MA Popular Music Practice
A 1-year full-time or 2-year part-time postgraduate degree available in:
Our MA in Popular Music Practice focuses on the development and execution of a large–scale, individually tailored music–related project. This project will help you to grow within your areas of specialism and become ready to take the next step in your career.
Over a full year of study (two years if you have chosen the part-time option), you will be pushed to expand and develop your personal, musical and industry practices. Focus on the ways that research, collaboration, performance, production and more can be aligned in your project and practice.
The MA Popular Music Practice course structure is designed to cover theoretical, practical and collaborative elements. It culminates in a major project of your choice focusing on one or more specialisms.
Which specialisms will you choose?
For your major project, you’ll focus on one or more of these areas of specialism in detail, tailoring your studies individually, whilst taking your understanding of theory, practice and research to an advanced level.
Students are encouraged to combine these specialisms in creative ways, developing and producing original bespoke projects that can continue and flourish after their studies are complete.
Performance
Develop your technique, build on both your performance experience and practice. Develop your musicality and your practical musical capabilities to an advanced level. Set yourself up as a go-to musician on the national music scene, develop a performance practice that others want to experience.
Production
Thanks to our fantastic studio facilities and industry-leading lecturers, specialising in production will stretch your skills in recording, mixing, mastering and more. Get involved in extraordinary recording projects and build your portfolio for a sustainable career.
Composition
Whether you are a singer-songwriter, a sound artist or a composer interested in sync opportunities, this path will deepen your knowledge, understanding and ability to write music for a variety of situations, channels and outputs.
Entrepreneurship
Specialising in entrepreneurship provides a huge range of opportunities, such as starting a business, curating events, or collaborating with your MA peers. There is huge scope here for you to grow into a commercially minded music business professional.
Course specification
Mode of attendance: Full-time (one year) or part-time (two years)
Awarding institution: BIMM University
Campus delivery: London, Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, Dublin and Berlin
Language of study: English
Credits: 180 FHEQ / 90 ECTS (EU)
Final award: MA Popular Music Practice
Admissions Criteria: A good degree (normally 2.2 or above) or significant experience in a relevant field. All applicants will be subject to interview and a portfolio may also be requested for Recognition of Prior Certified or Experiential Learning (RPCEL).
Minimum requirements
A good degree (normally 2.2 or above) or significant experience in a relevant field.
Overseas students for whom English is not their native language may be required to meet a minimum English language requirement of an Academic IELTS 6.5. We require a minimum of 6.0 to be achieved in each band.
Exceptions apply. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
All applicants will be subject to interview and a portfolio may also be requested for Recognition of Prior Certified or Experiential Learning (RPCEL).
Progression
You will be qualified to work as an advanced practitioner or educator/researcher within the field of popular music practice and related creative industries.
Course fees
Please visit our fees page for information regarding course fees and access to student loans.
Our 12-month master’s course is divided into a winter, spring and summer trimester, each with a different focus. For part-time students, only one module is completed per trimester. Please note: module names and structure may be subject to change.
This module explores the intersection of theory and practice. It guides you through the process of applying a critical theoretical lens to your popular music practice.
Making links between theory and practice, the module encompasses research training (including lectures with specialist researchers) and one-to-one tuition/mentoring. The skills and experience gained through the module provide a starting point for your Major Project.
This module allows you to refine your direction within the contemporary popular music industries. It helps you develop the skills you need to support your continuous reflective professional development within your chosen area of practice.
You are encouraged to hone your ideas, audit your existing skills and consider and conduct research on your audience and/or market. You are invited to liaise with industry stakeholders and engage with cutting-edge research, gaining practical insight into the contemporary industry.
This module allows you to explore the use of technology in the field of popular music and to investigate the role of technologies in mediating inventive creative practice and entrepreneurship. Mentoring and workshops are offered in addition to interdisciplinary sessions.
This ensures that the development of practical skills is supported alongside building a theoretical understanding of how technological change informs and aids popular music practice.
This module focuses on experiential learning and invites you to explore different aspects of collaborative practice. These might include negotiation, leadership and teamwork strategies, or other forms that are pertinent to creative and entrepreneurial collaboration. You are invited to work collaboratively with your peers.
You can choose to focus on curating and organising a symposium or other event that exhibits both the practical and research outputs of your cohort, or work with your peers within a small group to undertake creative or entrepreneurial project work.
This module gives you the opportunity to produce an extended piece of work that explores your chosen area(s) of practice.
Through applying the knowledge and skills gained through the previous four modules, you are empowered to work at the forefront of your discipline, adding to the growing field of practice-informed research on popular music.
We recommend earliest application to ensure enough time for a smooth application process, the 2025/26 academic year deadlines are as follows:
For domestic students, the deadline is 15th September 2025.
For international (SRV) students, the deadline is 22nd August 2025.
Applications close for domestic on 12th September 2025.
Semester 1 commences on 29th September 2025.
Enrolment cut-off: 10th October 2025.
Applications received after the dates above will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our courses or if you’d like more information on how to apply to BIMM Music Institute, please contact our Enquiries Team on 01273 840 346 or email [email protected].