BA Popular Music with Foundation Year
Canterbury Christ Church University
About this course
BA (Hons) Popular Music with Foundation Year is a four-year undergraduate music degree centred on performance, production and creative practice within the music industry. Core topics include Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Design & Creative Practice. The course begins with a compulsory foundation year designed to build academic confidence and foundational skills before progressing to degree-level study. The course starts with Year 0, introducing creative disciplines through Creative Arts and Industries, Creative Foundations - Performance and Production, The Power of Arts, Humanities and Education, The Big Question, and Success modules. Year 1 covers Popular Music Making, Performance Skills, Songwriting, Composition & Culture, Band Performance, and Student Success Modules. Year 2 develops further competencies via Performance and Content Creation, Performance for Stage, Composing for the Creative Arts, Employability modules, and Interdisciplinary modules. The final year concludes with advanced studies in Performance, Recording and Improvisation, Composing for Industry Briefs, Performance Project, and the Creative Arts and Industries Project.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: DDE BTEC: MPP Access to HE: Pass 45 Credits 64 UCAS tariff points. Additional notes Applicants should normally have 64 UCAS tariff points. We will also welcome applications from students with few or no formal Level 3 qualifications who wish to return to education. Applicants may be asked to attend an interview. All applications will be considered on an individual basis according to qualifications, background and experience.
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What students say
Based on about 38 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 89%
- Learning opportunities: 87%
- Assessment and feedback: 87%
- Academic support: 84%
- Organisation and management: 79%
- Learning resources: 81%
- Student voice: 79%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 65 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 79%
- Left higher education: 14%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 8%
What graduates do next
Based on about 22 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 5%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 25%
- Teaching Professionals: 20%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 35%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 215 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 1%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 17%
- London: 23%
- South East: 49%
- South West: 3%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 50 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 90%
- Other qualifications: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Creative Arts and Industries
- Creative Foundations - Performance and Production
- The Power of Arts, Humanities and Education
- The Big Question
- Success modules
- Popular Music Making
- Performance Skills
- Songwriting, Composition & Culture
- Band Performance
- Student Success Modules
- Performance and Content Creation
- Performance for Stage
- Composing for the Creative Arts
- Employability modules
- Interdisciplinary modules
- Performance, Recording and Improvisation
- Composing for Industry Briefs
- Performance Project
- Creative Arts and Industries Project
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Popular Music with Foundation Year at Canterbury Christ Church University earn?
The median salary is £23,000 after 15 months, £19,500 after 3 years, £23,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £18,500 and £29,500. The £23,500 median after five years is £1,000 less than the UK median for Music.
What do graduates of BA Popular Music with Foundation Year at Canterbury Christ Church University do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Popular Music with Foundation Year at Canterbury Christ Church University?
89% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Popular Music with Foundation Year at Canterbury Christ Church University?
The typical offer is DDE at A level. The average entrant had 117 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Popular Music with Foundation Year at Canterbury Christ Church University?
79% of students continued into their second year, and 14% left higher education.