Popular Music with Foundation Year

5th in the UK for student satisfaction in the subject area of music.
(Complete University Guide 2026)

A foundation year helps you develop the study skills and self-confidence needed for higher education when you don’t reach the entry requirements for your subject.

Explore your own creativity and musical identity with a Popular Music degree at Canterbury Christ Church University. With a focus on popular music, this dynamic and practical course will prepare you for a career in the music industry.

With a BA in Popular Music from CCCU, you’ll develop strong skills in performance, instrumental technique, song writing, and composition, as well as having the opportunity to perform, record, produce, and compose your own music.

What’s more, you’ll learn in our purpose-built creative arts building, Daphne Oram, that houses the latest recording facilities, including professional-grade rehearsal, recording, and performance spaces.

Not only will you gain expertise in your chosen area of popular music, but you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with students from other creative arts courses, which will introduce you to working with other professions in the field.

You'll also network with other musicians and professionals in the music industry.

Top reasons to study with us

• You’ll have one-to-one instrumental/vocal lessons with specialist tutors.

• You’ll learn in our purpose-built creative arts building, Daphne Oram, which provides the latest facilities, including professional-grade rehearsal, recording, and performance spaces.

• You'll be part of a supportive and creative community with opportunities to collaborate with a diverse range of like-minded students across the creative industries on performances, recordings and music for media projects including films and games. As a CCCU student you can sign up to our Creative Agency and start building your creative networks.

• Graduates from our music courses have gone on to work in roles such as songwriters, media composers, sound artists, live sound and studio engineers, DJs, software and audio content developers, teachers and web designers.

Specialist facilities

You’ll have access to excellent facilities, including:

• Performance areas on campus include the Anselm Studio theatre space (featuring a fully fitted professional sound and lighting rig) and the Students’ Union bar alongside rehearsal and performance spaces in the Daphne Oram Creative Arts building and St. Gregory’s Centre for Music - a venue which seats 150 and can be used for performances and recordings. In addition, students have opportunities to perform at external venues such as the prestigious Ramsgate Music Hall.

• The university recording studios, in our dedicated creative arts building, are kitted out with in-house instruments and state-of-the-art control rooms centred around Audient in-line desks with additional industry standard hardware and mic collection.

• Mac labs are equipped with software such as Logic, Ableton Live and Adobe Creative Cloud.