Falmouth University
Popular Music BA (Hons)
Falmouth University

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 60 graduates of Popular Music BA (Hons) and other courses in Music at Falmouth University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Music.

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Source: National Student Survey NSS 2023. The Overall student satisfaction data point is from 2022 (latest available year). The Office for Students made the unfortunate decision to discontinue collecting overall student satisfaction data points per course.
All Music courses of Falmouth University
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Music

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Music at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £20000 £16000 £19000
25-75 percentile range £16000 - £24000 £12000 - £19500 £15500 - £24000
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Music courses of Falmouth University


Salary of all UK Graduates of Music

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £21455 £18360 £22141
25-75 percentile range £17911 - £25024 £13492 - £22848 £16777 - £27979
Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
All Music courses in the UK

Course Description

Carve out a distinct and sustainable music career

On this Popular Music degree, you’ll gain the skills and experiences needed to carve out a distinct and sustainable career as a creative artist and professional musician. You’ll learn how to promote and release your own music and create innovative audiovisual portfolios based on experimentation, defining a practice that’s stylistically sophisticated and future-facing.

Throughout the course, you’ll experiment with a variety of approaches to songwriting, performing and producing content, while thinking critically about music’s place in relation to identity, culture, the creative industries and the environment.

You will:

Become part of a vibrant creative community of songwriters, musicians, producers, DJs, composers and sound artists

Discover how to write and perform original material in relation to a unique artistic identity

Learn to deploy instruments and technology with skill and imagination in live performance and the recording studio

Develop an awareness of music business, including legal, ethical and financial considerations

Gain a framework to explore innovative ways of promoting and disseminating work, independent self-release and building networks

Learn from staff and visiting lecturers with wide-ranging experience and valuable connections across the music industry

Bring your projects to life by tapping into expertise across the university, including dancers, filmmakers, writers and designers

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

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Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Music courses of Falmouth University

Current jobs

chart data
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All courses of Falmouth University

Required skill level of job after 15 months

chart data
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Music courses of Falmouth University

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Popular Music BA (Hons) at Falmouth University

35% Caring personal services
15% Process, plant and machine operatives
10% Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
5% Skilled trades occupations
5% Sales occupations
5% Elementary occupations
5% Teaching Professionals
5% Natural and social science professionals
5% Animal care and control services
5% Conservation and environment professionals
Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023

All modules involve varying degrees of student choice, allowing you to design projects and tailor assessment tasks to benefit your development and future aspirations. Assessment methods may include: **Portfolio ** **Studio practice and performance ** **Journals, case studies, essays and reports ** **Dissertation ** **Presentations ** **Viva (oral assessments)**

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Music

chart data
Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
All Music courses of Falmouth University

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 6

An (IELTS) Academic minimum score of 6.0 overall is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening
Trinity ISE

A minimum of Trinity ISE II with Distinction in all four components is required.
Cambridge English Advanced

A minimum on the Cambridge English scale of 169 is required
PTE Academic 55

A minimum score in the Pearson Academic Test of English of 55 overall is required, with a minimum of 51 in all four components.
Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

If English is not your first language, you will need to demonstrate English language skills that are sufficiently developed for successful completion of your studies. We accept a range of recognised English language qualifications that are equivalent to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic minimum score of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Through the award of international scholarships, we aim to support academic enrichment by encouraging diversity and excellence at Falmouth. For details of our international scholarships, and how to apply for them, please visit our website at www.falmouth.ac.uk
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Popular Music, BA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

Source: Own research based on surveys and university data

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)
  • year 2
  • year 3

University Rankings

Positions of Falmouth University in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Falmouth University in related subject specific rankings.

Arts Visual & Performing

    • #35 
    • #43 
    Music
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #50 
    • #62 
    Music
    The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
    [Published 09 September, 2023]

See all 9 university rankings of Falmouth University

About Falmouth University

Established in 1902, Falmouth University (FU) is located in the port town of the same name. This university dedicates itself to a variety of subjects related to Design & Art, particularly in the technological sense. Some examples of what to expect here include Games & Computing Courses, Photography, and Film Studies. As Falmouth is located in the famous surfer hotspot of Cornwall, watersport fanatics will quickly find themselves at home. If surfing isn’t for you, you can still enjoy the pristine beaches and the social scene in the surrounding area.

List of 97 Bachelor and Master Courses from Falmouth University - Course Catalogue

Student composition of Falmouth University

Total number of students enrolled at Falmouth University by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
undergraduates:
5410
postgraduates:
705
Total:
6115
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Music”: Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Source: Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
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Where is this programme taught

Penryn Campus
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Admission advice for international students