Popular Music and Worship (Nexus ICA)
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff
Prospective students will be required to undertake a practical audition to assess musical ability (equivalent to Grade 6 Practical and Grade 5 theory, based on the RockSchool syllabus). If you do not have Grade 5 theory, we have a short music theory entrance exam you can take. You can find sample papers on our website. These exams will be available to take on one of our Open Days or at another suitable time. If you require any support relating to this, please do not hesitate to contact us.
About this course
Our aim is to provide students with the knowledge and skills appropriate to a range of career outcomes in the creative arts and Christian ministries. The course interweaves biblical teaching and practical training so that all students progress in their musical capabilities and knowledge and understanding of the Bible as well as in their spiritual development. Students are encouraged to develop their individual creative ability and support this with the development of a high level of technical skill and knowledge.
The course has been designed to give you a comprehensive educational experience. The course provides an in-depth understanding of both popular music performance and the Biblical concepts of worship.
Through expert teaching, you will gain an overview of the Bible and its themes, as well as an exploration into worship and its practical context. Corporate worship sessions, group discussion and practical presentations are used to reflect and review the material, providing you with the opportunity to gain a greater grasp of the concepts being taught. Optional modules are available for those that want to specialise in Church leadership or to prepare for working within the wider area of Christian ministry.
We are dedicated to preparing you for a career that lies beyond your studies. You will explore and develop the many career pathways that are available to Nexus ICA graduates, with sessions dedicated to equipping you for success in a broad range of working environments. Visiting lecturers from a variety of fields bring a level of expertise and insight into how your new-found knowledge and skill can translate into a fulfilling and rewarding career.
This course is designed specifically for creative artists, music practitioners, teachers, worship leaders and those running commercial or Christian music projects who want to gain a recognised qualification while at the same time fulfilling their creative potential. Students have the choice of specialising in bass, drums, guitar, vocals, piano/keys or live sound. The course encourages artists and technicians to develop realistic and attainable personal development goals, maintaining focus on the individual’s aspirations in addition to developing academic skills in research, analysis, problem solving and critical reflection.
We place a high emphasis on providing practical, hands-on contact time for students with our staff. This means that you can receive support and training in a wide range of areas, both on your instrument and in your spiritual understanding. We also consider and work with each student, creating opportunities for further development on an individual basis. Assessments are varied to give each student the opportunity to express themselves in ways appropriate to the course. These include practical assessments, reports and essays, group presentations and research projects. There are many unique experiences for students at Nexus ICA, ranging from getting involved in the putting on of concerts, to participating in world record fundraising events, to working alongside staff in student teams to produce a wide range of work. These activities will train you in how to work as a team, as well as providing opportunities to be challenged alongside your fellow students and staff.
Students leaving Nexus ICA will be equipped with many creative and technical skills as well as spiritual and life skills which can be applied in a variety of ways. Many of our students go on to work in the music industry; either performing, recording or developing careers in the commercial and managerial aspects of the industry. We also have many Nexus ICA graduates who go on to work in full-time Christian ministry. This can be as pastors or worship leaders of churches or as employees within wider Christian organisations.
Modules
Year One
• Foundational Instrument Study
• Further Instrument Study
• Live Performance Workshop
• Applied Biblical Studies: Foundations
• Applied Biblical Studies: Developing Salvation History
• Pursuit of Worship 1
Year Two
• Advanced Instrument Study
• Contextual Studies
• Applied Biblical Studies: Advancing New Testament Church
• Popular Music Performance
• Pursuit of Worship 2
Year Three
• Professional Development and Career Planning (Core module)
• Music Performance and Professional Practice (Core module)
• Contemporary Worship Practice (Core module)
• Church History (Optional)
• Church Praxis (Optional)
• Song Writing and Production (Optional)
• Live Events Management (Optional)
• Advanced Recital (Optional)
• Instrumental Teaching and Pedagogy (Optional)
The Uni
Nexus ICA
London College of Music
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Music
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Music
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Performing arts
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£16k
£20k
£20k
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.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
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It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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