Popular Music (with Foundation Year)

UCAS code: W341

Here's what University of Northampton says about its Popular Music (with Foundation Year) course.

The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

Featuring a reduced tuition fee in the first year, our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

By studying at the University of Northampton, you can be sure that:

• Our expert academics teach in small groups supported with one-to-one assistance. Our academics and students form a tight bond, providing individualised support and guidance whilst challenging students academically.

• Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study, you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd.

• At UON we guarantee a room in our Halls of Residence for all new full-time, first year students who apply and accept their room offer by June 2026 - and we won't ask for a deposit for September 2026*.

• Students enrolling on this course at Northampton will be provided with their own brand-new laptop** to keep at no additional cost. All sports clubs and societies are free to join at Northampton and every essential course textbook is available via the library, meaning you won’t have to purchase copies. For more information on this visit our website (northampton.ac.uk/benefits).

• You will experience student life at the University’s £330 million Waterside Campus. Come along to an Open Day and find out more.

The Northampton Employment Promise

• In fact, we’re so confident in our careers and employability support that If you achieve at least a 2:2 degree and complete either our Employability Plus Gold programme or achieve a Changemaker Gold Certificate during your time studying with us, but still haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating, we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you or support you into postgraduate study.

?eligibility criteria apply. See northampton.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/ for more information ?? eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply. See northampton.ac.uk/benefits for more information

Integrated Foundation Year STAGE 1 A: • Transition to University – Learning to Learn (Compulsory) • Investigating Your Subject (Compulsory) • Foundation in Arts Specialist Study (Compulsory) • Negotiated Learning Project (Compulsory)

STAGE 1 B: • Computer Music Techniques (Compulsory) • The Recording Studio (Compulsory) • Composition and Theory (Compulsory) • Creating Popular Music (Compulsory) • Performance and Practical Musicianship (Compulsory) • Professional Music Studies (Compulsory)

STAGE 2: • Sound for Screen (Compulsory) • How Music Works (Compulsory) • The Creative Practitioner (Compulsory) • Creativity and Technology (Compulsory) • Developing Popular Music (Compulsory) • Industry Briefs for Performers (Compulsory)

STAGE 3: • Professional Project (Optional) • Popular Music Dissertation (Optional) • Music and Sound Design for Media (Compulsory) • The Professional Music Educator (Compulsory) • The Professional Performer (Compulsory) • The Creative Musician (Compulsory)

Module information is quoted for 25/26 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly. 26/27 entry modules will be released in June 2026.

The course is assessed in a number of ways:

• Practical project work

• Seminar presentations

• Essays

• Examinations

All performance assessments take place in a public venue in Northampton in front of a live audience.