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Birmingham City University · Undergraduate
£750scholarship value
- Available to all international students
- For undergraduate study
- Open to your course
UndergraduateBachelor of Arts (with Honours)UCAS: W342
Popular Music
Birmingham City UniversityBirmingham, England
3 yearsDuration
£18,570Per Year (Intl)
£24,000Avg. Graduate Salary
95%Satisfaction
Course Overview
Offered by Birmingham City University, the BA (Hons) Popular Music provides a comprehensive undergraduate education in creative arts and design. Based in Birmingham, England, this programme combines theoretical knowledge with practical application, with a 3-year full-time structure. The Popular Music degree course provides the training and skills necessary for a wide range of careers within the music industry. You will develop understanding of the global commercial music sector, study musical output and techniques, and improve your creativity, professionalism and practical musicianship to a level needed for graduate employment. This full three-year Honours degree develops both the practical and transferable skills required to make you industry-ready, and the contextual understanding and academic rigour inherent in high-level study. International tuition fees are £18,570 per year, home/UK fees are £9,535 per year, and a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 is required for admission. Graduates from this programme benefit from strong career prospects, with 88% student satisfaction rating, and a median graduate salary of £19,500 within three years.
What You'll Learn
Music Industry and Commerce
Popular Music History and Analysis
Audio Production and Recording
Performance and Musicianship
Songwriting and Composition
Music Business and Entrepreneurship
Digital Music Technology
Contemporary Music Cultures and Trends
UCAS Code:W342
Academic Year:2026-27 entry
Entry Requirements
📋 Academic Entry Requirements
| A-Level | CCC A Level: 96 UCAS tariff points / CCC (or equivalent). AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels. A maximum of four subjects will be considered. Preferred subjects: Music. |
| International Baccalaureate | 24 points Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall |
| UCAS Points | 96 |
🗣️ English Language Requirements
| Test | Overall | L | R | W | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| PTE Academic | 59 | — | — | — | — |
L = Listening, R = Reading, W = Writing, S = Speaking
Tuition Fees & Funding
International Student Fee
£18,570
per year
Total Course Cost (3 years)£55,710
Home Student Fee
£9,535
regulated fee
Scholarships available for eligible students
Fees shown are for current entry. Fees may increase annually in line with inflation.
📊 OFFICIAL UK DATA
Graduate Outcomes
Based on official HESA Graduate Outcomes survey data
💰 Graduate Salaries — Birmingham City University
| Time After Graduation | Lower Quartile Salary | Median Salary | Upper Quartile Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months | £20,000 | £24,000 | £28,000 |
| 3 years | £13,000 | £19,500 | £25,000 |
| 5 years | £21,000 | £25,000 | £31,000 |
UK subject average: £24,000 — sector benchmark across all UK universities
Graduate Salary vs UK Subject Average
This course
UK average
Salary 3 years after graduation▼ 19% below UK average salary
This course
£19,500
UK average
£24,000
Salary 5 years after graduation▲ Close to UK average salary
This course
£25,000
UK average
£24,000
Salary trend: ↑ up £5,500 from year 3 to year 5
Official Data
Salary figures are sourced from Discover Uni graduate outcomes data for this subject area at this provider (subject area: CAH25-02). These represent typical earnings and may not reflect this specific course. For official data, visit Discover Uni at Discover Uni.
💼 Employment Breakdown
90%Working
10%Work & Study
85%Professional Jobs
Official Data
Graduate employment outcomes are sourced directly from Discover Uni for this specific course and provider. For full details, visit Discover Uni at Discover Uni.
Student Satisfaction
Subject-level averageNational Student Survey (NSS) results — undergraduate final-year students only
86%
Overall
Teaching on my course
95%Learning opportunities
92%Assessment and feedback
85%Academic support
97%Organisation and management
73%Learning resources
90%Student voice
71%Continuation rate% students continuing to year 2
92%National Student Survey via Discover Uni.
Estimated Data
Source: Subject-level average for this provider
3 Scholarships Available
Matched to your course, level & nationality
Your nationality
Merit
Santander Scholarship
Birmingham City University · Undergraduate
£2,000scholarship value
- Available to all international students
- Open to your course
Need-based
BCU Accelerate Scholarship
Birmingham City University · Undergraduate
£1,000scholarship value
- Available to all international students
- For undergraduate study
- Open to your course
About Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University offers Popular Music as part of its comprehensive programme offerings.
—QS World
—UK Ranking
—Students
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