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Newcastle University

Contemporary and Popular Music

Award Attendance Study Duration Start Domestic fees International fees
BA (Hons) On-Campus find out 3 find out £9250 per year find out

About Contemporary and Popular Music, BA (Hons) - at Newcastle University

Course Overview

This degree allows you to study and specialise in contemporary music performance, composition and academic study, ranging from acoustic singer-songwriting through to experimental electronic forms.

At a Glance

UCAS Code
W301

UCAS Institution Name and Code
NEWC, N21

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Degree Awarded
BA Honours

Course Duration
3 Years

Entry Requirements Icon

Entry Requirements
A Level: ABB
IB: 32 points

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Opportunities
Study abroad

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Download course PDF

We place strong emphasis on creativity, experimentation and artistic risk-taking. There are also plenty of opportunities to develop your performance skills, helping you to grow as an accomplished musician.

You study a broad range of historical and cultural topics, opening you up to diverse musical experiences, such as hip hop and installation/art music.

During the degree you'll:

  • enjoy funded one-to-one tuition from internationally recognised musicians
  • develop career skills with modules in music enterprise and music teaching
  • access rehearsal spaces 24/7 in our £4.5 million Music Studios

Highlights of this degree

What you will study

What you will study

At the start of your degree, compulsory modules provide you with a strong foundation in contemporary and popular cultural, theoretical and creative approaches.

Our Stage 1 topics range across the twentieth- and into the twenty-first centuries, including modules that explore world musics and investigate contemporary musical materials.

In later Stages, you choose from a range elective modules covering areas such as:

  • contemporary composition
  • music enterprise
  • hip-hop
  • Indian music
  • installation/art musics

You also study modules that help you develop as a creative musician, and improve as a performer and as a composer.

In your final year, you complete a major specialist study, which may be:

  • an original composition
  • a creative project or performance
  • a dissertation/project on an area of interest

See the Course Details for more information on what you will study.

Performance opportunities

Performance opportunities

There are excellent performance opportunities for music students at Newcastle.

We offer a free professional concert series every Thursday lunchtime during term time, followed by a student performance where you have the chance to perform for, and listen to, your colleagues from all of our music degrees.

There is also a student-organised annual Summer Music Festival, showcasing our students' talent and giving you the chance to gain real-world experience of event management.

You can listen to performances by students and staff at the International Centre for Music Studies at Newcastle University.

Find out more about performance opportunities at Newcastle University.

Study abroad

Study abroad

Students wishing to add an international dimension to their degree can study abroad.

We have links with a number of universities and conservatoires in Europe, North America, South America and Australia.

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