Popular Music

This is a course for people who want to write songs, release music and play live. You’ll be supported to develop your sound, explore new ideas and find your place in today’s fast-moving music world.

From the start, you’ll be writing, recording and performing your own material. You’ll perform at local venues, collaborate with other creatives, and take part in Cheltenham’s vibrant live scene, from grassroots gigs to larger stages.

You’ll explore what it means to be a musician today, creatively and practically. That includes learning about royalties, labels, audiences, community, ethics and sustainability. You’ll work on live briefs, respond to the world around you and gain skills that are valuable both on and off stage.

We’re part of the Music Academic Partnership (MAP) and run an annual Graduate Futures Day, giving you direct access to industry speakers, recent alumni and professionals from across the creative sector.

Guest sessions from organisations like Sony, Warner, PRS, Glastonbury and Sentric Publishing help you build knowledge and connections, so whether you’re heading for life as an artist, producer, promoter, teacher or entrepreneur, you’ll leave ready to make your mark.

This course is hands-on, collaborative and built around creativity. You’ll learn through a mix of lectures, small-group seminars, workshops and one-to-one tutorials, with plenty of time for writing, rehearsing, recording and performing.

The programme starts with a focus on songwriting, performance, and music production, combining rehearsal and studio work with an understanding of the cultural, political, and economic contexts of contemporary music. In the second year, you’ll develop advanced creative and industry skills, including music for screen, event management, digital performance, and the music business, with optional modules to tailor your studies.

Your final year is your launchpad. You’ll create an original body of work, develop a live performance or installation, undertake a professional placement and complete a research project on a topic that matters to you.

There are no exams – assessment is 100% coursework. You’ll work in our industry-standard studios using Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and Dante networking, and rehearse in dedicated creative spaces across the campus.

Guest lecturers and industry visitors are a regular part of the course, helping you build insight, connections and confidence in your next steps.

This course is designed to prepare you for a creative and sustainable career in music. Whether you want to release your own music, perform live, produce others, run events, teach or work behind the scenes, you’ll graduate with the confidence and skills to build your own path. 

You’ll gain insight into key areas like royalties, licensing, promotion, event management, digital tools and music in education. 

You’ll also take part in a professional placement and join our annual Graduate Futures Day, where students connect directly with employers, alumni and industry guests. Previous partners include the BBC, Gloucester Guildhall, The Music Works and Gloucestershire Music. 

Graduates from this course go on to work as artists, producers, community musicians, sync managers, composers, teachers, promoters, sound designers and more.

Many build varied careers that combine creative practice, freelance work and portfolio roles. Some set up labels or collectives. Others join established organisations doing work they care about.