HNC Music at University of the Highlands and Islands

Programme overview

The HNC Music develops popular or traditional music performance, instrumental skills and an understanding of the music industry. It can be taken as the first year of the BA (Hons) Popular Music or used to enter year two of the BA (Hons) Popular Music or Applied Music.

Duration: Full time: 1 year; Part time: 2 years | Intake: September | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Mandatory units are Music first study (instrument or composition), Music: live performance, Music theory, Music: graded unit and Music business for musicians. Options include Songwriting, Music: session skills, Digital audio workstations and Recording techniques for musicians.

Career pathways

Live performer, session musician, producer, songwriter, composer, lecturer, teacher or peripatetic instructor. Progression to the HND Music or year two of BA (Hons) Popular Music or Applied Music.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

1 Scottish Higher at grade C or above, or 1 A level at grade D or above; applicants without these are encouraged to apply. An audition and interview are required: applicants perform a piece demonstrating their skills on their instrument or voice (writers may present an original composition or song); grade 4/5 is a rough guideline for performance level. NC Music is an access route. International applicants: IELTS for UKVI (Academic) 5.5 overall with no element below 5.0, or LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 with 60 overall and no element below 55, taken at a UKVI-approved centre.

Domestic applicants: GBP 1,285 a year (2026/27). Scottish-domiciled students with a term-time address in Scotland, full-time per year. Source

International applicants: GBP 9,460 a year (2026/27). International fee status, full-time per year. Source

Intake: September

Duration: Full time: 1 year; Part time: 2 years

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