Music: Popular Music and Recording With Foundation Year

University of Salford

United Kingdom, Salford

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945

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Home/United Kingdom/Salford /University of Salford/Music: Popular Music and Recording With Foundation Year

University of Salford

United Kingdom , Salford

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

Course ID W341

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 4 year(s)

Next Intake September-2026

Music: Popular Music and Recording With Foundation Year

About

Introduction

In a nutshell

The foundation year of this four-year programme aims to provide you with an understanding of the subject to allow you to progress on to the BA (Hons) Music: Popular Music and Recording course.

Building on our long-standing reputation for Popular Music and Recording, our course is well-known for producing artists such as members of the British art rock band Everything Everything (Mercury Prize nominees 2018), recording artist and award-winning entrepreneur Caroline Redman Lusher (Founder and Creator of Rock Choir); Film and television music composer Louis Dodd (Love and Hate Crime, EMMY nominated Strike Back: Retribution, Amazing Hotels and BAFTA winning Long Lost Family), and songwriter/producer Rick Boardman (member of indie dance band Delphic and co-writer of hit singles including ‘Back to You’ performed by Louis Tomlinson and Bebe Rexha; ‘Real Love’ Clean Bandit/Jess Glynne and ‘Love On Me’ Galantis).

If you want to visit us, see the facilities and meet the team, sign up to our upcoming Open Day, or if you have any generic questions please contact course enquiries.

You can also find helpful FAQs, learn more about student life at Salford or explore all our Music courses.

Continue reading to understand more about this (Hons) Music: Popular Music and Recording with Foundation Year course

You will:

Be taught by practicing professionals
Study on a course known for producing successful music industry graduates
Be able to fully explore your creative ideas and passions through specialist portfolio work

Placement

options available

This is for you if...

You want access to industry-standard facilities

You want to develop your technical and creative skills whilst studying the academic and theoretical aspects of popular music

You want to be part of a diverse and vibrant music department and benefit from performing opportunities in Manchester and beyond

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Requirements

What you need to know

This course isnât suitable for international students. If you are an international student and interested in studying a foundation year, please visit our International Foundation Year course page.

APPLICANT PROFILE

As part of your application your must submit a personal statement (up to 4,000 characters) and meet our entry requirements. Within this we would like to know more about why you are interested in this course, what inspires you in the music industry, and what you hope to gain from the Foundation Year.

Once we have received your application, you will be invited to an interview and audition on campus.

Although this is not a compulsory requirement, ideally you should be of grade 6 / 7 ABRSM standard with solid theoretical knowledge. Composition and arranging portfolios can be used in support of your application if you are looking to pursue study beyond performance.

Once youâve made your application to study with us, weâll contact you and let you know the next steps.

Standard entry requirements

GCSE

English Language at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent) is required. Maths at grade C/level 4 or above is preferred but not essential.

You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below.

A Levels

72 points

T Levels

Pass: D or E in core subject.

UCAS tariff points

72 points

BTEC National Diploma

MPP including Music

Scottish Highers

72 points including Music

Irish Leaving Certificate

72 points including Music

International Baccalaureate

24 points including Music

European Baccalaureate

Pass in Diploma of at least 60% including Music

Access to HE

Pass level 3 QAA approved Access Diploma with 72 points including Music

Alternative entry requirements

Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)

We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.

There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.

English Program Requirements

Equivalent qualifications

English language requirements are shown on individual course pages. Generally, this is shown as an IELTS grade, however we accept a range of equivalent qualifications.

As a general guide:

For undergraduate courses we require IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent

For postgraduate courses, we require IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent

For the International Foundation Year, we require IELTS 4.5 (with a minimum 4.0 in each component) in UKVI IELTS for UKVI (Academic)

The approved equivalent qualifications list includes the following:

Secure English Language Tests (SELTs)

University of Salford English language courses

Regional-based qualifications

Majority English Speaking Countries as deemed by UKVI

Medium of English Institutions

Applicants who require a Student Route visa to study in the UK may require evidence of a Secure English Language test rather than an examination or qualification due to visa requirements, as deemed by the UK Government Home Office, Visa and Immigration (UKVI).

Career

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

Salford’s music courses are renowned for producing graduates who excel in their chosen professions. Our graduates have forged careers as signed recording artists, professional performers, studio producers/engineers, live sound engineers and freelance composers/arrangers. Many have become events organisers, promoters and entrepreneurs while others have developed successful careers in music education as teachers, lecturers, senior administrators and educational advisors.

Those who continue their studies at a postgraduate level find themselves well-equipped to cope with the academic and technical demands of a higher degree.