In 2005, we became the first UK conservatoire to deliver a specialist course in Popular Music, and we’re still pioneers. The Foundation Year route at Leeds conservatoire gives you an extra year to focus on your musical development.
If you haven’t already, you’ll start your music career whilst you’re studying, and be ready to take it to the next step after graduation. In addition to one-to-one tuition and band work, you’ll access masterclasses from professional performers, songwriters, producers, managers and promoters, supporting your artistic development as well as sharpening your creative voice. Strong links with the music industry mean that we are in constant contact with major labels such as, Universal, Polydor and Decca, as well as local labels like Hide and Seek and Leaf Label, and we regularly welcome them here for student showcases and discussions.
This course follows the same specifications as our three year BA (Hons) Music (Popular) except that the extra Foundation Year allows for students who need an extra year of study to achieve the standard of our entry requirements for the 3-year BA. On completion of the Foundation Year you will continue to Year 1 of the BA (Hons) Music (Popular).
Course Details - Modules
The BA (Hons) Music (Popular) with Foundation Year modules focus on developing you as a professional musician through one-to-one instrumental tuition, band study, and creative projects. In addition, the contextual studies strand of study will develop your awareness of the environments within which you create music, and the professional studies strand will develop your core business skills.
The programme has strands in Specialist Study and Contextual Studies that span the four levels of the programme, as well as a Professional Studies strand throughout Levels 4, 5 and 6. Students focus primarily on their Specialist Study.
Foundation Year (Level 3)
Compulsory modules:
Specialist Study Performance Foundation
Specialist Group Study Performance Foundation
Contextual Studies Foundation
Musicianship Skills
Aural and Theory
Year 1 (Level 4)
Compulsory modules:
Specialist Study Performance 1
Specialist Group Study 1
Contextual Studies 1
Professional Studies 1: Working in the Creative Industries
Creative Project
Year 2 (Level 5)
Compulsory modules:
Specialist Study Performance 2
Specialist Group Study 2
Contextual Studies 2
Professional Studies 2
Contextual Studies 2 optional modules, one of:
Arranging and Orchestration
Collaborative Composition
Entrepreneurship
Introduction to Music Technology
Music and Ideology
Music for the Moving Image
Musical Direction
Performance with Electronics
Songwriting
Professional Studies 2 optional modules, one of:
Artistic Management
Business Start-up
Concerts and Touring
Instrumental Music Tuition
Self-Promotion and Music Marketing
Structure and Functions of the Film Music Industry
Working with Music in the Community
Year 3 (Level 6)
Compulsory modules:
Specialist Study Performance 3
Final Project
Contextual Studies 3
Professional Studies 3
Students select either an Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Project, a Group/Ensemble Performance Project or a Practice in Context Research Project for their Final Project module.
Contextual Studies 3 optional modules, one of:
Composed Theatre
Composition and Production for Film and Television
Computer-Based Composition
Electro-acoustic Composition
Emerging Music Models
Extended Improvisation
Intercultural Music
Software Environments – Performance and Sound Creation
Professional Studies 3 optional modules, one of:
Business Leadership and Ethics
Community Music Project
Film Music – Aesthetics and Narrative Function
Live Music Management
Music Journalism
Module specifications can be found via the Leeds Conservatoire website:
http://bit.ly/LC-PopFY-UCAS
Course Details – Assessment Method
The course is assessed in a variety of ways to reflect the diversity of creative and professional practice. Assessment methods include performances, audio recordings, presentations, technical tests, essays, oral exams, and portfolios. The exact nature of assessments will depend on the Musicianship Skills, Contextual Studies and Professional Studies module options chosen at Level 3, Level 5 and Level 6, as well as the choice of project for the Final Project module at Level 6. Formal assessments tend to take place at the end of each semester or the end of the year. There are a handful of assignments with deadlines halfway through a semester.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 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:
W3W2
Institution code:
L30
Campus Name:
Main Site
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Foundation
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
As per UCAS tariff
64 UCAS tariff points from Level 3 studies or equivalent, (which normally include A Level Music or a BTEC Extended Diploma in a Music-related subject), plus 3 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above to include English Language.
Combinations of Level 3 qualifications are accepted.
As per UCAS tariff
As per UCAS tariff
As per UCAS tariff
As per UCAS tariff
As per UCAS tariff
Additional entry requirements:
Applicants should also have achieved a minimum of three GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above.
UCAS tariff points from music graded exams are also accepted (highest achieved per instrument (grade 6 and above), awarded by ABRSM, London College of Music, Trinity College, Rock School).
All applicants will be required to either attend an audition or submit a portfolio of work.
Please see https://www.leedsconservatoire.ac.uk/audition for up to date details of our audition process.
English Language requirements:
All applicants must meet the minimum English Language requirement, as set by the conservatoire. For UK applicants this is GCSE English Language at grade C/4. Equivalent qualifications, such as Functional Skills English Level 2 or National 5 English grade C, will also be accepted.
For applicants that require a Student Visa to study in the UK, the standard requirement is IELTS 6.0 with no sub-test less than 5.5.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.
English language requirements
Test
Grade
AdditionalDetails
English Language Entry Requirement Information are not listed for this Course.
Unistats information
Student satisfaction :
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs):
82%
Go onto work and study:
93%
Fees and funding
England
9250.0
Year 1
Northern Ireland
9250.0
Year 1
Scotland
9250.0
Year 1
Wales
9250.0
Year 1
Channel Islands
9250.0
Year 1
Republic of Ireland
9250.0
Year 1
EU
14500.0
Year 1
International
14500.0
Year 1
Additional Fee Information
If you are paying international fees you will pay £14,500 (TBC) for the Foundation Year only, then your subsequent years will be £17,500 (TBC).
For details of any additional costs associated with your course, please see https://www.leedsconservatoire.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate-study/fees-funding/tuition-fees/.
Provider information
3 Quarry Hill
Address2 are not listed for this Course.
Address3 are not listed for this Course.
Leeds
LS2 7PD
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