Undergraduate

BA(Hons) Popular Music

  • Duration

    3 years

  • Cost

    £9,275 p.a.

  • Course code

    W341

  • Institution code

    H18

close up of guitar

Realise your own ambitions as a creative professional in today's music industry. At HCA, we help you to develop your own voice and practice, and connect you to ever expanding opportunities while you study. 

Overview


Follow in the tradition of some of the UK’s greatest musicians and start your creative music career at an art school. We nurture students to develop their own voice and practice and then connect them to the ever expanding opportunities in the world.

It’s a well-known secret that some of the greatest musicians studied music at arts school. Some of our best-known original thinkers and innovators have developed their musical creativity in an inspiring environment that allowed them to think differently. At HCA we support you to do the same. 

Get the support and insight to break down creative barriers and expand your musical influences. In a collaborative environment of like-minded individuals, in a community that allows you to develop at your own pace due to small group tuition. We give you the opportunity to discover your authentic voice while studying a wealth of musical styles. Music at HCA will equip you with the skills and experience to allow you to enter the industry on a professional level, as a performer, songwriter, event producer, soundtrack designer, to name a few.

Popular music at HCA is a vocational course designed for performers, songwriters and producers who wish to graduate with all the creative skills, knowledge and experience needed to have a successful career in the music industry. From mainstream to underground, this degree embraces music in its many forms – from rock, pop, folk, urban, jazz and to the experimental.

Highlights

Industry-focussed

You will be taught by a strong team of industry focused lecturers combined with regular masterclasses from professionals that are designed to educate, stimulate, and motivate.

Get in the studio

Access to rehearsal rooms, acoustically designed and fully equipped. Whether it be high-end digital or retro analogue, you will be able to produce and create a diverse range of professional sound recordings.

Learn the music business

Develop an expertise in a business relevant to your musical interest and discover opportunities for industry based internships and graduate placements.

Personal scale teaching

Small class sizes provide highly personalised levels of supervision and support. This will enable you to develop your own specialist practice you need for working within this dynamic sector.

Cross-course collaboration

Opportunities to collaborate with other creatives in a dynamic arts school environment.

> AFTER THIS COURSE

This dynamic, innovative, industry-facing course is designed for students whose ambition it is to work in the music industry. Throughout your journey at HCA you will have the opportunity to develop innovative ways of achieving a portfolio of skills that are relevant to employment opportunities within music and the allied creative industries. 

Career destinations of a BA(Hons) graduate might include performing, producing, song writing and the wider creative industries such as digital marketing, live event management and publishing.

> A COMMUNITY YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN

Herefordshire has a vibrant community of musicians, producers, recording studios, venues, music festivals and community music outlets that contribute to an exciting live scene. The course will enable you to connect with the rich music ecology within the city and the wider region.

What our students do...

Student performing on the drums at a gig

Meet the team

Applying to HCA

  • Minimum age 18. 
  • UCAS Points: Applicants applying for September 2025 entry and beyond, should have achieved– 112 UCAS Tariff Points or more. However, whilst qualifications are important, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We may make offers based on other evidence of talent and suitability for the course – for more details about UCAS Tariffs tariff explanation and advice on the UCAS website. We expect all applicants to have examples of their current creative work available for submission on request.  
  • Mature students: Applications from mature students with relevant experience will also be considered. 

If you are unsure or have any questions, please contact us at registry@hca.ac.uk and we can offer further advice on HCA and the UWTSD awarding body requirements. 

You can apply to HCA by making us one of your options on your UCAS application. In some cases, such as with current students, student transfers and top-ups, we also accept direct applications. 

We receive a high number of application all our subject areas so we recommend that you make your application as early as possible.

You can find out out everything you need about the application process using the link below. If you have any questions, just email registry@hca.ac.uk

As soon as you apply, our Registry team will be in touch to let you know they have received your application. Next, they will contact you with information on creating and submitting your self-tape or audition video. 

The self-tape / audition video is a chance to showcase yourself. It will give us an idea of your talent & interests and an idea of what excites you about the subject, and what you might want to explore further on the course.  

We will send out guidance on how to submit your self-tape / audition video, or alternative request a one-to-one audition (in person or online). At any stage in the application process, if you have any questions, you will always be able to reach out to us for assistance or clarification. 

After submitting your self-tape / audition video, your work will be reviewed by a course lead, and you will receive personal feedback alongside the outcome of your application. 

Studying is an investment in yourself, and in your future. It’s important to understand the financial support that is available to you, and to be clear about any fees or funding associated with the course you want to study.

Follow the link below to visit our Fees and Funding pages. These pages are designed to help you plan for your future, so you can start your course with confidence in your financial situation.

Everyone’s personal circumstances are different. If you can’t find the information you need, our Student Finance team can offer additional advice.

Your degree

All undergraduate degrees at HCA are validated by University of Wales Trinity St David.

You can view a detailed breakdown of the course content in the Key Information Document.

This can be downloaded below.

How to apply

Everything you need to know about applying to HCA - and starting the next stage of your journey as an artist

Apply now

Book an open day

Chat to students. Tour the campus. Drop in on some free workshops. Our Open Days are a great way to get a feel for what makes HCA special.

Book an open day

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