Music Degree: BA (Hons) Music Performer and Practitioner
Validated by the University of the Arts London (UAL)
Put yourself centre stage with our inspiring music performance course. Hone your performance portfolio for professional music.
Course Overview
- Location: Northbrook College, Worthing, West Sussex, England
- UCAS code: W313
- Institution Code: C57
- Duration: 3 years full-time
- Application deadline: June 2027
- Start date: September 2027
- Fees: £16,500 per year
The degree is designed to launch careers in the music industry, combining performance, collaboration, and professional development. Work across departments, including props, set design, and music, to deliver live productions, theatre performances, and real-world commissioned projects.
Develop advanced skills in instrumental and vocal performance, ensemble work, and genre versatility, with regular access to performance workshops and industry-standard facilities. Build a professional portfolio through high-quality music video recordings, showcasing your talent to global audiences and supporting future career opportunities.
This music performer and practitioner degree prepares graduates for careers in live performance, session work, composition, and the wider creative industries, with progression routes to postgraduate study and professional practice.
Entry requirements
2 A-Levels and 3 GCSEs in other subjects grade 9-4 or A-C (or equivalent)
OR
1 A-Level, a Foundation course (or equivalent) and 3 GCSEs in other subjects grade 9-4 or A-C (or equivalent)
A portfolio of work or audition is also needed to demonstrate ability in the specialist area.
Contact us to compare overseas qualifications to the UK education system.
English language requirements
IELTS certificate or equivalent with an overall score of 6.0, 6.0 in the writing element and 5.5 in all other sub-elements.
Your application will be assessed based on grades, interview, portfolio/audition, and experience.
Course Information
This music degree program combines expert lecturers, live performances, industry visits, and real-world skills to prepare you for a music career.
Course Content
Course Content
The degree program offers guidance from lecturers with expert knowledge and industry experience. It focuses on building a significant recorded music portfolio and emphasises live performances and collaboration with other creative departments. Visits from prominent figures in the music industry offer crucial insights, and students can gain real-world skills and build a network through various experiences, such as working at festivals, providing music tuition, and participating in recording sessions with professional bands.
Teaching Method
Teaching Method
We use a variety of teaching methods, including:
- practical and creative studio-based workshops
- discussions
- lectures/seminars
- tutorials
- small group study
- self-directed study
- study trips
Key Features
Key Features
- Guest lectures by industry experts and professional musicians
- The course includes live projects and opportunities for work experience (subject to student visa regulations).
- Perform in our professional on-site theatre.
- Extensive state-of-the-art recording studios and practice spaces.
- Study specialist units in music theory, including harmony and arrangement.
Course Structure
Year One
Year One
You'll develop the creative, technical, and professional skills needed for today's music industry. Build a strong foundation in music theory, songwriting, Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), music recording, editing, and keyboard performance. Explore artist development, music industry careers, collaboration, and musician wellbeing while strengthening your research, communication, and critical thinking skills. Complete the year with a practical music project, creating an original composition, performance, or music product that showcases your talent and prepares you for careers in music production, performance, composition, and the creative industries.
- Unit 1: Music Fundamentals
- Unit 2: Artist Development
- Unit 3: Ideas in Context: Why Music Matters
- Unit 4: Tools and Techniques
- Unit 5: Performance Brief
- Unit 6: Music Project
Year Two
Year Two
In Year 2, you'll advance your skills in music arranging, orchestration, composition, and production for genres including pop, rock, and jazz. Explore innovation in the music industry, developing creative sound design, immersive audio techniques, and music marketing strategies. Gain deeper knowledge of global music styles, harmony, rhythm, and scale systems while strengthening critical thinking, analysis, and communication skills. Complete a year-long individual music project, showcasing your creativity, experimentation, and professional development for careers in music production, composition, performance, and the wider creative industries.
- Unit 7: Arranging for Live Performance
- Unit 8: Innovation
- Unit 9: Improvisation
- Unit 10: Ideas in Context: Musicking
- Unit 11: Individual Project
Year Three
Year Three
In your final year of our BA Music degree, you'll prepare for a professional career in the music industry through advanced collaboration, project management, budgeting, and team leadership. Complete an independent music dissertation or research project, developing strong critical thinking, analysis, and communication skills. Build your music career development plan, expand your professional network, and explore opportunities in music production, performance, songwriting, and entrepreneurship. Refine your artistic identity by analysing influences and current music trends, graduating fully prepared for careers across the global creative industries.
- Unit 12: Collective Project
- Unit 13: Music Dissertation
- Unit 14: Professional Practice
- Unit 15: Personal Voice
