Popular Music Production (Joint Honours)
What is Joint Honours?
With joint honours, you can study for an honours degree in two or even three subjects. Find out more about joint honours.
Why choose this course?
- If you want to work in the commercial music sector of the entertainment industry, as a singer, songwriter, musician or producer for example, this course is ideal for you.
- You'll have the opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge in music production and recording.
- You'll study in our fantastic £21million Markeaton Street site. Take the video tour.
Fact file
UCAS code: Y002
Start date: September
Course length: full time: three years, part time: up to six years.
Campus: Markeaton Street site, Derby Campus
This course is available to international students
About this course
Through our Joint Honours Scheme you can combine two or three subjects to tailor your degree to your interests, areas of skill and career aspirations.
Popular Music Production is part of the Electronics and Sound subject group, so you'll be studying with other students who are also interested in electronics, media technologies, and popular music. And our staff are actively involved in applied research in these areas.
The facilities at our Markeaton Street site includes specialist labs, recording studios, music production labs, sound and lighting facilities, and a surround-sound research studio. And you'll be using our high spec computing resources too. Watch this video of our latest facilities.
What can I combine this programme with?
- BA (Hons) in American Studies and Popular Music Production
- BA (Hons) in Biology and Popular Music Production
- BA (Hons) in Business Management and Popular Music Production
- BA (Hons) in Creative Writing and Popular Music Production
- BA (Hons) in Dance & Movement Studies and Popular Music Production
- BA (Hons) in Education Studies and Popular Music Production
- BA (Hons) in Film & Television Studies and Popular Music Production
- BA (Hons) in Geography and Popular Music Production
- BA (Hons) in Marketing and Popular Music Production
- BA (Hons) in Media Studies and Popular Music Production
- BA (Hons) in Popular Music Production and Psychology
- BA (Hons) in Popular Music Production and Sociology
- BA (Hons) in Popular Music Production and Sport & Exercise Studies
- BA (Hons) in Popular Music Production and Theatre Studies
- BA (Hons) in Professional Writing and Popular Music Production
What you will cover
You'll study a total of 120 credits per year. This will be made up of single or double modules.
Stage one
You'll study these modules:
- Performance Studies
- Music and Creative Technologies (PDP)
- Musicianship Skills
And you can choose to study this module:
- Digital Audio Workstations
Stage two
You'll study these modules:
- Music and Technology in Popular Culture
- Music Business and Management (PDP)
- Ensemble Workshop
- Video/Audio Production
And you can choose to take this module:
- Studio Techniques
Stage three
- Creative Studies in Popular Music (Double module)
- Research Project
- Entertainment Industry: Professional Practice
- Live Performance
And you can choose to take this module:
- Recording Project
Entry requirements
Entry in January 2013
Our entry requirements are usually 220-300 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
You must have performed expertise in Music, normally at grade 6 or above, including Music Theory at grade 5 or above and be able to read music notation.
Entry in September 2013
Our entry requirements are usually 220-300 UCAS points, of which at least 200-240 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc.
We'll accept up to 60 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS levels (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project or Music qualifications.
We don't accept points from Key Skills Level 3. If you have any questions about what is or isn't accepted, please contact our Admissions team.
We also accept the Access to HE Diploma.
Your points at level 3 will be in addition to 5 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent level 2 qualifications.
The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.
How to apply
Fees and finance
Fees for 2013/14
This is a resource intensive course.
UK/EU students
Full time:
- If you combine this subject with a classroom based subject it will cost £7,700 per year.
- If you combine this subject with another resource intensive subject it will cost £8,250 per year.
Part time:
- If you combine this subject with a classroom based subject it will cost £965 per module, (you'll usually take 18 of these in total).
- If you combine this subject with another resource intensive subject it will cost £1,030 per module, (you'll usually take 18 of these in total).
International students
Full time:
- If you combine this subject with a classroom based subject it will cost £9,945 per year.
- If you combine this subject with another resource intensive subject or a specialist subject it will cost £10,225 per year.
*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.
Careers and employability
When you graduate you'll be well prepared to work as a performer or producer in the industry. And you'll have the ability and confidence to deal with professional bodies, such as the Performing Rights Society (PRS), British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS).
You could go on to work as a music producer, musician or performer, recording engineer, or music teacher if you
do a PGCE after your degree. Or you could choose to work in areas such as sound design or sound for games. You could go on to work as a music producer, musician or performer, recording engineer or music teacher, if you do a PGCE after your degree. Or you could choose to work in areas such as sound design or sound for games.
