MA Popular Music and Culture at Leeds Beckett University

Programme overview

Explore popular music, culture and the music industry, from identity, fandom and digital cultures to music scenes, heritage and global industries. Popular music is more than the music we listen to. It shapes identities, communities and social movements; drives global creative industries; and reflects the cultural and technological changes taking place around us.

Faculty: Leeds School of Arts | Duration: 1 year full-time | Study mode: full-time, part-time | Intake: 20 Sep 2027 | Location: Leeds, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Core modules include Popular Music Culture, History & Heritage, Music Industries in Context, Research Practice, Popular Music Analysis, Negotiated Skills Development, Music Industries in Practice, Final Individual Project.

Career pathways

The UK music industry supports more than 220,000 jobs and contributes around £8 billion to the economy*. Behind its artists and recordings is a diverse professional ecosystem spanning music businesses, festivals and events, media and communications, cultural organisations, heritage, research, and the wider creative industries. Roles include Music and cultural research, Music journalism and media, Arts and cultural production, Festivals, events, and live music, Music marketing, PR, and communications, Music heritage, archives, and museums, Music industry and cultural organisations, Creative and cultural project management.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree in the cognate subject of Music, or at least a second class honours degree in a non-cognate subject supported by evidence of an aptitude for the subject applied for, or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment. You should include reference to the following areas in your supporting statement: Why you want to study on the MA Popular Music and Culture at Leeds Beckett University What popular music inspires you to want to work in the music industries and why Talk about a recent example that shows how passionate you are about popular music and how it relates to aspects of culture Talk about a book or article you have recently read that gave you a real insight into popular music history and culture All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; All applicants should satisfy our University English language requirements. IELTS IELTS 6.0 with no skills below 5.5, or an equivalent qualification.

Domestic applicants: GBP 10,710 a year (2027/28). The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2027/28 is £10710. Source

International applicants: GBP 18,995 a year (2027/28). The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2027/28 is £18995. Source

Intake: 20 Sep 2027

Duration: 1 year full-time

Apply through the official page: https://myapplication.leedsbeckett.ac.uk

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