BMus Popular Music Performance
About this course
BMus (Hons) in Music, specialising in popular music performance. Core topics include Research Methods, Critical & Analytical Thinking, and Design & Creative Practice. 1:1 instrumental lessons support technical development throughout the course. Final-year students perform to a panel of industry experts and collaborate to organise a live festival event.
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
112-128 UCAS points required from level 3 qualifications. These can include: A Levels at grade B, B and C, or above BTEC Extended Diploma with Distinction or Merit Access to HE Diploma T Levels GCSE English and Maths (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 equivalents. Level 3 qualifications would normally include Music or an alternative relevant subject area, but this is not compulsory. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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What students say
Based on about 11 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 74%
- Learning opportunities: 73%
- Assessment and feedback: 66%
- Academic support: 71%
- Organisation and management: 50%
- Learning resources: 70%
- Student voice: 60%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 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 44 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 78%
- Working and studying: 6%
- Further study: 2%
- Unemployed: 6%
Most common jobs
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 45%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
- Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations: 5%
- Skilled trades occupations: 5%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 250 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 12%
- London: 52%
- South East: 16%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 3%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 65%
- Other HE qualification: 35%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Gold for student experience, Bronze for student outcomes.
Modules
- Performance for Audience
- Popular Music Performance Project
- Creative Performance Practice
- Promoting Your Career
- Performance for Industry
- The Collaborating Musician
- DAW Recording and Production
- Creative Industry Practices
- Situated Performance
- Popular Music Scenes
- Musicianship for Performers
- Artistic Identities
- Advanced Musicianship for Popular Performers
- Leadership in Performance
- Researching Performance
- Music, Wellbeing and Resilience
- Songwriting and Arranging
- Music Teaching and Pedagogy
- Artist and Brand Development
- Creative Performance Practice
- Festival Performance
- Music in Social Spaces
- Promoting Your Work
- Performance Project
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BMus Popular Music Performance at University of West London earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £21,000 after 3 years, £26,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £20,500 and £32,000. The £26,000 median after five years is £1,500 more than the UK median for Music.
What do graduates of BMus Popular Music Performance at University of West London do next?
86% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BMus Popular Music Performance at University of West London?
74% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BMus Popular Music Performance at University of West London?
The typical offer is BBC at A level. The average entrant had 132 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BMus Popular Music Performance at University of West London?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.