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Music

  • 1 Study option
  • Undergraduate
3 Campuses
Awarded by:
Scottish Qualifications Authority trading as SQA
More about University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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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

Mandatory units are:

  • Music first study: instrument or Music first study: composition

  • Music: live performance

  • Music theory

  • Music: graded unit

  • Music business for musicians

Option units may include:

  • Keyboard skills for music production

  • Songwriting

  • Music: session skills

  • Digital audio workstations

  • Creative project

  • Music: second study composition

  • Recording techniques for musicians

  • Music: research project

  • Music business: start-ups

  • Music history

  • Music second study: composition

  • Music: instrumental instruction

Option units available may vary depending on study location, for more information contact your chosen campus.

This outline reflects the modules as currently delivered and is subject to change.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • North, West and Hebrides
  • Perth
  • Shetland

Study options

  • Higher National Certificate • Full-Time • 1 Years

Start dates

Application codes

Institution code:
H49

How to apply

Application codes

Institution code:
H49

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.

Course options

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. https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/hnc-music/

Additional entry requirements

Audition
You will be asked to attend an audition. You should prepare and perform a piece that demonstrates your skillset on your instrument or voice and, for writers, this can be an original composition or song.
Interview
You will be asked to attend an interview.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)5.5Overall score of 5.5 with no element below 5.0
PTE Academic50Minimum score of 50
TOEFL (iBT)69Min 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 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. Part-time study is not open to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

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.

This course may have Historical entry grades data available, please select a course option to view.

Course options

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
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.

https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/studying-at-uhi/how-much-will-it-cost/funding-your-studies/bursaries-and-scholarships/

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