BA Music and Popular Music
About this course
BA (Hons) in Music, covering cultural and practical aspects of the discipline. Core topics include Project Management. Students can select modules from both classical and popular music strands.
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: ABB IB: 33 including Higher Level 6 in Music, with no score less than 4 BTEC: BTEC applications are encouraged. We evaluate each BTEC application on its merits and may make offers at DDM.
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 74%: 57 offers from 77 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 7 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 87%
- Assessment and feedback: 82%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 79%
- Learning resources: 86%
- Student voice: 89%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 13 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 15%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 25%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 25%
- Elementary occupations: 20%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 55 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 66%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 7%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 6%
- East of England: 4%
- London: 6%
- South East: 2%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 6%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 85%
- Baccalaureate: 10%
- Other HE qualification: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- INTRODUCTION TO SOUND AND MUSIC IN AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA
- MUSIC WORLDS: CULTURE, PRACTICE AND INDUSTRY
- WRITING FOR INSTRUMENTS
- INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATIONS
- INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY
- INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR MUSIC HISTORY
- FOUNDATIONS OF MUSIC THEORY
- CLASSICAL COMPOSITION 1
- POPULAR COMPOSITION 1
- SAMPLING & SYNTHESIS
- THEORY IN PRACTICE: EXPLORING MUSIC’S CONSTRUCTION
- CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE 1
- POPULAR PERFORMANCE 1
- INTRODUCTION TO SOUND AND RECORDING
- MAX AND ABLETON LIVE
- INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC PSYCHOLOGY
- POPULAR MUSIC COMPOSITION 2
- EXPLORING HARMONY, CHORD PROGRESSION AND PITCH
- CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE 2A
- POPULAR PERFORMANCE 2A
- MUSIC, POWER, AND IDEAS
- LIVE SOUND
- SOUND RECORDING AND PRODUCTION 2
- MUSIC IN GAMING
- WORKING IN MUSIC INDUSTRY
- FOLEY AND SOUND DESIGN
- ORCHESTRATION
- MIXING AND MASTERING
- MUSIC GENRES AND DIGITAL CULTURES
- CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE 2B
- POPULAR PERFORMANCE 2B
- INTRODUCTION TO CONDUCTING
- LIVE IMPROVISATION WITH ABLETON
- MUSIC AND HUMAN EXPERIENCE
- CLASSICAL COMPOSITION 2
- MUSIC IN WORLD CINEMA
- COMPOSITION FOR FILM, TELEVISION AND GAMES
- MUSIC, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY
- BECOMING ENTREPRENEURIAL
- JAZZ
- THE FILM MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS
- SELF-MANAGEMENT FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRIES
- POPULAR PERFORMANCE CONTEXTS
- ADAPTIVE AND GENERATIVE AUDIO FOR GAMES
- RECORD LABEL RECORDING, PRODUCTION AND PROJECT PLANNING
- FROM HARDWARE-HACKING TO HYPER-INSTRUMENTS
- MUSICAL THEATRE
- WHAT IS GOOD MUSIC?
- SOUND STUDIES
- CURATION AND HERITAGE
- EXPLORING RHYTHM, FORM, AND MUSICAL TIME
- COMPOSING ELECTRONIC MUSIC
- POPULAR MUSIC COMPOSITION 3
- RECORD LABEL MANAGEMENT, MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
- LIVE SOUND 2
- INDEPENDENT PROJECT: POPULAR COMPOSITION
- INDEPENDENT PROJECT: CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE
- INDEPENDENT PROJECT: MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
- INDEPENDENT PROJECT: COMPOSITION
- INDEPENDENT PROJECT: POPULAR PERFORMANCE
- INDEPENDENT PROJECT: RESEARCH
- SCHOOL OF THE ARTS WORK PLACEMENTS MODULE
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Music and Popular Music at University of Liverpool earn?
The median salary is £23,000 after 15 months, £19,000 after 3 years, £24,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £18,500 and £28,500. The £24,000 median after five years is £500 less than the UK median for Music.
What do graduates of BA Music and Popular Music at University of Liverpool do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Music and Popular Music at University of Liverpool?
88% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Music and Popular Music at University of Liverpool?
The typical offer is ABB at A level. The average entrant had 159 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Music and Popular Music at University of Liverpool?
74% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 57 offers from 77 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Music and Popular Music at University of Liverpool include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Music and Popular Music at University of Liverpool?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.