Program Overview

Popular Music with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

Course Description

This course is designed for practising musicians who want to understand the technical environment within which commercial music takes place. It is one of the few courses of its type in the country and is designed to equip you with the ability to interact and innovate within a vibrant environment, nurturing a specialism in popular music and related industries.

Study Options

• Full-time: 4 Years
• UK fee: £9,535 per year (2025/26)
• International fee: £16,900 per year (2025/26)
• UCAS points: 72 (September 2025 entry)
• UCAS code: W3J9
• Start date: September
• Location: Markeaton Street, Derby Campus

What You Will Study

• Foundation Year
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3

Core Modules

• Creative Studies
• Creative Technologies
• History and Theory of Creative Practice
• Creative Arts Skills
• Negotiated Project

Module Details

Creative Studies

The Creative Studies module encompasses a wide range of skills that will help you look, record and translate visual information. A variety of drawing and/or recording methods will be used ranging from precise drawing techniques to more experimental mark-making or performative skills using a wide range of media; this will be approached through a variety of structured workshops.

Learning and Assessment

A variety of assessment methods will be used. Some Popular Music modules are assessed through coursework only, others by a combination of coursework, portfolios, assignments, case studies, oral and graphic presentations, collaborative and interdisciplinary team work projects, computer testing and examinations, so providing a flexible and effective means of assessing your progress.

Who Will Teach You

• Cameron Jinks, Programme Leader

Careers

Our graduates are equipped for employment within the modern commercial music sector as performers, composers, producers, educators, promoters, publishers, academics, recording studio engineers and entrepreneurial freelance musicians. They also work in a range of media organisations.

Notable Graduates

• Charlotte Carpenter, successful performing artist
• Jake Graham and Chris Burns, established the band Fahran
• Simon France, Sound Technician at Curve Theatre, Leicester
• Nathan Lewis, music teacher at Birmingham Ormiston Academy
• Luke Gibbs, Studio Engineer at Angelic Record Productions, Oxford

Entry Requirements

2025 Entry

• UCAS points: 72
• A Level: DDD
• T Level: Pass
• BTEC: MMP
• GCSE: Maths and English are preferred, however if you don't have these qualifications you will be able to undertake Maths and English at Level 2 as part of your course of study
• Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 0, Merit: 30, Pass: 15
• English language requirements: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

Additional Entry Requirements

• Portfolio: Recommended

Fees and Funding

2025/26

• UK: £9,535 per year
• International: £16,900 per year

Additional Costs and Optional Extras

• Use of resources, high-end recording studios for both curricula and extra-curricular activities, studio time
• Here at Derby, we provide excellent learning resources, libraries and specialist laboratories and studios
• The programme uses Adobe Creative Suite which is installed on all Macs in MS102 and MS012 at Markeaton Street and students are provided with an individual Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for home use

How to Apply

• UK students: Apply through UCAS or directly to the University
• International students: Apply through our online application portal or contact one of our trusted local representatives

Discover Uni

• 76% of students say staff value students' views and opinions about the course
• 89% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well
• 100% of students are in work or doing further study 15 months after the course

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