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Popular Music Performance

Leeds Arts University

UCAS Code: W315 | Bachelor of Music (with Honours) - BMus (Hon)

Leeds Arts University

UCAS Code: W315 | Bachelor of Music (with Honours) - BMus (Hon)

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

104-120

About this course

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2026

Subject

Popular music performance

This course breaks down barriers between performance, production, and composition, empowering versatile musicians to thrive in today’s dynamic popular and modern music industry. Designed for passionate performers, it focuses on developing technical skills, professional delivery, and creative artistry to succeed in an ever-evolving musical landscape.

Students specialise in vocals, keyboard, guitar, bass, or drums, developing the skills and confidence needed to create original music and achieve professional success. Through individual tuition, band workshops, and sessions with industry professionals, they refine their technical ability, creativity, and professional delivery while building a portfolio of songs, recordings, and visuals. Small group sizes encourage collaboration and foster valuable creative networks.

Purpose-built facilities replicate industry environments, including a performance auditorium, a dedicated songwriting studio, four individual production rooms, two music production labs, a drum room, a mirrored practice room, and three ensemble spaces, including a 24-hour rehearsal space. A state-of-the-art recording studio further enhances the professional learning experience.

A vibrant community of over 2,000 creatives, spanning disciplines such as music production, photography, and film, fosters collaboration and innovation. Students work alongside producers, filmmakers, and designers, creating unique portfolios featuring music videos, promotional photography, and compositions while shaping their distinct artistic identity.

This course nurtures ‘360-degree musicians’—skilled performers, producers, songwriters, and arrangers in modern and popular music. By integrating performance, production, and interdisciplinary collaboration, students gain the skills, confidence, and networks to thrive in today’s dynamic music industry.

Workshops and guest speakers have included Skin OBE, Jason Bowld (Bullet for My Valentine), Imogen Heap, West End performers, composers, agents, publishers, and industry experts across labels, management, and promotion.

Modules

Year one – You will develop performance, production, and composition skills through one-to-one tuition, ensemble workshops, and solo, stage, and studio performances. Students explore songwriting, arranging, stagecraft, and music production while building their artistic identity and entrepreneurial skills, alongside a broader understanding of popular music culture.

Year two – You’ll continue one-to-one tuition while building a professional portfolio of songwriting, performances, recordings and visuals. Focus shifts to employability, covering artist development, contracts, rights, finance, strategic planning, networking, and AI skills. You’ll also explore music’s societal impact, consumption trends, and monetisation strategies, preparing for industry success.

Year three – You’ll complete a music-focused project showcasing your specialism while building a professional EP and promotional assets. You’ll organise a DIY live event, explore bespoke study areas, and refine your professional identity. By graduation, you’ll have the tools, skills, and confidence to monetise your music and launch your career.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

England
£9,535
per year
EU
£18,900
per year
International
£18,900
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,535
per year
Scotland
£9,535
per year
Wales
£9,535
per year

The Uni

Course location:

Leeds Arts University

Department:

Art and Performance

Read full university profile

What students say

We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

75%
Popular music performance

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Music

Teaching and learning

92%
Staff make the subject interesting
92%
Staff are good at explaining things
83%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
83%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

92%
Library resources
75%
IT resources
92%
Course specific equipment and facilities
83%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

86%
UK students
14%
International students
57%
Male students
43%
Female students
75%
2:1 or above
5%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
B
B

After graduation

The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Music

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£21,500
med
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education
60%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

37%
Design occupations
13%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
10%
Other elementary services occupations

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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