BA (Hons)
Professional Music with Integrated Foundation Year
4 YEARS, ON-SITE (BRIGHTON & SHEFFIELD)
A MUSIC DEGREE WITH INTEGRATED FOUNDATION YEAR FOR ASPRING ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS
The BA (Hons) Integrated Foundation Year (4-year) degree courses at WaterBear incorporate an introductory year to help you build the core and specialist skills you’ll need for degree-level study on one of our specialist BA (Hons) Professional Music courses. The courses focus on the development of relevant and sustainable skills required by today’s musicians and entrepreneurs. If you are taking on a subject that you are yet to study in depth, have been out of education for a while, or just need some extra time and support before studying at a higher level, then one of the Integrated Foundation Year courses could be for you. You will have the chance to explore your creativity, expand professional skills, improve study skills, and develop a deeper knowledge of the area you want to study.
The following courses are all available to study with an Integrated Foundation Year:
- BA (Hons) Professional Music (Performance)
- BA (Hons) Professional Music (Songwriting)
- BA (Hons) Professional Music (Production)
- BA (Hons) Professional Music (Electronic Music)
Whether your goal is to become an independent artist, professional musician, entrepreneur, or build a diverse portfolio career, you’ll engage in a comprehensive and flexible learning experience designed to support your strengths, interests and your professional, artistic, and academic development.
Join us this September in Brighton or Sheffield. To find out more, apply today.
Modules
Select the links below for individual module study on this course.
Modules
This a very practical module, designed to raise your music production skills to the next level. Modern artists are now used to the concept of tracking the majority of their material to a high standard in home studios. In this module we help you to make the most of your own equipment, as well as have access to WaterBear’s own studios for when you need a bit more tech muscle, beefy hardware or simply need to crank the amps and grab the drum tracks at volume.
Creating great music is what this degree is all about and this module equips you with the essential tools and knowledge to embark on that journey. We delve into the core principles of track production, exploring the functionalities of a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
You will also have the opportunity to experiment, innovate and develop your own production sound and style.
Ever wonder why certain songs stick and others don’t? In this module we explore “What Makes Music Great”. We embark on a captivating journey through the DNA of iconic tunes and apply those lessons to our own material. Bring your own influences to the table and share your own knowledge of the music that moves you.
We will develop your sonic fingerprint, learn basic production tricks through the lens of a record producer, and develop your analytical skills to decode musical meaning. We’ll dissect melodies, rhythms, and lyrics that resonated with millions, exploring how music reflects and shapes our world.
This module is your foundation for building a live performance that has the capacity to level an audience. We’ll navigate the path from creative exploration to confident execution, providing you with the skills and knowledge to move your music from the practice room to the performance stage. This module serves as the springboard for the next term’s “Showcase” module where you’ll showcase your refined set on the stage.
Working collaboratively with a tutor and other musicians, you’ll forge, rehearse, and discuss your ideas.
This module is a sonic playground where your imagination takes centre stage. We’ll dive deep into the creative heart of recording, pushing your production skills and ideas to the next level.
No matter your background, this module opens up a world of sound and possibilities. The sky is the limit.
We enter the creative world of music promotion. This module will equip you with the knowledge and skills to navigate the evolving digital landscape and launch your music project to success. You can develop your social media profiles, create alternative digital approaches, or go with traditional strategies such as street poster campaigns, create radical merchandise concepts, or devise wholly new innovative ways of building an audience.
You will be designing and creating content and looking at different ways to change your approach to reach a wider audience.
In this practical module we get ready to rule the stage. You’ll focus on prepping for your next gig. Master soundchecks, conquer stage fright, and engage audiences with your honed performance skills.
You will collaborate with a variety of musicians and industry professionals in workshops, develop engaging dynamics, and learn to analyse and refine your creativity for maximum impact. Your final showcase will be tailored to captivate your audience. This journey beyond music isn’t just about performance skills, it’s about boosting your critical thinking, project management, and creative problem-solving skills for any career path, as well as owning any stage that you set foot on.
Specialist Pathway
On successful completion of the Integrated Foundation Year, you will continue on your choice of specialist BA (Hons) Professional Music courses below. Select links to view module information for individual courses:
· BA(Hons) Professional Music (Performance)
· BA(Hons) Professional Music (Production)
· BA(Hons) Professional Music (Electronic Music)
· BA(Hons) Professional Music (Songwriting)
UCAS codes for individual 4-year Integrated Foundation Year Degrees can be found in the ‘How do I Apply for this course’ in the FAQ section.
FAQs
View the most frequently asked questions about this course below.
Integrated Foundation Year degree courses contain a broad range of subjects that really matter in music and the music industry. Each week in classes you’ll study areas of music such as performance and production techniques, instrumental development, recording skills, market analysis, management techniques, branding, innovation, industry trends and project management – all whilst continually progressing towards your personal goals. And you’ll learn all you need to know from our team of top-level industry tutors and mentors about the realities of being a professional operator in today’s music industry. There are also regular networking events, masterclasses, collaboration and work opportunities so you can build your all-important contacts list.
This course is approved and awarded by Falmouth University, one of the UK’s leading specialist universities for the creative industries.
The Integrated Foundation Year courses have been designed specifically for anyone with a passion for music who wants to study on one of our BA (Hons) Professional Music courses but may need some extra support prior to degree-level study, or hasn’t achieved their conditions of enrolment for the 3-year course. Those who study an Integrated Foundation Year programme may be one or several of the following:
- Vocalist
- Guitarist
- Drummer
- Bassist
- Multi-instrumentalist
- Songwriter / composer
- Audio producer
- Studio technician
- DJ
- Electronic artist
- Band / artist manager
- Tour manager
- Events manager
- Digital marketer
- Music journalist
- Social media manager
- Content creator
Every person who studies at WaterBear has their own story to tell and their own path to follow. We provide a supportive, safe environment for you to experiment and create. You’ll also develop a tailored career plan to support your personal goals and ambitions.
Each academic year of the BA (Hons) Professional Music with Integrated Foundation Year 4-year courses consist of 2 study blocks of 15 weeks each. The time each week you’ll spend in teaching and learning activities can be broken down as follows:
Timetabled classes:
In each study block, you’ll spend the majority of your structured learning activity in timetabled classes. You’ll also get access to all your module content prior to your timetabled classes via WaterBear’s dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), so you can prepare for your classes in advance.
1-1 Mentoring sessions:
Alongside your weekly classes, you’ll get access to WaterBear’s 1-1 mentoring programme, your gateway to bespoke expert advice as and when you need it. Bookable meetings with seasoned pros, experts across a wide range of fields, where you’ll receive tailored support and guidance in three key areas: music industries, musical development and academic achievement. What you focus on is entirely up to you — the mentoring programme is designed to support your own personal journey.
Asynchronous online learning:
As well all the digital content linked to your chosen course, you’ll get access to a wide range of additional content via our Canvas VLE. That’s a huge library of information you can dive into to expand your own learning experience and gain knowledge in other areas and subjects that may interest you.
Other activities:
You’ll be able to book free time in professional recording and rehearsal studios, attend additional optional classes in areas like music photography, videography, content creation, music theory, self-development, and music management. There are also social events, clubs and societies, live gigs and performances, virtual meetups, networking opportunities, industry development weeks, industry conferences, record label showcases, songwriting camps and various kinds of other activities to explore.
In summary, regular teaching and learning activities include:
- Lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops
- One-to-one mentoring
- Student forums
- Assignments, assessments, and feedback sessions
- Live performances and gigs
- Special events and conferences
- Peer collaboration via Canvas VLE
- Free recording time in professional studios
- Free rehearsal time in professional studios
- Masterclasses and clinics
- Work experience
- Networking
The Integrated Foundation Year 4-year degree courses are designed to develop careers in various areas of the music industry across a wide range of specialisms, including:
- Music performance and composition
- Audio / visual production
- Studio recording
- Music production and engineering
- Live sound engineering
- Technical support
- Tour, artist and events management
- Digital content creation
- DJing
- Artist, label and publishing services
- A&R and artist development
- Music journalism
- Band / artist management
- Tour / events management
- Music education
- Digital marketing and PR
- Games music composition
- Sound design
- Film music composition
- General music industry work
The course tuition fee is £9,535 for each year of the programme. UK residents may be eligible for undergraduate tuition fee and maintenance loans.
Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The College may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible. For more information on fees and finance, please visit Falmouth’s tuitions fees page here.
We consider all applications on their own merit and potential. We’ll invite you to a 1-1 applicant session, either in person or by video call. This is where you’ll have the opportunity to find out all about WaterBear and talk about your music, achievements and career goals.
As a guide, we require A Levels (or in combination with AS / EPQ / BTEC / RSL / Cambridge Technical / etc.) equal to a minimum of 80 UCAS Tariff Points (BTEC / Cambridge Technical DMM, RSL Extended Diploma at Merit / Distinction), or international equivalent.
Initial applications for the BA (Hons) Professional Music with Integrated Foundation Year degree courses can be made via the Apply Now button above.
You can also apply directly via UCAS using the links below. UCAS Course codes for each pathway are as follows:
Brighton – UCAS Institution Code F33 / UCAS Campus Code W / Campus Name WaterBear, Brighton
(W315) BA(Hons) Professional Music (Performance) with IFY (4 years, on-site)
(W316) BA(Hons) Professional Music (Production) with IFY (4 years, on-site)
(W317) BA(Hons) Professional Music (Electronic Music) with IFY (4 years, on-site)
(W318) BA(Hons) Professional Music (Songwriting) with IFY (4 years, on-site)
Sheffield – UCAS Institution Code F33 / UCAS Campus Code L / Campus Name WaterBear, Sheffield
(W320) BA(Hons) Professional Music (Performance) with IFY (4 years, on-site)
(W321) BA(Hons) Professional Music (Production) with IFY (4 years, on-site)
(W322) BA(Hons) Professional Music (Electronic Music) with IFY (4 years, on-site)
(W323) BA(Hons) Professional Music (Songwriting) with IFY (4 years, on-site)
We consider all applications on their own merit and potential. We’ll invite you to a 1-1 session, either in person or by video conference. This is where you’ll have the opportunity to find out all about WaterBear and talk about your music, achievements and career goals.
Falmouth University Terms and Conditions can be found at https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/student-regulations.
After graduating, you will have a number of routes to further study available, including the MA Music Performance, Production & Business, MA Songwriting, MA Music Education and MA Music Business courses at WaterBear, and other postgraduate specialist programmes.
The Integrated Foundation Year 4-year degree courses are available to international applicants if they are based in the UK with a settled status (no restrictions on how long you can stay). Integrated Foundation Year courses are not available to those located outside of the UK.
Language Requirements
If English isn’t your first language, you’ll need to achieve equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of equivalent approved tests too. Visit the English Language Requirements page of the Falmouth University website for more information. https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/study/international/english-language-requirements.
In order to get the most out of the Integrated Foundation Year, it is essential that you have regular access to the correct resources. Having your own equipment will provide maximum flexibility to support both your college and personal project work.
Essential basics:
Your instrument (instrumentalists)
Expendables (strings, sticks, picks, leads, etc.)
Note-taking materials (pens, notepad, manuscript paper, etc.) (Purchase cost around £20)
Computer (desktop, laptop, tablet, etc.) (Purchase cost around £250-£400)
DAW software (Purchase cost around £50-£100)
USB memory stick (Purchase cost around £10)
Reliable Internet connection
We recommend:
Computer (laptop / desktop) capable of running DAW, audio interface, plug-ins and A/V processing software (recommended 8-16GB RAM, 7,200 RPM Hard Drive, 8MB buffer, 1TB hard drive (Purchase cost around £600-£800)
Reliable, high speed Internet connection
Professional DAW software (ProTools, Logic, Cubase, Ableton, etc.) (Purchase cost around £200-£450)
External hard drive (Purchase cost around £25-£50)
Dynamic microphone(s) (e.g. Shure SM57 / SM58) (Purchase cost around £80-£100)
Audio interface (e.g. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2) (Purchase cost around £100-£200)
Headphones (e.g. Sennheiser HD 200, Beyerdynamic DT770) (Purchase cost around £75-£150)
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Life at WaterBear
A collection of some of the best moments submitted by artists and musicians on and off campus.
OUR MUSIC DEPARTMENTS
As a musician and artist, your environment and community are key to your growth. We provide creative learning spaces, expert teaching, and world-class facilities to help you thrive.
