BA Popular Music
About this course
BA (Hons) in Popular Music, an undergraduate music degree focusing on the history, culture, and industry of contemporary music genres. Core topics include Project Management. Students can choose to undertake an optional placement year or spend a year abroad during their studies. The first year introduces foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR MUSIC HISTORY and MUSIC WORLDS: CULTURE, PRACTICE AND INDUSTRY, alongside optional choices spanning composition, performance, and digital audio workstations. In the second year, students study digital cultures and genres via compulsory work like MUSIC GENRES AND DIGITAL CULTURES, while selecting from diverse options including sound recording, live sound, and music psychology. The final year centres on the compulsory module JAZZ, complemented by advanced options in areas such as electronic music composition, live sound, and record label management. Students also complete independent projects in topics like popular composition, performance, music technology, or research.
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: 32 points overall with no score less than 4 or pass the IB Diploma plus 6,5,5 in 3 HL subjects. 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 79%: 85 offers from 108 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 15 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 93%
- Learning opportunities: 90%
- Assessment and feedback: 87%
- Academic support: 98%
- Organisation and management: 91%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 87%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 5 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 40%
- Elementary occupations: 20%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 10%
- Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations: 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 30 students who started
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR MUSIC HISTORY
- MUSIC WORLDS: CULTURE, PRACTICE AND INDUSTRY
- WRITING FOR INSTRUMENTS
- INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATIONS
- INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY
- FOUNDATIONS OF MUSIC THEORY
- CLASSICAL COMPOSITION 1
- POPULAR COMPOSITION 1
- SAMPLING & SYNTHESIS
- INTRODUCTION TO SOUND AND MUSIC IN AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA
- THEORY IN PRACTICE: EXPLORING MUSIC’S CONSTRUCTION
- CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE 1
- POPULAR PERFORMANCE 1
- INTRODUCTION TO SOUND AND RECORDING
- MUSIC GENRES AND DIGITAL CULTURES
- MUSIC, POWER, AND IDEAS
- LIVE SOUND
- SOUND RECORDING AND PRODUCTION 2
- WORKING IN MUSIC INDUSTRY
- MUSIC IN GAMING
- CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE 2A
- POPULAR PERFORMANCE 2A
- MAX AND ABLETON LIVE
- INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC PSYCHOLOGY
- POPULAR MUSIC COMPOSITION 2
- EXPLORING HARMONY, CHORD PROGRESSION AND PITCH
- FOLEY AND SOUND DESIGN
- MIXING AND MASTERING
- ORCHESTRATION
- 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
- POPULAR PERFORMANCE CONTEXTS
- ADAPTIVE AND GENERATIVE AUDIO FOR GAMES
- RECORD LABEL RECORDING, PRODUCTION AND PROJECT PLANNING
- SELF-MANAGEMENT FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRIES
- FROM HARDWARE-HACKING TO HYPER-INSTRUMENTS
- MUSICAL THEATRE
- WHAT IS GOOD MUSIC?
- SOUND STUDIES
- COMPOSING ELECTRONIC MUSIC
- POPULAR MUSIC COMPOSITION 3
- RECORD LABEL MANAGEMENT, MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
- LIVE SOUND 2
- THE FILM MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS
- CURATION AND HERITAGE
- EXPLORING RHYTHM, FORM, AND MUSICAL TIME
- 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 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 Popular Music at University of Liverpool do next?
100% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Popular Music at University of Liverpool?
93% 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 at University of Liverpool?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 158 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Popular Music at University of Liverpool?
79% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 85 offers from 108 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA 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 Popular Music at University of Liverpool?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.