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Bachelor of Music (with Honours) - BMus (Hon)
Popular Music Performance
Southampton, Solent University
Entry requirements
Here's what you will need to get a place on the Popular Music Performance course at Southampton, Solent University.
Select a qualification to see required grades
A level
104-120 from a minimum of 2 A Levels
You may also need to
Attend an audition
Tuition fees
| Location | Fees |
|---|---|
| England | £9,535 per year |
| Scotland | £9,535 per year |
| Wales | £9,535 per year |
| Northern Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| Channel Islands | £9,535 per year |
| Republic of Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| EU | £17,750 per year |
| International | £17,750 per year |
Course summary
What this course is about
UCAS code: PMP1
Here's what Southampton, Solent University says about its Popular Music Performance course.
Popular Music Performance scored 96% for student overall student satisfaction and in the top 20 in the UK. (NSS 2020)
Looking to start a career as a performer, songwriter, creative artist or studio musician? Solent University’s BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance programme brings together practical, theoretical and vocational learning to help launch your musical career.
Throughout the course you’ll be supported to develop a wide range of musical skills alongside academic, research and critical-thinking proficiencies that are relevant to many different careers.
The course features extensive study of the music industries including copyright, contract law and career pathways. You’ll also be encouraged to develop transferable skills in research, IT, presentation, teamwork, creative thinking, communication and project management.
The curriculum is taught by a highly experienced course team, many of whom are active industry experts with professional experience in performance, studio and live sound, electronic sound design and the business and culture of music production. The team’s industry links also enable a handpicked selection of students to record at the world-renowned Abbey Road Studios.
You’ll study in our industry-standard facilities, including rehearsal rooms and recording studios – and will have access to full backline and PA during your rehearsals and classes.
Beyond timetabled seminars and workshops you will be encouraged to engage with Southampton’s thriving music scene. By promoting your own shows, you’ll cultivate your talents and expand your understanding of real-world arrangement, composition and stagecraft.
Southampton is home to various nationally renowned venues including the O2 Guildhall and The Joiners. This vibrant mix of venues has encouraged a diverse range of local music scenes, perfect for gaining on-stage performing experience.
What does this course lead to? Graduates from this course have gone on to work in professional performance, songwriting, artist development, live sound, teaching, and technical support.
Who is this course for? Solent’s popular music performance course is suitable for both schooled and self-taught musicians who are interested in building a career as a self-motivated, skilled performer.
Applicants should have performance experience on at least one of the following: keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, or vocals.
You will create music as part of the course but evidence of music theory skills at entry is not compulsory.
Course details
Qualification
Bachelor of Music (with Honours) - BMus (Hon)
Department
Department of Art and Music
Location
Main Site | Southampton
Duration
3 Years
Study mode
Full-time
Subjects
• Popular music performance
Start date
September 15, 2025
Application deadline
January 29, 2025
The modules you will study
YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES Individual Performance 1 Live Performance 1 Creative Music Industries Recital and Instrumental Sjills 1 Studio Performance 1 Theory and Listening Skills
YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES Individual Performance 2 Live Performance 2 Music Portfolio Careers Recital and Instrumental Skills 2 Studio Performance 2
YEAR 2 - OPTIONS (Please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year) Introduction to Experimental Music Songwriting Techniques
YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES Individual Performance 3 Advanced Music Performance Entrepreneurship and Artist Development Major Project
YEAR 3 - OPTIONS (Please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year) Songwriting Portfolio Experimental Music Performance
How you will be assessed
This course is assessed via a range of performances, recordings, presentations, written assignments, music theory exercises, music portfolios, and website(s)/blogs. There may also be video presentations or other forms negotiated with your tutor.
Southampton, Solent University reviews
Showing 62 reviews
3rd year student
Three stars: Good
1 year ago
3rd year student
Three stars: Good
1 year ago
3rd year student
Two stars: Could be better
1 year ago
3rd year student
Two stars: Could be better
1 year ago
3rd year student
Four stars: Great
1 year ago
3rd year student
Our lecturers are very 50/50 on the good to bad scale
1 year ago
National Student Survey (NSS) scores
The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.
Here you can see ratings from Southampton, Solent University students who took the Popular Music Performance course - or another course in the same subject area.
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
91%
med
Teaching on my course
91%
med
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
91%
high
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
99%
med
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
88%
med
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
87%
med
Learning opportunities
90%
high
Learning opportunities
90%
high
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
93%
high
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
90%
med
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
90%
high
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
91%
med
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
86%
high
Assessment and feedback
92%
high
Assessment and feedback
92%
high
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
93%
high
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
91%
high
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
90%
high
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
91%
high
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
94%
high
Academic support
94%
med
Academic support
94%
med
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
93%
med
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
94%
med
Organisation and management
83%
high
Organisation and management
83%
high
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
82%
med
How well organised is your course?
83%
high
Learning resources
92%
high
Learning resources
92%
high
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
91%
high
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
92%
med
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
93%
high
Student voice
86%
high
Student voice
86%
high
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
81%
high
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
90%
high
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
86%
med
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
78%
med
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?
83%
low
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
82%
med
Student information
See who's studying at Southampton, Solent University. These students are taking Popular Music Performance or another course from the same subject area.
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| Music Technology | E | |||||
| Media Studies | B | |||||
| Music | B | |||||
| English Literature | C | |||||
| Sociology | D | |||||
Graduate prospects
What graduates do next
We have no information about graduates who took Popular Music Performance at Southampton, Solent University.
Earnings after graduation
Earnings from Southampton, Solent University graduates who took Popular Music Performance - or another course in the same subject area.
Earnings
£15.7k
First year after graduation
£19.3k
Third year after graduation
£21.2k
Fifth year after graduation
Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Popular Music Performance.
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree
Discussions
Discussions
Students are talking about Southampton, Solent University on The Student Room.
Chat with Southampton, Solent University
Skills. Experience. Connections. Knowledge. For a future full of possibilities.
At Solent we're all about creating opportunities. We offer expertise and experiences you couldn’t get anywhere else, opening doors and making introductions. We’re focused on the practical side of higher education – giving our students the connections, experience and confidence to turn their newfound knowledge into a career with real, meaningful impact. Whoever you are, whatever your goals, we want to help you make your mark.
Through this profile we'll be answering any questions you have around life at Solent, our courses, accommodation, student finance, university applications in general, and so much more...
The Student Room will be monitored regularly between Monday-Friday, and we aim to respond as soon as we can.
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