Delivered by a diverse range of industry and research experienced lecturers, this course will enable you to respond to the changing landscape of the music and wider creative industries, making you adaptable and employable.

This course is designed to support you in following pathways that reflect your specialist interests in performance, composition, production, or other areas such as education, management and research.

You will have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of your creative and scholarly intentions and mindset, with music as the primary medium for exploration and expression across a range of genres like Classical, Jazz, Contemporary Commercial, Avant Garde and Popular Music (including Hip Hop, and Electronic Music).

You will explore music in practical and contextual perspectives and domains to develop your practical, critical and analytical skills and attributes. You will experience performance in a solo and/or ensemble/band context, depending on your specialism, with accompaniment provision where appropriate.

The practical application of orchestration/arranging and composition is emphasised through collaborative projects and workshops with instrumentalists. With modules that prepare you for careers in education and community music, we are one of the few music departments in the country to offer an undergraduate module in Music Therapy.

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

Start date:

UCAS code:

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Apply for September 2027

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READ MORE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS

"The opportunities to perform and collaborate in projects were endless, I really value the breadth of experience I gained"

Joanna Stark

BMus (Hons) Music

Read more

Our lecturers and support staff include active performers, composers, conductors, musicologists and music therapists.

Our graduates commonly pursue portfolio careers, within and outside of music industries, that include performance, production, composition, community music, music education, music therapy and music business and management. The transferable skills gained from studying a music degree are also appealing to graduate employers in other fields.

Additional cost

You are expected to purchase and maintain your own instrument. Exceptions include piano, drum kit and percussion, in which case students can access University-owned instruments on campus. You will need to purchase some specialist equipment related to music technology modules; you'll be advised on any necessary purchases at the time of entry.

How you’ll be taught

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops, one-to-one and group lessons, practical classes, and computer lab/studio sessions, as appropriate. Teaching is supported by a comprehensive virtual learning environment.

Work placement

We are eager to support short-term work placements and promote various internal opportunities throughout the course.

Our students studying Contexts of Music Education have the opportunity to shadow music tutors at local schools, while our relationship with the Eric Liddell Centre provides those studying Music Therapy with a unique opportunity to gain practical experience working with people with dementia. In recent years Music students have been invited to participate in a range of school and community-based placements with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, in some cases leading to paid opportunities with the orchestra's education programmes.

Study abroad

You'll have the opportunity to spend one trimester or a full year abroad in Years 2 or 3.

Taking the opportunity to study abroad provides a unique opportunity to develop your studies in music while embarking on a rich cultural exchange.

Opportunities include:

Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Finland

Washington State University, USA

Facilities

This course is taught in person at our Merchiston campus.

You will have access to outstanding facilities that mirror industry, including dedicated practice spaces, four high-quality recording studios and a fully networked music lab, running a range of industry-relevant software including Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton and Sibelius. We also have Avid Certified Instructors and Pro Tools experts on our staff.

All our students benefit from our modern teaching, rehearsal and practice rooms, a recital area, state of the art recording studios, fully networked music lab and comprehensive music library, ensuring that all your needs are met on campus. We offer 24/7 access to our studios and practice rooms during term time.

Popular modules

Contextual Studies: Sampling Musical World

Technologies: Making Music with Technology

Introduction to Musicology

Optional modules:

Score Interpretation

Organising Sound

Performance Studies: Integrated Musicianship

Introduction to Musicology 2

Recording Studio Theory and Practice 1

Contextual Studies 2: Music in its Social and Cultural Context

Performance Studies: Interpretive Musicianship

Composition, Signs, and Meaning

Music Technology and Live Performance

Composition and Orchestration

Music Industries

Applied Musicology

Recording Studio Theory and Practice 2

Lyrics: Words and Melody

Music and Praxis

Contextual Studies: Research in Music

Interactive Music Environments and Systems Design

Contexts of Music Education

Contexts of Practical Musicianship: Technique and Applications

Music and Modernisms 1890-1945

Introduction to Music Therapy

Lyrics: Narratives and Prosodies

Music Software Applications

Contexts of Practical Musicianship: Creative Parameters

Music Industries: Entrepreneurship

Major Music Project

Contexts of Practical Musicianship: Identity, Persona and Promotion

Practical Musicianship: Improvisation

Music Research Project

Contexts of Music Education: Project

Contexts of Practical Musicianship: Live Performance

Music Psychology

Music and Modernisms 1945-1990

OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS

We work closely with our industry partners to offer short-term work placements and work experience opportunities to our BA (Hons) Music students throughout their degree. As an Avid Pro School we can deliver training to beginners up to expert level and our music studios and music lab run Avid Pro Tools Ultimate and Sibelius Ultimate software.

Meet your Programme Leader and Teaching Team

Throughout your studies, you'll learn from experienced professionals and industry leaders who bring valuable expertise, insight and real-world perspectives to your learning experience.

Programme Leader: Dr Dave Hook.

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

English language

International students

Admissions policies

What are the entry requirements for Music?

You should state your specialist interests clearly on your application. This may be performance in popular music styles, performance in classical music styles, composition (including song writing), or production. If you meet or are predicted to meet the minimum academic requirements, we will contact you to request a portfolio demonstrating your experience in areas of relevant practice: performance, composition or production. You can find more information about what to include in your portfolio here.

Our entry requirements indicate the Standard (minimum) qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

Can you go straight into second year of university?

Advanced entry into Year 2 or Year 3 of this course is possible for students with suitable qualifications. See the individual year tabs for more information.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the undergraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

Minimum Year 1

Scottish Higher

Standard Entry Requirement: ABBB to include English or a literary subject*

Minimum Offer Entry Requirement: ABCC to include English or a literary subject*

BBC to include English or a literary subject*

Irish Leaving Certificate

H2/H2/H2/H3 at Higher Level to include English or a literary subject*

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Award of Diploma with 29 points overall including three Higher Level subjects at 6,5,4 to include English or a

literary subject* at grade 5.

Grade Merit

T Level must be completed in a English/literary subject or an A Level in an English subject may be required. Please contact ugadmissions@napier.ac.uk to check if you meet the subject specific requirements.

*Literary subjects accepted are: Modern Studies, History, Psychology, Sociology, RMPS, Theology, Media Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Geography, Latin, Classics, A Level Government and Politics, A Level Classical Civilisation, A Level Drama.

Minimum Year 2

Pass HNC in Music, Music Performance or Sound Production with grade A in the graded unit.

Minimum Year 3

Pass HND in Music or Music Performance with A in the graded unit.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

If you do not currently meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer a number of pre-sessional English language courses which could help you achieve the required level.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:

BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery

MSc Nursing courses

All Graduate Apprenticeship courses

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies

Postgraduate admissions policies

BA Music Portfolio Requirements

A look at the requirements for your portfolio when applying for BA Music in Performance, Composition, and/or Production.

Learn more

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Undergraduate student fees and funding information

Postgraduate student fees and funding information

International student fees and funding information

Tuition fees

Students from

Scotland

England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland

Overseas and EU

Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study.

Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.

If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.

Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.

Careers & employability

Recent graduates are employed in a wide variety of fields of work including:

Arts management

Classroom teaching

Instrumental teaching

Performance

Composition

Songwriter

Artist manager

Producer

Musicologist

Music teacher

Music therapist

Arts administrator

Audio engineer

Foley artist

Postgraduate study

Session musician

A&R coordinator

Music distribution manager

Tour manager

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