Course contact details
UHI Course Information Line
Phone:01463 279190
University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)
UHI House
Old Perth Road
Inverness
IV2 3JH
Music
- Higher National Diploma
- 2 Years
- Full-Time
- September 2027
- Undergraduate
- North, West and Hebrides
- Awarded by:
- Scottish Qualifications Authority trading as SQA
Course summary
Nurture your musical passions and pursue a dynamic career in popular or traditional music performance. Develop your understanding of the music industry and enhance your instrumental skills, with modules in first study instrument or composition, live performance, theory, graded units, and music business.
Take the HNC as the first year of our BA (Hons) Popular Music, or use the HNC or HND to access the second or third years of the BA (Hons) Popular Music or BA (Hons) Applied Music.
Modules
Module outline
Year 1 - HNC
Year 1 of this course is the HNC Music.
Year 2 - HND
You will study the following units:
-
Music: first study instrument OR Music: first study composition
-
Music: online promotion
-
Music: graded unit 2
Optional units may include:
-
Music: instrumental tuition
-
Music: session skills
-
Music: stagecraft for musicians
-
Digital audio workstations
-
Music: live performance
-
Music: history and analysis
-
Music: theory
This outline reflects the modules as currently delivered and is subject to change.
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:
- 003W
- Institution code:
- H49
- Campus name:
- North, West and Hebrides
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 2
- Top up
Entry requirements
Typical qualification requirements
UHI does not use Tariff points, and accepts a range of qualifications. Applicants with other relevant qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis.
You should have your own instrument and be able to maintain it well. For those who play instruments such as Drums or Piano / Keyboard, these are available on campus at UHI North, West and Hebrides (Fort William campus). https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/hnd-music/
Additional entry requirements
- Audition
- You will be invited to interview / audition to assess your musical ability
- Interview
- You will be invited to interview / audition to assess your musical ability
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 5.5 | Overall score of 5.5 with no element below 5.0 |
| PTE Academic | 50 | Minimum score of 50 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 69 | Min 69 or above with min 17 in each section |
Our programmes are taught and examined in English. To make the most of your studies, you must be able to communicate fluently and accurately in spoken and written English in an academic environment and provide certified proof of your competence before starting your course. Please note that English language tests need to have been taken no more than two years prior to the start date of the course. The minimum English language requirements to study at the University of the Highlands and Islands are detailed below:https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/studying-at-uhi/international/eligibility/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.
UHI is committed to achieving widening access, and achieving a fair balance of entrants to higher education. Widening access can be broadly defined as ‘ensuring fair access to higher education’. Widening access is principally about ensuring that those who have the ability and potential to benefit from a higher education, irrespective of their background or economic circumstances can do so.
Learn more on the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) website
International entry requirements
This course is not currently available for international students (including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK) requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK. Students currently living in the UK and assessed as international for fees please refer to our website.
Further information for International applicants can be found on our website. https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/studying-at-uhi/international/
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.
Historical entry grades report
This report uses your grades to show how students with similar results have done when applying to this course in the past. Sometimes, there isn’t data for every possible set of grades. When that happens, universities and colleges occasionally fill in the gaps for sets of grades that are typically accepted.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £1285* | |
| England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland | £7886* | |
| EU & International | £9460* |
* 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
For course specific fees information please refer to the Fees/funding tab on the university website course page.
You can also find information on additional funding available such as bursaries and scholarships at https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/studying-at-uhi/first-steps/how-much-will-it-cost/funding-your-studies/bursaries-and-scholarships/
Sponsorship information
Scholarships, Bursaries, Awards and Discretionary Funds
Further information on funding, scholarships and bursaries can be found on our website.
Related courses
At University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)
Like this page