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Do you have a passion for music? Would you like to develop your performance skills alongside an understanding of music history and knowledge of music theory?

The Music Foundation Year is a fully integrated programme with the BA (Hons) Music course, and will allow you to develop key musical skills in piano playing, theory and harmony.

During your studies, you will develop your performance skills in 20 one-to-one instrumental/vocal lessons with the same specialists who teach on our degree programme. The course will equip you with essential skills for a performer such as interpretation, effective practising and handling performance anxiety. You will build your knowledge of music theory, and the study of harmony will be delivered in a fresh, creative way using the piano and/or guitar. Your creativity will develop through improvisation, taking inspiration from the music you perform.

Our Foundation Year introduces you to music history by examining music in the everyday environment of the home, asking how music is made and consumed, and its function in society. 

Whether you are a complete beginner or a highly accomplished pianist, you will develop piano playing skills needed for a career in music.

Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year, you can automatically continue your studies on the BA (Hons) Music degree where you will build upon the knowledge gained in this initial year. The Foundation Year gives you the space to focus on the one subject, music, developing the skills and knowledge you need within a Humanities environment.

Find out more about the Music Scholarships we offer: Instrument Scholarship and Choral Scholarship. 

Course Information

UCAS Code
W310

Level of Study
Undergraduate

Mode of Study
1 year Full Time followed by a further 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department
Humanities

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
September 2025

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

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This course is eligible for a scholarship

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Hear from our students

Our students tell us about their learning experience studying Music BA (Hons) at Northumbria.

Deparment / Humanities

Our Department of Humanities includes the subject areas of Music, History, English Literature, English Language and Linguistics, Creative Writing and American Studies.

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Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Music Foundation Year. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.

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Entry Requirements Modules Overview Fees, Funding  and Scholarships Apply Now

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

80 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo

Subject Requirements:

As part of the application process all applicants are required to submit a video recording demonstrating their performance ability, and have a discussion with academics about their application. We do not require evidence of formal Graded Music examinations to join this programme but would typically expect applicants to be performing at around grade 6 level and have the ability to read music.

There are no subject requirements 

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

There are no additional requirements. 

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £9,535

* You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift, as decided by the UK Government, up to the maximum amount for fees permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year. To give students an indication of the likely scale of any future increase, the UK government has recently suggested that increases may be linked to RPIX ( Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments)


International Fee in Year 1: £19,350


Please see the main Funding Pages for 25/26 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

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* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules Overview 2025/26

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Foundation year

Foundation year

MU3001 -

Music in the Home (Core,20 Credits)

This module introduces you to music in the most intimate environment – the home. Topics vary from year to year, but range from the keyboard music of the seventeenth-century home or domestic music-making in the Tudor household to the family relationships of the Mendelssohns and Schumanns in the nineteenth century, and from the music-making of American soul artists to the partnership of Britten and Pears at the Red House in Aldeburgh. We open up three questions that are fundamental to the history and performance programme in our undergraduate degree as a whole: how music is made; how music is consumed; and how music shapes cultural change. As we do so, we explore the most personal side of music – how people express their experience of life through music-making, understanding how emotions, gender, sexuality, identity and social class can all be shaped by music.

More information

MU3002 -

Performance (Core,20 Credits)

This module is focused on your individual, one-to-one instrumental or vocal tuition. Working with a specialist on your instrument/voice, you will consolidate your technique while developing skills in performing music which will enable you to communicate effectively with an audience. The course will cover areas such as effective practising, dealing with performance anxiety, the importance of good posture both to music making and your health. You will expand your repertoire, and engage critically with musical performance through attendance at concerts and recitals.

More information

MU3003 -

Theory, Harmony and Improvisation (Core,20 Credits)

In this module, essential knowledge of western harmony will be delivered through a combination of experiential and notation-based learning. You will focus on absorbing a sense of harmonic progression through learning to play chords on the piano (or other instrument such as guitar). You will gain the facility for harmonising a range of melodic material, identifying similar progressions of chords in disparate genres. You will also experiment with improvising on your instrument over chord progressions you have learned, and use repertoire on your instrument as inspiration for your own creativity. As well as learning through doing, you will also study music theory and notation-based harmony to help you relate your experience to written music and develop your understanding of key concepts, terminology and musical conventions essential for the BA programme.

More information

MU3004 -

Essential Skills in Piano-Playing (Core,20 Credits)

An ability to play the piano reinforces knowledge of harmony and music theory, and is essential for further study, when you will go on to develop keyboard skills necessary for high-level work and research. Piano playing is also essential for players and singers of other instruments, especially those whose performances involve an accompanist. An ability to play the piano is absolutely essential for all music teachers.

This module assumes no prior experience of piano playing, and aims to bring you to the level of competency needed to progress further in your academic and musical career. Those who are beginners can expect to have developed a degree of technical competence at about ABRSM Grade V by the end of the year. More experienced players, especially those whose main instrument is piano, organ or harpsichord, will work on the art of accompaniment.

More information

MU3005 -

The Music Profession (Core,20 Credits)

This module encourages you to think about different possible career paths in the music profession, and how they may be combined. It involves going out into the wider community to meet musicians working in differing contexts and environments. At the heart of the module is your engagement with musicians, usually in the places where they work. You will meet performers, scholars, teachers of various kinds, and music administrators. Many will be active in more than one of these areas; some will be employed, others working on a freelance basis.

This module is intended to get you thinking about the musical and generic skills you will need for various kinds of work in the music business. It will also encourage you to think about how the skills you acquire when studying music may be useful in other contexts, and the many and varied careers open to music graduates.

More information

MU3006 -

Music Portfolio: Skills for University (Core,20 Credits)

This module will provide you with essential skills that will prepare you for academia, and for professional employment. You will learn through lectures, seminars and workshops. In these various forums, you will develop core knowledge in such necessary abilities as academic writing, research techniques, score analysis, aural skills, academic citation, public speaking, and presenting your work. With guidance from your seminar tutor, and working independently, you will write a 1500-word essay and an accompanying 500-word commentary that showcases the academic and professional transferable skills you have acquired.

More information

Modules Overview 2026/27

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Foundation year

Foundation year

MU3001 -

Music in the Home (Core,20 Credits)

This module introduces you to music in the most intimate environment – the home. Topics vary from year to year, but range from the keyboard music of the seventeenth-century home or domestic music-making in the Tudor household to the family relationships of the Mendelssohns and Schumanns in the nineteenth century, and from the music-making of American soul artists to the partnership of Britten and Pears at the Red House in Aldeburgh. We open up three questions that are fundamental to the history and performance programme in our undergraduate degree as a whole: how music is made; how music is consumed; and how music shapes cultural change. As we do so, we explore the most personal side of music – how people express their experience of life through music-making, understanding how emotions, gender, sexuality, identity and social class can all be shaped by music.

More information

MU3002 -

Performance (Core,20 Credits)

This module is focused on your individual, one-to-one instrumental or vocal tuition. Working with a specialist on your instrument/voice, you will consolidate your technique while developing skills in performing music which will enable you to communicate effectively with an audience. The course will cover areas such as effective practising, dealing with performance anxiety, the importance of good posture both to music making and your health. You will expand your repertoire, and engage critically with musical performance through attendance at concerts and recitals.

More information

MU3003 -

Theory, Harmony and Improvisation (Core,20 Credits)

In this module, essential knowledge of western harmony will be delivered through a combination of experiential and notation-based learning. You will focus on absorbing a sense of harmonic progression through learning to play chords on the piano (or other instrument such as guitar). You will gain the facility for harmonising a range of melodic material, identifying similar progressions of chords in disparate genres. You will also experiment with improvising on your instrument over chord progressions you have learned, and use repertoire on your instrument as inspiration for your own creativity. As well as learning through doing, you will also study music theory and notation-based harmony to help you relate your experience to written music and develop your understanding of key concepts, terminology and musical conventions essential for the BA programme.

More information

MU3004 -

Essential Skills in Piano-Playing (Core,20 Credits)

An ability to play the piano reinforces knowledge of harmony and music theory, and is essential for further study, when you will go on to develop keyboard skills necessary for high-level work and research. Piano playing is also essential for players and singers of other instruments, especially those whose performances involve an accompanist. An ability to play the piano is absolutely essential for all music teachers.

This module assumes no prior experience of piano playing, and aims to bring you to the level of competency needed to progress further in your academic and musical career. Those who are beginners can expect to have developed a degree of technical competence at about ABRSM Grade V by the end of the year. More experienced players, especially those whose main instrument is piano, organ or harpsichord, will work on the art of accompaniment.

More information

MU3005 -

The Music Profession (Core,20 Credits)

This module encourages you to think about different possible career paths in the music profession, and how they may be combined. It involves going out into the wider community to meet musicians working in differing contexts and environments. At the heart of the module is your engagement with musicians, usually in the places where they work. You will meet performers, scholars, teachers of various kinds, and music administrators. Many will be active in more than one of these areas; some will be employed, others working on a freelance basis.

This module is intended to get you thinking about the musical and generic skills you will need for various kinds of work in the music business. It will also encourage you to think about how the skills you acquire when studying music may be useful in other contexts, and the many and varied careers open to music graduates.

More information

MU3006 -

Music Portfolio: Skills for University (Core,20 Credits)

This module will provide you with essential skills that will prepare you for academia, and for professional employment. You will learn through lectures, seminars and workshops. In these various forums, you will develop core knowledge in such necessary abilities as academic writing, research techniques, score analysis, aural skills, academic citation, public speaking, and presenting your work. With guidance from your seminar tutor, and working independently, you will write a 1500-word essay and an accompanying 500-word commentary that showcases the academic and professional transferable skills you have acquired.

More information

To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.

Music Foundation Year

Home or EU applicants please apply through UCAS

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International applicants please apply using the links below

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YEAR

SEPTEMBER

2025

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Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

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