Skip navigation

Popular Music Performance

  • Bachelor of Music (with Honours)
  • 3 to 4 years
  • Full-Time
  • 20 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
More about University of Huddersfield

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
Apply

Course summary

Popular Music Performance is designed for musicians who want to place performance at the centre of their practice while preparing for a professional career. Across three years, you’ll develop through one-to-one tuition, ensemble coaching, and specialist mentoring, refining your technique, musical identity, and stage presence.

While performance is the core focus, you’ll also explore songwriting, studio recording, arranging, composition, artist development, and production. Interactive workshops, masterclasses, and practical projects support your growth as a confident performer while allowing you to shape your creative direction.

Why Study Popular Music Performance BMus(Hons) at the University of Huddersfield?

You’ll collaborate closely with students across the Performing Arts, including engineers, songwriters, session performers, artists, and theatre practitioners. This mirrors professional creative environments and builds confidence as a flexible, industry-ready performer.

You’ll study in a School recognised internationally for excellence and benefit from exceptional facilities, including professional concert halls, rehearsal and practice rooms, studios, instrument collections, and world-class recording facilities. Generous open access outside teaching hours allows you to rehearse, collaborate and refine your craft, supported by expert technical staff.

Huddersfield’s creative community offers opportunities beyond the classroom, from international festivals and experimental music events to ensembles, choirs, big bands, open mic nights and student-led projects. You’ll be part of a close-knit School where every student is known, supported, and encouraged to succeed.

Music is ranked 8th in the UK (Daily Mail University Guide 2026) and Performing Arts 37th globally (QS World University Subject Rankings 2025).

Professional Bodies
At Huddersfield, you’ll study the Global Professional Award alongside your degree† so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is.

†full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerates or apprenticeship degrees.

Why Huddersfield?
Huddersfield’s vibrant and friendly campus is a great place from which to study, while the town itself offers lots to see and do, with good transport links in and around the area.

Modules

Course Modules

In the first year of study, modules include:
• Music, Culture and Society
• Understanding Music
• Performance Skills 1
• Songwriting 1
• Technology for Musicians
• Specialist Performance

To see the full range of modules and descriptions please visit our website. The module information is in the ‘Course details’ section of our course page.

https://courses.hud.ac.uk/2027-28/undergraduate/popular-music-performance-bmus-hons/

Assessment method

All our courses give you an overview of:
• contact time with your tutor
• time spent on independent study
• how you will be taught, assessed, and receive feedback

Take a look at the Teaching and Assessment information on our course page.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Bachelor of Music (with Honours) • Full-Time • Placement (optional) • 3 to 4 Years

Start dates

  • 20 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
A059
Institution code:
H60
Campus name:
Main Site
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2, 3

University of Huddersfield has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
A059
Institution code:
H60
Campus name:
Main Site

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
BBB-BCC

T Level
M

UCAS Tariff
120-104

UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

Access to HE Diploma
Merit: 45

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

120-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDM-DMM

Merit in UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma.

Merit in RSL Level 3 Extended Diploma.

Practical and theory music grades 6-8 will be accepted in the total points.

Offers will be subject to an audition, at which you will have the opportunity to meet staff and current students. Read more about the audition process on our Interviews, auditions and portfolio pages - https://www.hud.ac.uk/undergraduate/how-to-apply/interviews/

You should have an advanced standard of technical achievement and excellent overall potential as a performer (roughly equivalent to the standard of grade 8 practical music making, where applicable).

Entry is also possible for applicants who don't hold standard UK qualifications.

International and mature applicants who don't hold standard UK qualifications can provide a portfolio to demonstrate skills relevant to the course. We audition all applicants for this course and ask you to send us video links performing two contrasting pieces. You should have advanced technical ability and excellent potential as a performer (roughly equivalent to the standard of grade 8 practical music making, where applicable).

The University accepts a wide range of Level 3 qualifications for entry to undergraduate courses. Entry requirements vary by course, so applicants should always check the specific requirements for their chosen course. Other suitable experience or qualifications may be considered. For further information, please see the University’s Undergraduate Entry Requirements.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Music and Performing Arts Foundation Pathway Degree - https://courses.hud.ac.uk/2027-28/undergraduate/music-and-performing-arts-foundation-pathway-degree

Entry requirements for students joining after Year 1: Please contact the Student Recruitment Team at study@hud.ac.uk for more information. https://www.hud.ac.uk/undergraduate/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/

Additional entry requirements

Audition
Interview

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent.https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/courses-and-entry-requirements/international-entry-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 offer-making is transparent, consistent, and equitable.
Whilst we don’t make contextual offers (a reduced points or grades offer based on personal circumstances), we do offer a variety of fairer access opportunities and support.

Learn more on the University of Huddersfield website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£10050
EU & International£17600*

* 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

The tuition fee for full-time, undergraduate students is £10,050.

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2027/28.

International students fees are still to be confirmed and they are currently based on 26/27 fees, these will be updated as soon as possible.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy.

From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. For detailed information please visit our website.

Please email the Student Finance Office (sfo@hud.ac.uk) or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Sponsorship information

Scholarships and bursaries - Music

Please see our website for more information.

For more information about our Music scholarships, please see our website.

http://www.hud.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-finance/undergraduate-scholarships/
https://www.hud.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-finance/undergraduate-scholarships/music-scholarships/

Related courses

At University of Huddersfield

Like this page