Learn how to compose, write songs, work in the studio, record, produce, and perform to a public audience. Ultimately learn how to position yourself in a global music market place.
This is a practice-based, ‘outward-facing’ course that seeks to prepare you to be versatile, flexible and adaptable within the 21st century music industry.
Why you should study this course
Focus on creative-based music skills in performance and songwriting in a vibrant and creative environment which gives you access to professional practices, new research and outstanding graduate support.
Engage with a range of technology in the creation, performance and recording of music, including recording studios and live performance. Develop your own personal website which by the later stages of the course, is intended to be a professional-looking, outward-facing website that demonstrates the breadth of your learning and professional experience.
Visiting masterclasses are embedded within the course and have included: Black Sabbath founder Tony Iommi, singer/songwriter Emma McGann, guitarist John Connearn, award-winning gospel vocalist Lurine Cato, the Ben Holder Jazz Trio, award winning gypsy-jazz guitarist Remi Harris, songwriter Hannah Wilson, Orchestra of the Swan and jazz keyboardist and music production composer, Andy Quinn. Masterclass visitors are subject to availability and may change each year.
There are opportunities to showcase your performing and songwriting talent in a public context throughout your studies. On-site performance spaces include a large room with two grand pianos which is suitable for small recitals, and The Hub’s Square One, a large performance space kitted out with PA, amplifiers, drums and a grand piano4. You may have the opportunity to perform in one of the city's live music venues (subject to availability), which has previously included: Studio 54, The Herbert Art Gallery, Kasbah, The Phoenix, The Cross, Drapers, The Cottage, The Tin, The Litten Tree, Ego Arts and Nexus.
You will have access to our extensive specialist facilities4 such as our music seminar room which houses a grand piano, PA, amplifiers, a drum kit and a 5.1 surround sound system directly linked to a control room for recording. Other facilities include music practice rooms with pianos, drums and PA, three band rooms, a 5.1 studio and live room, instrument storage, an iMac music tech suite and modern recording studios where you can access Pro Tools, Logic, Live, Max and Sibelius on Apple macs.
Where our graduates work
Examples of what previous graduates have gone on to achieve include being a leading professional guitarist, an author of a series of advanced guitar handbooks, a successful recording artist, a YouNow live-streamer and songwriter, an examiner for Rockschool and completing a PhD in composition.
Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information.
This course has a common first year.
The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.
If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year.
Common first year courses:
Music and Audio Production BSc (Hons)
Popular Music Performance and Songwriting BA (Hons)
Year One Modules:
Introduction to Music Production and Songwriting
Music, Culture, and Context
Studio Music
Music and Sound Making
Global Music Marketplace
Live Music
Year Two Modules:
Band Performance and Songwriting
Writing About Popular Music
The Online Artist
Applied Performance and Songwriting
Music and the Moving Image
Creative Collaboration
Sandwich Year:
There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.
Final Year Modules:
Advanced Performance and Song Writing
Communities of Music
Popular Music Research Project
Creative Music Briefs
Major Project
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
Coventry University 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?
This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.
Course optionsDiscover what it's like to study Popular Music Performance and Songwriting at Coventry University: insights on the course, making friends, personal statement tips, uni prep, and recommended books, podcasts, and videos.
Overall grade of Merit in the T Level Qualification in any subject.
Grades alone don’t tell us everything about your potential and your story. We use information from your application to assess achievements in your personal situation to support fair and equal access. For example, we consider where you live, your school, if you are a carer or a care leaver or have experienced disruption to your education.
We have different schemes that recognise this context that may result in a reduced offer by up to 24 UCAS points or equivalent.
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 optionsThis 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.
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland | £9790* | |
| EU & International | £20800* |
* 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.
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Email:applications.io@coventry.ac.uk
Phone:+44 024 7765 2152
Email:ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk
Phone:024 7765 2222
Priory Street
Coventry
CV1 5FB
At Coventry University
