You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Having trouble viewing in Internet Explorer 11? We're working on this. For the best user experience please try using a different web browser.

Skip to main content Skip to search
  • Study
  • Research & Innovation
  • Experience
HomeStudyUndergraduate StudyPopular Music BA(Hons)

Popular Music BA(Hons)

Whether it’s underground or mainstream, DIY or commercial, acoustic or electric, this course is focused on developing your unique artistic identity. During your time here, you’ll become part of the vibrant Falmouth music scene, working creatively in both live and studio environments.

Popular Music student singing and playing guitar on stage

Key details

LocationPenryn Campus
Course Duration3 years
AttendanceFull-time
UCAS codeW340
Contact01326 254350

Apply now

Ask an advisor

Explore Open Days & events 

Introduction

As an independent performer, songwriter and self-producer, you’ll learn how to promote and release your own work, creating innovative portfolios based on experimentation, musicianship and a confident understanding of the industry. Ultimately, you’ll define a practice that’s stylistically sophisticated and ahead of the curve. 

You will:

  • Develop songwriting techniques and performance skills. 
  • Establish innovative approaches to music making, recording and producing, electronic hardware, the music business and self-promotion. 
  • Perform and record in our high-spec AMATA studios. 
  • Forge industry links with studios, record labels, promotion companies and venues. 
  • Benefit from visiting lecturers like Adrian Utley (Portishead), Bellatrix, Darcus Beese (Island Records), David Toop, Ed O’Brien (Radiohead), Jerry Dammers (The Specials), Jo Hamilton and Mary Hampton. 

Covid-19 update

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and made changes to our courses to provide flexible, blended delivery that offers high-quality digital engagement and access to face-to-face teaching in our facilities. You can see how your course may be adjusted by viewing the changes for the current academic year by visiting our welcome letters & latest course updates pages

  • Students
  • Graduates
  • Course details
  • How to apply
  • Fees, costs & funding
  • Ask a student

    What our students do

    Girl playing electric guitar
    Grayscale image of girl on stage with mixing desk and microphone.
    Band with guitarists and drummer on stage with blue and purple lights.
    Grayscale image of student singing into microphone and playing keyboard.
    Guitarist on stage bending down and making adjustments to devices on the floor.
    Blonde girl with cap on playing guitar.
    Girl on stage singing into microphone with both hands.
    Musician on stage playing guitar.
    Musicians on stage singing into microphone and playing keyboard.
    Female student sat between two pianos and playing one of them, sheet music on floor.
    Dark image of band on stage illuminated by a spotlight from behind them.
    Popular Music student singing and playing guitar on stage

    What our graduates do

    As well as setting themselves on the path to becoming music journalists, researchers, and production managers, our students have gone on to support Primal Scream, Kaiser Chiefs and Sigur Rós.

    Article
    Article

    Music Graduate One to Watch

    21 January 2020
    Picked as 'one to watch' by the Guardian in late 2019, life has been a whirlwind for rising British...
    Article
    Article

    Ider’s Emotional Education on Tour

    11 December 2019
    Lily Somerville and Megan Markwick found each other at Falmouth University, now the world is...
    Article
    Article

    Making Music: The Talent Behind the Scenes

    7 June 2019
    It might be the musicians that get the spotlight, but the music industry is bursting with talented...
    Article
    Article

    Behind the Scenes of Music Streaming

    5 June 2019
    In 2014, Joe Pym graduated from BA(Hons) Popular Music and started working at Island Records. Five...
    Article
    Article

    Meet AMATA’s Homegrown Music Industry Experts

    15 April 2019
    Musicians are the face of the music industry, but behind them stands an army of professionals that...
    Article
    Article

    A Creative Career with Cooking Vinyl

    12 March 2019
    Cooking Vinyl is one of Europe’s most innovative independent record labels and Marcus Knight, 2011...
    Article
    Article

    Graduate Composes Music for New BBC Drama

    14 February 2019
    Music graduate Joe Donohoe has composed additional music for Baptiste - the new BBC One drama...
    Article
    Article

    Popular Music Alumni IDER on the Verge of Greatness

    21 January 2019
    From supporting Tegan & Sara in front of 2,000 people at KOKO and featuring on the FIFA 18...
    Article
    Article

    Popular Music Alumni Launches Debut Album

    14 November 2018
    Nikhil Pahwa, Popular Music graduate and music producer, has released his impressive debut EP...
    Article
    Article

    Musical Musings with Charlotte Lloyd-Butler

    15 August 2018
    Popular Music graduate Charlotte Lloyd-Butler has come a long way since learning the guitar at...

    Course details

    What you'll learn

    As part of this Popular Music degree, you’ll develop a sustainable creative and professional practice in live and studio settings. Delving into the industry world of music and production, you’ll learn essential artistic and entrepreneurial approaches to making your career happen. 

    • Year one
    • Year two
    • Year three
    Year one

    You’ll study improvisation, songwriting, aesthetics, recording, group dynamics, reinterpretation, stage presence, visuals, live sound, and listening. We’ll introduce you to electronic instruments, vintage equipment, and the recording studio. Taking inspiration from popular musicians, you’ll develop an original style and approach based on art forms like poetry, film and visual art. 

    We’ll explore music through philosophy, critical thinking and debate. And you'll focus on improving the quality of your output through a combination of musicianship skills, creative experimentation and by developing an understanding of the contexts in which you wish to work as a creative specialist in popular music. 

    Modules

    Audio Culture and Critical Theory

    In an age that’s seeing rapid technological changes and huge political, social and financial shifts across the globe, this module explores sound and music practices as they evolve within ever-changing audio cultures.  
    Playing Live: Creative Performance

    This live performance module encourages you to creatively develop your ability to perform live on stage, while teaching you how to write and arrange songs as part of a collaborative project. 

    Making Popular Music: Technology and Aesthetics

    During this module, you’ll become immersed in the possibilities of music technology. You will be encouraged to integrate different kinds of music technology into your current approach, pushing the boundaries of your songwriting and the perception of your sound. 

    Core Music Practice

    The ‘music industry’ is vast and broadly termed, encompassing a wide variety of approaches and roles. This module explores some of these aspects, while also covering key skills pertinent to all professionals, such as communication, collaborative work, independently managed self-discipline and a strong work ethic.  

    Signs & Lyrics: Making Meaning in Popular Music

    This module explores the relationships and interactions between popular music, art and literature. Together, we’ll consider specific case studies of popular musicians and how the influence of different art forms and cultural texts such as film, dance, poetry and painting can be read and analysed in their music and performance. 

    Creative Recording: Studio Practice

    This module explores the studio environment, asking questions about the nature and context of the studio. You’ll build on your existing technological skillset and look towards the recording, processing and production of acoustic and electronic sound sources, with a view to making contemporary recordings. 

    Year two

    You'll produce an EP expressing dark themes in mainstream and outsider pop, while honing your songwriting and technical studio skills. On top of learning about publishing, digital marketing, distribution, internet radio and music law, you’ll push your networking and strategic planning skills through talks from visiting industry speakers.  

    You’ll get involved in the live performance network as you take your work on a mini tour or specialise in managing another artist or band. You’ll also have the chance to study abroad with one of our partner institutions. 

    Modules

    Creative Writing and Research in Virtual Music Cultures

    This module explores the interdependency of technology, language and culture. You’ll undertake a written project based on self-promotion or the analysis and evaluation of a relevant case study. This will carefully consider context, module concepts, critical reflection, thorough research and appropriate language. 
    Dark Sound: Reading Desire in Popular Music

    In an attempt to access the fundamentals of pop, this module examines the ways in which emotion, desire and physicality are embodied in popular music and how identities are constructed in and through the music we listen to, write and play. 

    Professional Music Practice

    This module moves you towards the realities of working in the sound and music industries as a professionally minded creative individual. You’ll continue the acquisition, development, deployment and evaluation of your specialist skillset. Strong emphasis is placed on self-evaluating your practice with respect to professional contexts, as well as seeking out future development and career opportunities. 

    Enterprise: Innovative Practice in Contemporary Music Industries

    This module investigates contemporary music industries and the ways in which music is commodified and disseminated through various media and live contexts. Case studies will pose questions around the significance of the artefact, media and digital technology, while encouraging you to propose entrepreneurial strategies for commodification, promotion and dissemination that are contextually appropriate to your music and/or area of specialism. 

    Optional modules

    Voice
    Timbre
    Supersonic
    The Working Musician: Reproduce; Arrange; Mutate
    The Hit Machine
    The Music Educator
    Music and the Moving Image
    Creative Performance Technology

    Year three

    We'll support you as you develop your professional practice and push your skills and projects – whether you write and promote an album, go on a UK or European tour, or take on an internship at a major management company or independent record label. You could also choose an alternative route, like joining an overseas charity project, leading music education in schools or starting your own business. 

    Modules

    Specialist Practice in Context

    In this module, we’ll help you to realise your professional aims and ambitions by developing an in-depth, specialist understanding of the relationship between your practice and context.  

    Dissertation

    The dissertation module provides an opportunity for you to carry out in-depth research and critical analysis of a topic relevant to the direction and development of your practice. 

    Professional Portfolio

    This module will enable you, in consultation with your tutor(s), to develop and consolidate your creative, theoretical and contextual enquiries into your own independent practice. You’ll also receive support in devising a professionalisation strategy for bridging your practice from university to employment or an entrepreneurial future. 

    The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.

    From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details. 

    How you'll learn

    You’ll work with staff that specialise in music practice and the academic study of pop in its diverse forms. Our sessions also include talks by visiting speakers to help guide your understanding of music practice; in the past, these have included artists such as Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien and music industry experts like Island Records President Darcus Beese. An inspiring combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials mix creative practice with critical thinking to help you to develop your sound, skills and artistic identity. 

     

    How you'll spend your time

    Year

    Timetabled

    teaching and

    learning

    activity

    Guided

    independent

    study

    Placements

    1

    36%

    64%

    0%

    2

    32%

    68%

    0%

    3

    16%

    68%

    16%

     

    How you'll be assessed

    Year

    Written exams

    Practical exams

    Coursework

    1

    0%

    40%

    60%

    2

    0%

    33%

    67%

    3

    0%

    25%

    75%

    The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.

     

    Assessment methods

    We assess creativity, evidence of learning and rigorous research. In core Popular Music modules, we'll often ask you to develop interesting visual ways of presenting your thinking around your projects through journals, notebooks and blogs, rather than essays.

    • 100% coursework
    • Performance and musicianship
    • Portfolios

    Staff

    You’ll learn from ex-music managers, professional vocalists, cultural theorists and producers. Our visiting speakers and artists have featured music industry lawyer Helen Searle and Radiohead's Ed O' Brien.

    Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every member shown here.

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr D Ferrett

    Course Coordinator/Senior Lecturer, Popular Music

    Dr D Ferrett is Course Leader for BA(Hons) Popular Music and a Senior Lecturer in Music. Since...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Samuel Murray

    Course Coordinator/Senior Lecturer, Music

    Samuel Murray is a guitarist, researcher and lecturer whose current projects include playing guitar...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Simon Poole

    Course Coordinator & Senior Lecturer: Music, Theatre & Entertainment Management

    Simon has been making, selling, collecting, managing and writing about music for 30 years. During...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Antti Saario

    Head of Music

    Dr Antti Sakari Saario is an award-winning post-acousmatic composer, educator and an audio ...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Andrea Rushton

    Lecturer in Music

    Andrea Rushton is a lecturer in Music focusing particularly on voice studies and performance.  Her...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Danielle Meunier

    Head of Theatre & Dance

    Danielle Meunier's origins lie in classical singing and voice & speech with a BMus (Canada) and MA...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Chris Best

    Senior Lecturer

    Dr Christopher Best has been senior lecturer and principal tutor in music composition at Falmouth...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Chris Morgan

    Lecturer in Formal & Non Formal Music Education

    Chris is lecturer in formal and non-formal music education, co-ordinator of the Making Music...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Professor David Prior

    Director of Research

    David joined Falmouth as associate professor in Music and Sound Art in 2010. Now as Director of...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Johny Lamb

    Senior Lecturer, Music

    Johny is a lecturer specialising in the study of popular music. He is a songwriter, composer,...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Frankie Stevens

    Lecturer in Music

    Frankie Stevens is an operatic soprano, metal musician and academic. 

    She has a diverse range of...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Jim Aitchison

    Instrumental Tutor, Music

    Jim Aitchison is a composer and artist, working both in the realm of responding to visual artworks...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Will Parker

    Lecturer in Popular Music

    Will Parker is a lecturer, researcher and composer specialising in technology and aesthetics - with...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Paul Joines

    Technical Tutor

    Since graduating in ‘Broadcast Studies’ from Falmouth College of Arts in 1996, Paul has spent over...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dr Simon Waite

    Course Co-ordinator & Senior Lecturer

    Si Waite is a songwriter, producer and educator. He has written, recorded and performed as a solo...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Helen Worthington

    Senior Lecturer, Experience Design, School of Entrepreneurship

    Helen Worthington is a Senior Lecturer at Falmouth University, having joined the Cultural...

    Facilities

    • High-spec performance studio designed for acoustic music.
    • High-spec studio designed for amplified music.
    • Recording studio complex.
    • Music practice rooms for bands and solo work.
    • Some of the best studio hardware, software, and collection of microphones in any UK higher education institution.
    • A superb collection of analogue and virtual analogue synths and drum machines.
    • Professional theatre venue hosting visiting companies and artistes.

    Take a virtual tour

    How to apply

    Apply via UCAS

    Ready to join us? If you're applying through UCAS Apply and Track, you'll need to reference the university and course codes below. 

    • University code: F33
    • Course code: W340

     

    Apply now

    Applying as an international student? 

    International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our International applications page.

     

    International applications

    Application advice & interview information

    Go to Toolkit
    • Entry requirements
    • Language requirements
    • Deadlines
    Entry requirements

    We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.  

    As a guide our typical offer at undergraduate level is 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma. 

    Check how many points your qualifications are worth

    Language requirements

    For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent. 

    If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.  

    If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.

    Deadlines

    UK/EU applications: 29 January 2021 (for equal consideration) 

    Late applications will be considered if there are places available. 

    International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.

    What we're looking for

    We want someone who:

    • Shows ability in the skills and craft of music.
    • Is creative and imaginative.
    • Shows technical skill and musical awareness.
    • Is expressive, with performance presence.
    • Can articulate verbally and in writing.
    • Engages with interview questions and discussion.
    • Critically discusses portfolio examples or other musical examples.
    • Has music experience and contextual knowledge.
    • Shows sustained engagement, motivation and creative potential.

    Fees, costs & funding

    Tuition fees

    • Tuition fees 2020-21
    • Tuition fees 2021-22
    Tuition fees 2020-21

    £9,250 per year - full-time UK/EU

    £16,000 per year - full-time international

    Tuition fees 2021-22

    £9,250 per year - full-time UK

    £16,950 - full-time EU

    £16,950 - full-time international

    Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible. 

    Typical course costs

    • £150 - Recurring annual costs
    • £550 - Optional study visits and placements for the course duration

    If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.

    The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

    Funding

    For information about funding available, please visit our undergraduate funding page.

    Ask a student

    What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students? 

    From course details, our facilities and the local area to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.

     

    Open Days and Campus Tours

    See how we turn real industry experience into real careers.

    Visit us

    • @Fal_AMATA
    • Academy of Music and Theatre Arts
    CopyEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInMessenger
    • Courses
    • Departments
    • Staff
    • Academic partnerships
    • Jobs
    • Corporate information
    • News
    • Alumni
    • Contact
    • Find us
    • Events
    • Staff & Student Portal
    • Falmouth Campus
      Woodlane, Falmouth
      Cornwall TR11 4RH
      01326 211077
    • Penryn Campus
      Treliever Road, Penryn
      Cornwall TR10 9FE
      01326 370400
    © Falmouth University 2021
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Data Privacy
    • Copyright
    • Terms of Use
    • Cookie Policy
    • Student Regulations

    TEF Gold Logo