Program Overview

Contemporary and Popular Music BA Honours

The Contemporary and Popular Music BA Honours degree at Newcastle University is a three-year program that encompasses a range of musics and approaches, from acoustic singer-songwriting to jazz and experimental electronic forms, and from ethnomusicology to cultural theory. Students will grow as accomplished musicians while developing their creativity and critical thinking.

Course Overview

• The program is designed to provide students with a broad musical education, allowing them to specialize in contemporary and popular music while also taking modules on world, classical, and folk and traditional music.
• Students will study a range of historical, cultural, theoretical, and applied modules covering topics such as music analysis, music history, DJing and turntablism, songwriting, and audio production.
• The program includes one-on-one tuition and group lessons from performance tutors who are experts in their craft.

Quality and Ranking

• Newcastle University is a Global Top 140 University, according to the QS World University Rankings 2026.
• The university is ranked among the Top 100 for Performing Arts, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.
• The university has seen a 65% increase in research power since 2014, according to the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
• 42% of the university's research is classified as 4* world-leading research, according to the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

Modules and Learning

• The program is divided into three stages, each lasting one academic year, with students completing modules totaling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
• The teaching is informed by research, and course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
• Students will take compulsory modules in performance, composition, theory, and audio production, as well as optional modules in historical, cultural, and practical areas.

Stage 1

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Introduction to Popular Music Studies (20 credits)
  • Academic Practice for Music Studies (20 credits)
  • Contemporary Pop Performance (20 credits)
• Optional Modules:
  • Introduction to Ethnomusicology (20 credits)
  • Understanding Music History (20 credits)
  • Traditions of These Islands (20 credits)
  • Studio Production (20 credits)
  • Essentials and Applications of Music Theory (20 credits)
  • Applications and Structures of Music Theory (20 credits)
  • Essentials and Structures of Music Theory (20 credits)

Stage 2

• Students will choose from a selection of historical, cultural, and practical options, giving them more flexibility to shape their own path through the degree.
• Optional Modules:
  • Themes in Musical Modernism (20 credits)
  • Popular Music and Media (20 credits)
  • Music and Visual Culture (20 credits)
  • Composing for Spaces and Places (20 credits)
  • DJing Skills and Turntablism (20 credits)
  • Contemporary Musical Materials (20 credits)
  • Songwriting (20 credits)
  • Translation for Singing (20 credits)
  • Performance Studies 2 (20 credits)
  • Contemporary Music Practice (20 credits)
  • Orchestration (20 credits)
  • Folk Ensemble 2 (20 credits)
  • Music Teaching and Learning: in Formal and Informal Contexts (20 credits)

Stage 3

• Students will complete a major specialist study, which could be an original composition, a creative project, a performance, or a dissertation/project on an area of interest.
• Compulsory Modules:
  • Major Specialist Study: Composition (40 credits)
  • Major Specialist Study: Dissertation (40 credits)
  • Major Specialist Study: Performance (40 credits)
  • Major Specialist Study: Project (40 credits)
• Optional Modules:
  • Minor Specialist Study: Composition (20 credits)
  • Minor Specialist Study: Dissertation (20 credits)
  • Minor Specialist Study: Performance (20 credits)
  • Minor Specialist Study: Project (20 credits)
  • Case Studies in 21st Century Music (20 credits)
  • The Total Work of Art: Richard Wagner, The Musical Stage and their continuing Agency across The Arts (20 credits)
  • Jazz Studies (20 credits)
  • Salsa, AfroBeat, Reggae and Rhythms of the World (20 credits)
  • Music, Gender and Identity (20 credits)
  • Folk Ensemble 3 (20 credits)

Opportunities

• Study abroad: Students can choose to spend up to a year studying at a partner institution overseas.
• Work placement: Students can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organization in the world, and receive university support from a dedicated team to secure their dream placement.

Facilities and Environment

• The department is based in the Armstrong Building, which overlooks the university's beautiful main quadrangle.
• Students have access to outstanding specialist music facilities, including state-of-the-art recording studios, rehearsal spaces, specialist tuition rooms, flexible study spaces, and the music skills suite.
• The impressive King's Hall is used for orchestral and choral concerts, the university's professional lunchtime concert series, and student performance workshops.

Your Future

• The program prepares students for a range of careers, including professional musician, performer, composer, teacher, academic, music therapist, studio manager, or sound engineer.
• Graduates often go on to work in arts administration, music production, music journalism, music librarianship, or music publishing.
• The wide range of transferable skills music graduates develop means that they can easily move into other professions and graduate training routes.

Entry Requirements

• A-Level: ABB, including Music, Music Technology, or another music-related subject, or Rock School or equivalent performance experience.
• International Baccalaureate: A minimum of 32 points, with Music at Higher Level.
• Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications: Select your qualification to see the specific requirements.
• English Language requirements: IELTS, TOEFL, Pearsons, Duolingo English Test, or other qualifications.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

• Home students: The 2026 entry home fees have not yet been confirmed.
• International students: £25,100 per year.
• Scholarships: The university offers a range of scholarships, including Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships.