Postgraduate study

• The MA Popular Music Practice is designed for performers, producers, songwriters/composers, and entrepreneurs who want to refine their craft and develop professional projects. The course is built around a self-directed project, whether that’s an album, tour, soundtrack, or another creative endeavour—you decide.
• The MA Learning & Teaching in Creative Industries is perfect for those looking to start a teaching career or for experienced educators wanting to develop their skills in creative arts education at FE and HE levels.
• The MA Business for the Creative Industries is aimed at business graduates wanting to specialise in the creative sector and creative arts graduates or practitioners looking to gain professional experience, industry knowledge, and business skills.
• The MA Music for Film, Media and Games develops the craft and workflow of screen composition and sound design for film, television, games and digital platforms.

You can apply for a master’s whether you studied your degree at BIMM Music Institute or elsewhere/at another university. You can also apply if you’re a mature student.

Yes!

The application process is a little different compared to our degree-level courses. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Like most academic qualifications, postgraduate courses have entry requirements. You can find the entry requirements for our postgraduate degrees on the individual course pages.

• MA Popular Music Practice
• MA Learning & Teaching in the Creative Industries
• MA Business for the Creative Industries
• MA Music for Film, Media and Games

However, you can also apply to study a master’s even if you haven’t met the entry requirements as sometimes a substantial amount of professional experience (such as teaching) will suffice. You may be asked to submit an additional portfolio evidencing your practical experience. This is referred to as Recognition of Prior Certified and Experiential Learning (RPCEL).

The course team will assess your experience on a case-by-case basis before your interview.

This is a case-by-case decision made by the course team prior to interview. Typically, you would have several years of teaching experience, which could come from a variety of contexts such as classroom or one-to-one tuition.

We normally ask for two referees, one of which should be able to comment on your academic ability to succeed on the course. Please contact the Admissions Team if you are not able to provide this.

Yes, details are provided on the application form.

Our Admissions Team checks enquiries daily and would normally be able to respond to your application within 48 hours of receipt. The team will then be in touch regarding the next steps, such as booking your interview.

You may hear on the day, but in some cases, the course team will consider your application for longer. We aim to respond within seven days at the latest.

Yes, we will hold your place on the course for one year. Beyond that, you are welcome to reapply for a place.

You’ll be taught by expert practitioners who are also often active researchers.

Your timetable will depend on whether you choose the one-year full-time or two-year part-time option. Full-time students typically take two modules per semester, while part-time students usually take one module per semester.

Timetables vary depending on the course and location, but you can generally expect to be on campus two or three days or evenings per week for contact hours.

• Postgraduate study space
• Access to online library and journal database
• Free research software – NVIVO
• Tutorials and supervision with expert practitioners in the field of education
• Teaching placements at BIMM Music Institute, with the support of an experienced mentor

Subject to eligibility criteria applicants will be able to apply for a Post Graduate Loan for tuition fees. Further details are available here.

BIMM Music Institute do not offer any payment plans as the fees will be covered by a Post Graduate loan for eligible applicants.

If you intend to pay your fees privately please be aware that payment for the course must be received before you can enrol.

No. The introductory module on the MA is designed to accommodate those with no teaching experience. However, we recommend gaining some experience in the area you wish to teach before applying. This is the best way to decide for yourself if you are committed to the course you would take on.

Our MA is geared for post-compulsory education in the creative industries/subjects – so that means FE/HE, private or alternative education, or corporate training/development. Our alumni typically go on to work in colleges as music tutors, in student support departments, become instrumental teachers, teach abroad in music institutions, work in HE institutions in teaching, administration or (usually later) leadership, and some alumni have set up their own companies/institutions offering creative education.

During the MA itself, there is the space to explore what kind of professional work you are interested in and to get practice and provide feedback in developing in those areas. For instance, there are optional modules concerning module/curriculum development, educational philosophy, or mentoring/leadership, in addition to teaching and research in education.

Not quite. QTS is the qualified status for school teachers, and is granted as part of a PGCE. Since the MA is focused on post-compulsory education, the relevant professional route is QTLS through the Society for Education & Training (SET). The SET do not directly accredit courses for QTLS, but is instead offered as a follow-on after the qualification. So, upon graduation of our MA, you could then gain QTLS, which would enable you to teach in late-secondary schooling or be more competitively qualified for FE teaching.

No. Typically placements are unpaid on such courses. The PGCert/MA has part-time routes allowing you to work alongside studying. You might find paid work either in private instrumental teaching, or assisting/teaching at an institution, which can count towards your placement hours on the course.

If you opt to select the teaching practicum (part of the final ‘action research’ module), then you will be supported in gaining at least 100 hours of logged educational practice while on placement in a BIMM Music Institute College.

In addition, the course includes a wealth of opportunities to link new ideas and techniques to your personal teaching practice.