BA Contemporary and Popular Music
About this course
BA Honours in Music. The three-year programme specialises in contemporary and popular music, with options to study world, classical, and folk and traditional music. Topics include music analysis, music history, DJing and turntablism, songwriting, and audio production. One-on-one and group lessons are provided by performance specialists.
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
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 80%: 76 offers from 95 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 17 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 79%
- Learning opportunities: 73%
- Assessment and feedback: 89%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 68%
- Learning resources: 93%
- Student voice: 56%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 80%
- Left higher education: 15%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 30%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 25%
- Sales occupations: 20%
- Information Technology Professionals: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Protective service occupations: 10%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 50 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 45%
- North West: 10%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- London: 15%
- South West: 10%
- Scotland: 10%
- Northern Ireland: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 85%
- Other HE qualification: 15%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Contemporary and Popular Music at Newcastle University earn?
The median salary is £19,500 after 3 years, £25,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £17,500 and £31,000. The £25,000 median after five years is £500 more than the UK median for Music.
What do graduates of BA Contemporary and Popular Music at Newcastle 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 Contemporary and Popular Music at Newcastle University?
79% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Contemporary and Popular Music at Newcastle University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 152 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Contemporary and Popular Music at Newcastle University?
80% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 76 offers from 95 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Contemporary and Popular Music at Newcastle University 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 Contemporary and Popular Music at Newcastle University?
80% of students continued into their second year, and 15% left higher education.