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Commercial Music
- BA (Hons)
- 4 Years
- Full-time
- 08/09/2025
- Undergraduate
- Ayr Campus
Course summary
Course Summary
The BA (Hons) Commercial Music programme will assist you in developing the practical and critical skills to secure a role in the ever-evolving commercial music industries.
Whether you’re interested in music promotion, songwriting, teaching, tour management, research, sound production or instrumental performance, you’ll be able to customise the programme to suit your career aspirations.
Developed and delivered in collaboration with music industries professionals, this programme is designed to equip you with the skills, knowledge and experience needed to navigate the ever-changing commercial music industries.
Programme Highlights
Covering a broad range of subjects, this programme will prepares students for progression towards a variety of roles in the commercial music industries.
Guest lectures from industry professionals and programme alumni will provide you with first-hand insight into the commercial music industry and great networking opportunities with key contacts.
Flexible study options mean you can customise your learning experience to suit your circumstances and career goals.
This programme is part of UWS’s Creative Skillset Media Academy, is an Avid Authorised Training Partner and has JAMES accreditation.
Programme Details
The BA (Hons) Commercial Music programme is aimed at aspiring songwriters, producers, music educators and DJs, those considering employment in record labels and live events and every aspect of the music industries.
Our diverse staff team is made up of a range of active music industries practitioners and researchers. Studying this programme will help you make key contacts with professionals across every sector of music.
Careers
BA (Hons) Commercial Music graduates have gone on to secure roles including:
Record company A&R
Promoters
Tour managers
Performers
Music teachers
Sound engineers
Producers
Performing and recording artists
Programme leaders (HE / FE)
Modules
Year 1:
Introduction to the theory and practice of music performance, production, business and cultural theory. First year offers you the opportunity to broaden your scope and investigate theatres of music you may not previously have considered.
Year 2:
Focus on your chosen specialism of performance, production, business or theory while developing your understanding of media theory and intellectual property. Second year allows you to experience several key sectors of the professional music industries.
Year 3:
Deepen your engagement with your specialist area of study, completing a major self-directed project. You may also undertake work-related learning within the industry which is an ideal entry point for future employment.
Year 4:
Complete a Creative Research Project in which you either research and write a 10,000-word dissertation, OR develop and implement a major piece of music-based creative practice work. Mentoring and careers planning activities help you to develop your action plan for employment upon graduating.
Assessment method
BA (Hons) Commercial Music is designed for student success by promoting creativity, autonomy and employability both in terms of module content and course structure. We offer inspirational and transformative learning within a flexible and personalised curriculum. This is based on a model of research and experiential learning, with a mix of practical, project-based work and critical analysis of contemporary popular music culture and the global music industries.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- The Joint Audio Media Education Services
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
How to apply
Apply by
29 January
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- W340
- Institution code:
- U40
- Campus name:
- Ayr Campus
- Campus Code:
- A
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
- Year 4
Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)
Year 2 Entry:
Scottish Advanced Highers: CCC plus Higher English
A Levels: BBB including English at C or above
T Level: Full T Level with Grade M in relevant subject (120 Tariff points)
International Baccalaureate: 28 points including English at Higher Level
BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM in relevant subject
HNC: Music; Music Performance; Music Technology; Music Production; Music Business; Sound Production
Year 3 Entry:
HND: Music; Performance; Music Technology; Music Business
International applicants
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. These are shown below.
Entry requirements
Standard Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 102 points
including English
A level - BCC
For year 2 entry, BBB required including English at C or above
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMM
For year 2 entry, DDM required in relevant subject
Scottish Higher - BBBC
including English
Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) - MMM
For year 2 entry, DDM in relevant subject required
Scottish Advanced Higher - CCC
For entry to Year 2, including Higher English
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points
including English at Higher Level
For year 2 entry, 28 points required including English at Higher Level
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H3, H3, H3
including English
Scottish HNC - Pass
Entry to Year 2 with one of the following HNC titles: Music; Music Performance; Music Technology; Music Production; Music Business; Sound Production.
Scottish HND - Pass
Entry to Year 3 with B in graded unit in one of the following HND titles: Music; Music Performance; Music Technology; Music Business
T Level - Pass (C and above)
For year 2 entry, Grade M required in relevant subject
Entry to Year 1 with SWAP (BBB) Access in Humanities with Higher English/Communications 4 Literature 1 (or equivalent)
Minimum Qualification Requirements
UCAS Tariff - 63 points
including English
A level - BCC
including English
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMM
-
Scottish Higher - CCC
Alternative Minimum Entry Requirements: CC (42 UCAS Tariff points) PLUS successful completion of one of the following:
UWS Foundation Academy
Foundation Apprenticeship
UWS Next Steps to University module
Top-Up
LEAPS
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H3, H3, H3
including English
Additional entry requirements
- Interview
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 minimum in each skill / component. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | 176 overall with no sub-test less than 169 | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | 176 overall with no sub-test less than 169 | |
| Trinity ISE | Pass | ISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests |
| PTE Academic | 54 | An overall score of 54 with no element below 51 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 78 | no sub-test less than: Reading: 17; Listening: 17; Speaking: 17; Writing: 17 |
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The reason for this is that it’s essential that you are able to read, speak and understand the English language to get the most out of your time at UWS.
All international applicants are required to meet minimum English language standards, with the exception of:
// Native speakers of English
// Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise)
// non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification)
The qualifications above must have been gained within two years prior to the start of your course at UWS.
UWS's English language requirements https://www.uws.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements/
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
Our Minimum Entry Requirements are applicable to those applicants who have not had an equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic ability at school or college and are known as ‘widening access’ applicants. We also sometimes refer to this type of applicant as receiving a ‘contextual’ offer. For more information, please visit our website using the link below.
Learn more on the University of the West of Scotland website
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £1820* | Year 1 |
| England | £9250* | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250* | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250* | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250* | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9250* | Year 1 |
| EU | £15500* | Year 1 |
| International | £15500* | Year 1 |
* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
TUITION FEE INFORMATION - SCOTTISH STUDENTS:
Eligible Scottish domiciled students can usually apply to have their tuition fees paid for them each year of their studies by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). If you're not sure about your eligibility, you should contact SAAS. You need to apply to SAAS each year of study to have your tuition fees paid directly to UWS.
TUITION FEE INFORMATION - UK, IRISH & GIBRALTARIAN STUDENTS:
Eligible students who are domiciled in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland as well as from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar or the Republic of Ireland will qualify for tuition fees of £9,250 per academic session of study to a maximum of three years if you are studying on a four year bachelor degree course (eg. BAcc (Hons) / BA (Hons) / BEng (Hons) / BSc (Hons)). So, if your degree is four years' duration, you will only be charged tuition fees for three years. Similarly, if you are studying a five year integrated master's degree course (eg. MEng (Hons)) the you will only be charged tuition fees for four years.
TUITION FEE INFORMATION - INTERNATIONAL (NON-EU) & EU STUDENTS:
These tuition fees apply to all non-EU, EEA, and all other EU students (excluding those from Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar, whose fee level is as per UK (non-Scottish) students - see section above for more details).
ADDITIONAL COSTS:
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.
In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs such as consumable study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms. You may also want to purchase some core texts and technology such as a new laptop etc. Some of these additional costs are optional, some, such as uniforms or safety equipment may be mandatory.
Check the course entry on our website for more more information.
Sponsorship information
Visit www.uws.ac.uk/scholarships
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