Popular Music BA (Hons)

Students on this course:

Create

Original music and audio-visual content for a variety of platforms and contexts. They become songwriters and develop their own sonic identity, work on industry briefs, and compose for TV, film, games, and advertising.

Perform

On lineups and stages across Cheltenham, the ‘Festival Town of the UK’, and beyond. Guided by staff that are actively touring artists, including Mike Smith, live performer with Blur and Gorillaz – our students forge confidence and gain an abundance of on-stage experience as the driving force of the local music scene.

Connect

With industry professionals and organisations spanning the entire music industry, with recent guest speakers including: Sentric Music Publishing, Sony Music, International Talent Booking, Glastonbury, Dark Arts, Cooking Vinyl, Live Nation, PRS, Warner Chappell, Mindsong, Brownswood Recordings, The Music Works, Good Soldier, Squidsoup, and many more.

Collaborate

With peers across the School of Creative Arts on interdisciplinary projects. From scoring films and animations to creating soundscapes for games and theatre, students expand their professional network and build links across the wider creative industries.

Learn

Through practical workshops, group seminars, and focused lectures on our Creative Arts campus, located in a vibrant community green space. With access to state-of-the-art facilities – including rehearsal rooms, recording studios, a Dolby Atmos dubbing theatre, and a 22.2 immersive audio lab – students are equipped with the tools to innovate and excel.

Graduates leave as ambitious and forward-thinking professionals, ready to build diverse and sustainable careers. They are confident communicators, critical thinkers, and global citizens who are prepared to navigate and shape the creative industries.