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Popular Music

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 28/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
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More about University of Liverpool

Course options

2026-2027
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Course summary

In addition to practical areas, this programme focuses on developing an in-depth and critical historical understanding of popular music repertoires, cultures, and practices. Some modules are practical, concerned with musical performance, song-writing, or creative music technology, although none of these are compulsory. Others focus on popular music history topics or the music industry. The remaining modules involve writing about popular music from a historical, critical, sociological, or philosophical viewpoint. Our studio and performance modules cater for both classical and popular musical styles.

This programme is available with either a Year in China or a Year Abroad. The Year in China offers undergraduate students the opportunity to spend one year at our joint venture, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), following XJTLU's BA China Studies degree classes. XJTLU is a fully English-speaking university, located in Suzhou. The Year Abroad offers students the opportunity to spend a full academic year studying at one of our partner universities around the world, following a mixture of culture and/or discipline-related modules. If you wish to study this programme with a Year in China or a Year Abroad you will have the opportunity to apply after you arrive at Liverpool.

This programme is available with a Year in Industry. Year Three is spent on a paid placement within an organisation in industry, broadly defined. You will be supported by the School of the Arts and the Department throughout, and your reflexive written account of the experience will contribute towards your final degree result. If you wish to study this programme with a Year in Industry please put the option code YI in the Further Choices section of your UCAS application form.

Modules

The nature of the programme varies according to your module choices. In first year, Core modules will take a detailed look at the nature of the popular music industries, and a critical exploration of twentieth-century popular music history, not only going through key musical milestones but also exploring their social contexts and the long-term cultural implications. In the second and third years you focus in more depth on fewer selected topics, either concentrating solely on Popular Music modules or retaining the option to pursue one or two modules in other areas. Specialist topics such as Gender and Sexuality and Sound, Technology and Society are studied alongside advanced level performance and music technology modules. In the third year there is a particular emphasis on specialism and extended or independent project (such as a Dissertation, major technology portfolio or extended performance recital).

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 28/09/2026

Apply by
14 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:
W340
Institution code:
L41
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Liverpool 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
14 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:
L41
Campus name:
Main Site
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

If an applicant is taking grade 8 in any instrument (or singing), a dual offer can be made: ABB or BBB with grade 8 Distinction.

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

BTEC applications are encouraged. We evaluate each BTEC application on its merits.

Access to HE Diploma - D: 33 credits M: 12 credits

Pass relevant Access to HE Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits with 33 at Distinction and 12 at Merit.

Scottish Advanced Higher - ABB

ABB in Advanced Highers, combinations of Advanced Highers and Scottish Highers are welcome.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points

32 points overall with no score less than 4 or pass the IB Diploma plus 6,5,5 in 3 HL subjects.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales - B

B in the Welsh Baccalaureate, plus AB at A level.

Extended Project - A

Applicants who offer the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and meet our offer criteria will be made the standard offer, plus an alternative offer. This will be at one A Level grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ, for example the offer would be ABB or BBB plus A in the EPQ.

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

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Mathematics and English at grade 4/C required. Applicants with equivalent qualifications or who do not meet these GCSE requirements will be considered on an individual basis according to their circumstances.

T Level

T levels considered in a relevant subject.

As part of our application process, applicants are normally required to attend an Applicant Interview and Music Experience Day, where you will either have an interview or a short audition with an academic member of staff. This is your chance to demonstrate your passion for the subject and allow us to make a decision on your application. (There is an option for phone or Skype interviews).

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.

The University of Liverpool is committed to supporting talented applicants from all backgrounds to succeed. One of the ways we support students and fair access to higher education is through making reduced offers as part of our contextual admissions strategy, the Liverpool Scholars programme, Realising Opportunities national collaboration of universities and Sutton Trust Pathways. Additional consideration may be given to applicants with disrupted education or extenuating circumstances.

Learn more on the University of Liverpool 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.

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

If this is your first degree and you are a Home student applying for entry in 2026, you do not have to pay your fees upfront. Instead, you can take out a tuition fee loan which is paid straight to the University. This is available to most students, no matter what their household income.

Please note, for Home undergraduate students, 2026/27 fees have yet to be confirmed. Tuition fees are subject to increase each year, subject to the government’s regulated fee limits. For information, for UK students applying for 2025 entry the Tuition Fee was £9,535.

You will find full information about tuition fees in the “Fees and funding” section of all course pages on our website. Or see the “Paying for your studies” section of our website for more information.

Some of our programmes charge less than the full £9,535 fee:

• Psychology BSc (Hons) (2+2 programme with Foundation element), run in collaboration with Wirral Metropolitan College.
• Programmes with a year in industry or a year abroad

Some programmes which include compulsory fieldwork or additional elements such as the Pilots Licence in Aerospace Engineering may incur additional costs. Where this is the case, those costs will be outlined at on-campus events such as the University Open Days or Applicant Discovery Days.

For further information please see: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/

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