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Contemporary and Popular Music

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 15/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Main Site (Newcastle)
More about Newcastle University

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

This degree allows you to study and specialise in contemporary music performance, composition and academic study, ranging from acoustic singer-songwriting through to experimental electronic forms. There are also plenty of opportunities to develop your performance skills, helping you to grow as an accomplished musician. You study a broad range of historical and cultural topics, opening you up to diverse musical experiences, such as hip hop and installation/art music.

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site (Newcastle)

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 15/09/2025

Apply by
29 January

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:
W301
Institution code:
N21
Campus name:
Main Site (Newcastle)
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

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

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What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

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:
W301
Institution code:
N21
Campus name:
Main Site (Newcastle)
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - ABB

ABB including Music, Music Technology or another music-related subject, or Rock School or equivalent performance experience. Applicants should be practitioners in a type of contemporary or popular music. Alternatively BBB including Music, Music Technology or another music-related subject, or Rock School or equivalent performance experience plus Grade 8 Associated Board (Performance). Applicants should be practitioners in a type of contemporary or popular music. If A Levels do not include Music or a relevant music-related subject, an offer of ABB plus Grade 8 Associated Board (Performance), Rock School or equivalent performance experience may be considered. Board/Trinity (Performance) may be considered.

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

In a music-related subject.

Access to HE Diploma - D: 30 credits M: 15 credits

ABRSM/Trinity Music Theory G5 also required. Applicants should be practitioners in a type of contemporary or popular music.

Scottish Higher - AABBB

AABBB at Higher Grade including a music-related subject, or BBBBB including Music plus Grade 8 Associated Board (Performance), Rock School or equivalent. Applicants should be practitioners in a type of contemporary or popular music. Scottish qualifications can be taken in more than one sitting.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points

With Music at Higher Level. Standard Level Music may be considered, but will depend on the combination of subjects being studied. Applicants should be practitioners in a type of contemporary or popular music.

Extended Project

If you offer the Level 3 Extended Project Qualification in a topic relevant to the degree programme, we may take this into account in our consideration of your application.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H1, H2, H2, H3, H3

H1H2H2H3H3 at Higher Level including Music, or H2H2H2H3H3 including Music plus Grade 8 Associated Board (Performance), Rock School or equivalent. Applicants should be practitioners in a type of contemporary or popular music.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - D3, M2, M2

D3, M2, M2 including Music, Music Technology or another music-related subject, or Rock School or equivalent performance experience. Applicants should be practitioners in a type of contemporary or popular music. If A Level does not include Music or a relevant music-related subject, an offer of D3 M2 M2 plus Grade 8 Associated Board (Performance), Rock School or equivalent performance experience may be considered.

Additional entry requirements

Audition
Interview

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.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

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

Our fees for 2023-24 are not yet confirmed.

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