Popular and Commercial Music BA (Hons)
University of South Wales
Student rating
This is the overall rating calculated by averaging all live reviews for this uni on Whatuni.
( 4.0) View reviews

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Different course options
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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

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Location

Cardiff

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

SEP-25

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Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Cardiff

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

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Subjects

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Music
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Exam type

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A level
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UCAS Tariff
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Access to HE Diploma
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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T Level
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Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
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Location

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England
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Scotland
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Wales
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Northern Ireland
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EU
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Rest of World
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Course info

The Popular and Commercial Music degree encourages you to develop your own voice and musical identity. Your studies will embrace popular and commercial music in its many forms and subgenres, from electronica to folk, urban, rock and cutting edge-pop. With an emphasis on original work, our music degree will teach you how to collaborate with your fellow students in performance, songwriting and production. We welcome diversity, collaboration and experimentation. So whatever your musical interests, ...Read more

The Popular and Commercial Music degree encourages you to develop your own voice and musical identity. Your studies will embrace popular and commercial music in its many forms and subgenres, from electronica to folk, urban, rock and cutting edge-pop. With an emphasis on original work, our music degree will teach you how to collaborate with your fellow students in performance, songwriting and production. We welcome diversity, collaboration and experimentation. So whatever your musical interests, you can extend your practice to gain skills relevant not only to employment in the music industry, but also to the wider creative industries.Staff are experienced and high-profile professionals in their own right and many have worked as producers and songwriters. You’ll also learn from regular visits and masterclasses from high-level music industry professionals such as Greg Haver, producer of Manic Street Preachers; Amy Wadge, Ed Sheeran’s co-writer; Gruff Rhys, Super Furry Animals and Steve Sidelnyk, Madonna’s drummer. Studying Popular and Commercial Music in Cardiff, you will develop links with studios, record industry professionals and music companies in this thriving capital city.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
56/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
52nd
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
95th
Music
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 85 = 15% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
15%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
94%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Music graduate salary at this uni
£17,000
UK Music graduate salary
£17,000
What students say
L
Llyr
07 Nov 23

Very easy-going, doesn't put too much pressure on students. Very friendly..Read more

A
Amy
10 Mar 22

The facilities for a songwriting and production course are amazing, you have access to many studios, expensive, high-end equipment and are able to book whenever you want...Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

CCC Grades / Points required

UCAS Tariff:

96 Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

MMM Grades / Points required

T Level:

Pass (C and above) Grades / Points required

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015):

C - A* Grades / Points required

To include a relevant subject such as as Music

To include a relevant subject such as as Music

Pass the Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject such as Music with a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points

To include a relevant subject such as as Music

Passing the T Level with Pass (C or above in the Core) to include a relevant subject such as as Music

We accept the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma in lieu of a third subject.

Popular A-level subjects

Music

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

Music
83%
English Literature
19%
History
16%
Mathematics
16%
Drama
10%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,000 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,000 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,000 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,000 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,000 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£12,600 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£12600 Per year

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest Music Studies reviews

Music Studies
Music Studies
Popular Music
L
Llyr
07 Nov 23
Music Producing BA (Hons)
Very easy-going, doesn't put too much pressure on students. Very friendly...
Read more
A
Amy
10 Mar 22
MA Songwriting and Production
The facilities for a songwriting and production course are amazing, you have access to many studios, expensive, high-end equipment and are able to book whenever you want....
Read more
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How Music Studies students rated:

Student rating
( 4.0) 12 reviews
5 star
34%
4 stars
42%
3 stars
16%
2 stars
8%
1 star
0%

How all students rated:

Student rating
( 4.0) 1,400 reviews
5 star
32%
4 stars
44%
3 stars
19%
2 stars
4%
1 star
1%
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Uni info

University of South Wales
University of South Wales , Pontypridd

With more than 23,000 students and 2,700 staff, the University of South Wales (USW) is one of the largest universities in Wales, and...

Student rating
( 4.0) View reviews
CUG ranking
95th
University of South Wales
University Of South Wales Adam Street Cardiff CF24 2FN United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Cardiff Queen Street  0.1 miles away
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