This practical course has been designed to help students realise their ambition of working in the music industry.
It provides lots of opportunities for performance, including the Music Showcase we host every year as part of our Festival of Creativity.
You will have plenty of access to our studios and equipment, which includes an Audient ASP8024HE console, receive accredited training in the industry-standard Ableton Live and Logic X, and will be offered the opportunity to record your own or others’ work in renowned studios.
In recent years and at an additional expense, UCW music students have visited Abbey Road Studios, Monnow Valley Studio, Rockfield Studios, Modern World Studios and Sawmills Studio and also performed in Krakow, Poland.
UCW music students also benefit from a great guest lecture programme, which has included composers, studio owners, technicians, designers and representatives from important
industry organisations including the Musicians’ Union.
The taught elements of this degree are also complemented by regular one-to-one and group skills workshops. So you can improve your instrument and equipment skills with our lecturers and experienced visiting experts – all at no extra cost.
Students on this course are based at our recently-refurbished Loxton Campus. It has ample rehearsal and performance spaces, and we put on a programme of our own shows throughout the year.
Students are also able to take advantage of everything on offer at our new University Centre in the Winter Gardens in the centre of Weston.
You can meet the team and find out more about everything else going on at UCW by attending our next Open Day.
Please contact either the course leader Lee Sullivan or UCW’s HEART student services team for more information.
Students who pass this course will be awarded a degree from Bath Spa University. The agreement between Bath Spa University and UCW is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure academic standards are maintained.
2021 entry full-time tuition fees: £8,500 per year.
2021 entry part-time tuition fees: £6,375 per year.
This covers all of the teaching and assessment elements that are required for you to complete the course.
It also includes:
- The use of UCW recording equipment and specialist software.
- Attendance at guest lectures at UCW.
- Additional instrument and equipment tuition provided on an ongoing basis at UCW’s discretion.
- Annual £10 printing and photocopying allowance for full-time students and £5 for part-time students.
- The use of UCW computer equipment at any of our campuses and access to Microsoft Office365 while you are enrolled with UCW.
- The loans of books from our libraries.
- Access to all of the UCW student support and careers services.
It does not include:
- Optional studio visits at an approximate cost of £50 each.
- Optional UK and overseas residential visits at an approximate cost of £50/£100 per night.
- Extra printing and photocopying above the £10/£5 limit.
- The cost of books that you may wish to purchase.
- Transport between our campuses, and to/from your partner university and any work placements. We encourage students to take advantage of termly bus passes to reduce transport costs.
- Accommodation and other living costs.
UCW publishes its Tuition Fees Policy on the Wider Information Set page of this website.
You may also be eligible for additional financial support, depending on your circumstances.
All of the modules on this course are worth either 20 or 40 credits each. Successful completion of 360 credits will lead to the award of the Level 6 degree.
Year 1
- Live Performance (40 credits)
- Music Performance and Production in Context (20 credits)
- Musicianship (20 credits)
- Studio Practice (40 credits)
Year 2
- Composition and Songwriting (40 credits)
- Individual Project in Music Performance and Production (20 credits)
- Live Performance 2 (20 credits) or Live Events (20 credits)
- Music Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (40 credits)
Year 3
- Independent Research Project (20 credits)
- Industry Engagement (20 credits)
- Professional Development (40 credits)
- Specialist Skills Portfolio (40 credits)
This course is taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, skills practice and studio practicals. When not in lecturers and seminars, students are expected to continue learning through independent self-study. This involves reading relevant literature, working on individual and group projects, and undertaking research in preparation for coursework and exams.
This course has an average of 13.5 hours of scheduled teaching per week.
Assessment is via a combination of practical exams and coursework, with an assessment breakdown of 30% practical exams and 70% coursework. There are no written exams on this degree.
Please click on the Course Handbook button to find out more about the course, including how it is delivered on a part-times basis.
- Pursue a professional career in music across disciplines including live performance, studio production, live sound, songwriting, composition, and event management.
- Gain employment in the wider music industry, including music publishing, music management, event management and music promotion.
- Apply to progress to postgraduate study, such as the Master's Degrees in Music Performance, Composition, Songwriting, Sound design or Sound Production at Bath Spa University.
Industry insight
The UK music industry employed 190,000+ people and contributed £5.2 billion to the UK economy in 2018 (UK Music).
A minimum of CDD at A Level, or a BTEC Extended Diploma at MMP, or equivalent, preferably in a related area. Applications from those studying two A Levels or alternative Level 3 qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants are also required to submit a portfolio of creative work and attend an interview.
