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Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

1 year full-time 2 years part-time


Recent Awards For Excellence

Performing Arts - QS 2025
Find out more about these awards
About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • Develop your musical identity - refine your performance, songwriting or production through guided experimentation.
  • Collaborate across genres - join a lively network of musicians and producers in workshops, ensembles and live projects.
  • Perform and record professionally - build experience on stage and in studio with expert technical support.

Accreditation and Professional Links

Recognised connections to give you an extra edge when you graduate. Read More

This course aims to develop you as a pop music practitioner, and allows you to develop your performance alongside study in either songwriting or production. You’ll have the opportunity to perform alongside a wider community of musicians in all styles, as well as to create your own original music.

This Master’s level course is designed for both music and music technology graduates, but also for learners from alternative industry or practitioner backgrounds who are looking to develop their popular music practical skills and knowledge, allowing everyone to explore new ways of creating and performing popular music.

Our aim is to combine the essential qualities of what it means to be a successful pop musician; adaptable, creative and not afraid to push the boundaries of current practice in the pursuit of innovative artistic goals.

Performing Arts at the University of Huddersfield has an international reputation, and hosts one of the largest postgraduate music communities in the UK. You will benefit from our regular research seminars and workshops, and will be a member of the Centre for Research in Music and its Technologies (CRMT)  which provides a focus for popular music research in the department.

Career opportunities after the course *

Audiovisual Technician

Video Editor

Video Producer

Broadcast Engineer

Creative Producer

*Lightcast

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

You are required to have a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree from a recognised University or equivalent institution. Your application materials (or previous qualifications) and live audition (or documentation of your performance) should be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of performance and instrumental/vocal/other technique. Auditions should comprise of two contrasting pieces, one of which should relate to the your proposed specialism in performance.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum of IELTS 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

What will you learn?

Course Details

On this module you will be introduced to a range of significant and contemporary scholarship relating to the study of music, including that pertaining to music production, composition and sonic arts, and all kinds of performance. You will learn about diverse approaches to music research, and receive training in managing research professionally and ethically. Central to the module is the development of research skills appropriate to postgraduate level work and to your own research interests and creative practices. Attendance at research seminars will offer diverse models for your own research in performance, musicology, or creative music production.

On this module, you will explore and perform a range of repertoire and skills appropriate to your instrument/voice or specialist route. You will identify areas of performance that are innovative, or which explore a particular dimension of the specialism, such as ensemble performance, performance utilising particular techniques or approaches to  style, use of electronics, and many others. Example performance specialisms might include: Historically Informed Performance, New Music Performance, Brass Band Performance, Popular Music Performance, and more. You will identify appropriate research questions relevant to your specialism and design a recital which addresses  one or more of these.

On this module, you undertake a substantial independent creative production project. You can undertake work in any area of creative music production that interests you and guidance will be available through staff supervision. Examples of the kinds of projects that would be relevant are an EP/album length production of one or more artists, a collection of your own songwriting or compositional work, a substantial live production (or portfolio of live work) from either mixing or performance perspectives, or a set of music videos (of your own creative work or that of others). On this module, you will undertake a substantial independent creative  musical project involving composition, performance and/or production work. You can may undertake work in any area of creative music production that interests you and guidance will be available through staff supervision to ensure that the project has an appropriate scope for the time available.  Examples of the kinds of projects that would be relevant are an EP/album length production of one or more artists, a collection of your own songwriting or compositional work, a substantial live production (or portfolio of live work) from either mixing or performance perspectives, a devised performance work or a set of music videos (of your own creative work or that of others).

On this module you will professionalise techniques in computer-based music. Focusing on modern approaches to music production, the module will deepen your skills in sound design using original synthesis and sampling as well as recording in a digital environment. This will involve multi-software workflows, the expressive use of hardware controllers and hybrid techniques combining digital and analogue processing  that combine both an ‘inside the box’ approach with outboard dynamics and effects units. You will develop advanced skills in digital audio project data management required for collaborative professional work. Furthermore, you will learn sophisticated editing, mixing and mastering techniques unique to digital music production. As a critically informed production expert you will analyse production concepts using critical listening, and research and apply various information on contemporary music production found in manuals, tutorials, instructional videos and mix-throughs or derived from in-depth case studies.

On this module you will develop your knowledge and voice as a songwriter and create fully realised arrangements of new songs. We will explore advanced approaches to songwriting via in-depth case studies, as well as through practical work supported by lectures and seminars. You will also develop analytical and evaluative skills, in order to situate your songs in a wider context, draw on inspiration from the works of others and critically reflect on your songs. Over the course of the module, you will not only develop your technical skills in handling the elements of lyrics, musical materials, arrangements and song structure, but also your personal artistic voice, aiming to deepen your understanding of how words and music can support one another to realise a coherent artistic vision

For more information on when and how we update our modules please see the ‘Legal Information’ section below.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

Where could this lead you?

Your Career

Graduates of Popular Music Practice can pursue a wide range of careers across the music, arts and media sectors. Many develop creative pathways as Musicians, Composers or Creative Producers, contributing to live, recorded and digital performance. Opportunities also extend to technical roles such as Audiovisual Technician, Theatre Technician, Studio Manager/Technician, Instrument Technician or general Technician, supporting high-quality production environments. Community-focused careers include Youth Worker and Community Engagement Officer/Coordinator, while educational roles such as Teacher provide additional avenues. Further opportunities exist in screen-based work as Video Editors or Video Producers, with skills valued across venues, studios, arts organisations and freelance practice.

Source: Lightcast data extracted from the Graduate Career Explorer

98%
Percentage of the University's postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating.

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, UK domiciled.

£38.5k
The average salary of our postgraduates fifteen months after graduating.

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, mean salary, UK domiciled, full-time UK employment as main activity.

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£9,265 per year

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. Read more about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/

£18,700 per year

This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/

Scholarships and Bursaries

Discover what additional help you may be eligible for to support your University studies.

Tuition Fee Loans

Find out more about tuition fee loans available to eligible postgraduate students.

What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

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Why Hud

Explore the unique opportunities and resources that make our institution a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded and future-focused education.

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More Info

Careers support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

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Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

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Teaching Excellence

Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

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Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Department of Media, Humanities and the Arts may teach you on this course.

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Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

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Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

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Further Study

Many of our graduates stay at Huddersfield to complete postgraduate research degrees at Masters or PhD level.

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