Focusing on any sub-genre you want – from acoustic to electronic, mainstream to left-field – the songwriting degree at Leeds Conservatoire will prepare you to make a lasting impact on the music industry. Through our well-established Popular Music course, we have over 10 years of preparing our students for a successful career as a writer in the modern music industry. You will gain valuable experience in writing on your own and as a collaborator; crafting songs for yourself, bands, projects and other artists. In tandem with developing your proficiency on industry standard recording software, these solo and collaborative skills will prepare you for a career as a songwriter.
During the songwriting degree you’ll get weekly one-to-one tuition with experienced songwriters and regular timetabled sessions in band practice rooms where you’ll have the creative freedom to craft and perfect your own songs. With access to our Apple Mac Labs, you will learn how to bring those songs to life using industry-standard software like Logic Pro.
Course Details - Modules
The BA (Hons) Music (Songwriting) modules focus on developing you as a professional songwriter through one-to-one tuition, ensemble study and creative projects. The professional studies strand will develop your core business skills, and other optional modules will introduce additional cross-genre opportunities.
The programme has strands in Specialist Study, Contextual Studies and Professional Studies that span the three levels of the programme. Students focus primarily on their Specialist Study.
Year 1 (Level 4)
Compulsory modules:
Specialist Study Composition 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 Composition 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
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 Composition 3
Final Project
Contextual Studies 3
Professional Studies 3
Students select either an Interdisciplinary and Collaborative 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-Songwriting-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 portfolios, audio recordings, presentations, technical tests, essays, oral exams, and performances. The exact nature of assessments will depend on the Contextual Studies and Professional Studies module options chosen at 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:
W310
Institution code:
L30
Campus Name:
Main Site
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
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
96 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
17500.0
Year 1
International
17500.0
Year 1
Additional Fee Information
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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