative industries analysis
- Creative project
- First study 1
- Applied music theory
- Songwriting, composition and production
You will also choose one option module which may include:
- Music industry touring
- Second study 1
- Recording technology for popular musicians
- Audio for multimedia
- Live audio production
- Multitrack studio techniques
- Digital music industries
Year 3 - BA
Core modules are:
- Themed research project
- Entrepreneurship
- First study 2
- Ensemble performance
You will also choose two option modules which may include:
- Songwriting: context and process
- Screen composition
- Teaching and learning practices
- Second study 2
- Multitrack mixdown techniques
- Transmedia applications
- Managing and leadership
- Music publishing and law
Year 4 - BA (Hons)
Core modules are:
- Research paper or dissertation
- Creative honours project
- Personal employability strategy
You will also choose two option modules which may include:
- Final composition project
- Community placement project
- Sound design for fixed media
- Digital business
- Performance practice lab
- Social media campaign management
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time
- This course is mainly delivered in person, on campus. For some modules, you may also study online with scheduled sessions and tutorials
- Online study will be done via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week
- Part-time: 8 years @ 20 hours per week, negotiable
Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.
Where can I study my course?
- Perth
Start date
- September
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Year | Level | 2024-25 Full-time | 2024-25 Part-time | 2025-26 Full-time | 2025-26 Part-time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | HNC | £1,285 | £86 (per HN credit) | £1,285 | £86 (per HN credit) |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £1,820 | £305 (per 20 credit module) | £1,820 | £305 (per 20 credit module) |
| Year 3 | Degree | £1,820 | £305 (per 20 credit module) | £1,820 | £305 (per 20 credit module) |
| Year 4 | Honours | £1,820 | £305 (per 20 credit module) | £1,820 | £305 (per 20 credit module) |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term-time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:
| Year | Level | 2024-25 Full-time | 2024-25 Part-time | 2025-26 Full-time | 2025-26 Part-time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | HNC | £7,110 | £474 (per HN credit) | £7,440 | £496 (per HN credit) |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £9,250 | £1,542 (per 20 credit module) | £9,250 | £1,542 (per 20 credit module) |
| Year 3 | Degree | £9,250 | £1,542 (per 20 credit module) | £9,250 | £1,542 (per 20 credit module) |
| Year 4 | Honours | Free | £1,542 (per 20 credit module) | Free | £1,542 (per 20 credit module) |
4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship for 2nd and 3rd year, with the 4th year of study free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Year | Level | 2024-25 Full-time | With scholarship | 2025-26 Full-time | With scholarship |
| Year 1 | HNC | £8,775 | £8,775 | £8,925 | £8,925 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 4 | Honours | £14,988 | Free | £15,870 | Free |
Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
| Year | Level | 2024-25 Full-time | 2024-25 Part-time | 2025-26 Full-time | 2025-26 Part-time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | HNC | £8,775 | £585 (per HN credit) | £8,925 | £595 (per HN credit) |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £14,988 | £2,498 (per 20 credit module) | £15,870 | £2,645 (per 20 credit module) |
| Year 3 | Degree | £14,988 | £2,498 (per 20 credit module) | £15,870 | £2,645 (per 20 credit module) |
| Year 4 | Honours | £14,988 | £2,498 (per 20 credit module) | £15,870 | £2,645 (per 20 credit module) |
Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.
Further information on international course fees.
A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award, including where students are following a recognised ‘top-up’ degree structure where the first year is made up of an HNC award.
Funding
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed your BA (Hons) Popular Music, a variety of career paths will be open to you in the music and media industries.In the past, graduates have gone on to work in many areas of the music industry and education. Career destinations include:
- Instrumental teaching practice
- Performance, composition and production freelance opportunities in the creation of albums and television commercials, and video games scores.
- International touring and recording.
- West End theatre productions
If you have the talent and determination and are prepared to develop this by study in an excellent learning environment then these possibilities are now open to you for a future career.
Can I progress into further study?
You can progress to the MMus Music or to other masters or postgraduate study such as a PGDE or TQFE.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
I didn’t consider anywhere else- I'd heard that UHI was one of the best places to study music. The modules looked really interesting to me, and I knew they would cover lots of different areas of the industry. My lecturers were all extremely supportive, and my placements on the course were amazing- they developed my skills and opened my eyes to all of the opportunities in the music industry.
The campus is an excellent place to study music- there are lots of rehearsal spaces and the recording studios and production room are great. I really enjoyed going to the café on campus for study breaks as well! I’ve had a great experience studying at UHI. I’ve made great friends, have had so much fun and feel well prepared for a career in the music industry.
Kirsty studied the BA (Hons) Popular Music at UHI Perth.
Apply for Popular Music BA (Hons)
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.