Delivered by a diverse range of industry and research experienced lecturers, this course will enable you to respond to the changing landscape of the music and wider creative industries, making you adaptable and employable.
This course is designed to support you in following pathways that reflect your specialist interests in performance, composition, production, or other areas such as education, management and research.
You will have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of your creative and scholarly intentions and mindset, with music as the primary medium for exploration and expression across a range of genres, including Classical, Jazz, Contemporary Commercial, Avant Garde and Popular Music styles (including Hip Hop, and Electronic Music).
You will explore music in practical and contextual perspectives and domains, to develop your practical, critical and analytical skills and attributes. You will experience performance in a solo and/or ensemble/band context, depending on your specialism, with accompaniment provision (where appropriate). The practical application of orchestration/arranging and composition is emphasised through collaborative projects and workshops with instrumentalists. With modules that prepare you for careers in education and community music, we are also one of the few music departments in the country to offer an undergraduate module in Music Therapy.
This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
Merchiston Campus
Study options
BA (Hons) • Full-time • 4 Years
Start dates
07/09/2026
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:
W303
Institution code:
E59
Campus name:
Merchiston Campus
Campus Code:
M
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2, 3
How to apply
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
EU has vacancies
Wales does not have vacancies
England does not have vacancies
International has vacancies
Scotland does not have vacancies
Northern Ireland does not have vacancies
Republic of Ireland does not have vacancies
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:
W303
Institution code:
E59
Campus name:
Merchiston Campus
Campus Code:
M
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM
Minimum grades DMM (Distinction, Merit, Merit) in a related subject. Plus A Level English or other literary subject* at C.
Access to HE Diploma - D: 15 credits
M: 30 credits
Pass Access to HE Diploma in a related subject with 45 credits overall with minimum 30 credits at Merit & 15 credits at Distinction.
English or other Literary subject* must be studied at Level 3 as part of the Access to HE Diploma.
Scottish Higher - ABBB
Including English or other Literary subject*. If you are eligible for an adjusted offer under our Contextual Admissions Policy, please see the ‘Minimum Qualification Requirements’ below.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D
Minimum grades D*D (Distinction*, Distinction) in a related subject. Plus A Level English or other literary subject* at C.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 29 points
Award of Diploma with 29 points overall with three Higher Level subjects at grades 6, 5, 4 including English or other Literary subject* at grade 5.
H2, H2, H2, H3 at Higher Level including English or other Literary subject*
T Level - M
T Level must be completed in a English/Literary subject plus A Level English or other literary subject at C. Please contact ugadmissions@napier.ac.uk to check if you meet the subject specific requirements.
Literary subjects accepted are: Modern Studies, History, Psychology, Sociology, RMPS, Theology, Media Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Geography, Latin, Classics, A Level Government and Politics, A Level Classical Civilisation, A Level Drama.
Minimum Year 2 Entry Criteria.
Please note there are limited places available for Year 2 entry.
HNC - Pass HNC in a related subject (Music, Music Performance, Sound Production) with grade A in the Graded Unit.
Minimum Year 3 Entry Criteria.
Please note there are limited places available for Year 3 entry.
HND – Pass HND in Music or Music Performance grade A in the Graded Unit.
Including English or other Literary subject*. The grades listed above are our minimum entry requirements for applicants who meet our widening participation criteria. For further information about our entry requirements and our widening participation criteria as outlined within our Contextual Admissions Policy please visit our website.
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
You should state your specialist interests clearly on your application. This may be performance (please state your principal instrument), composition, or production. If you meet or are predicted to meet the minimum academic requirements, we will contact you to request a portfolio demonstrating your experience in areas of relevant practice: performance, composition or production.
These requirements apply to all years of entry. Our entry requirements indicate the Standard (minimum) qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.
English language requirements
Test
Grade
Additional details
IELTS (Academic)
6
No element below 5.5.
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 available
Historical entry grades data is not currently available for Edinburgh Napier University - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
65%
65 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
100%
100 Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Location
Fee
Year
Scotland
£1820
Year 1
England
£9790
Year 1
Northern Ireland
£9790
Year 1
Wales
£9790
Year 1
Republic of Ireland
£9790
Year 1
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
International - Year 1 £18,220 - £21,120 (See course page for details)