There are three MLitt Popular Music programmes offered: Creative Practice, Music Industries, and Popular Music. They are the first postgraduate degrees in popular music in Scotland.

Programme overview

• MLitt: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time

Core courses

• Popular music theory
• Popular music history
• Dissertation of up to 20,000 words.

Please see the Programme Structure for full details. 

Career prospects

The Popular Music Studies MLitt programmes all open up opportunities to enter, and develop your career or business in the music industries, as well as in related creative areas like the games industry.

Graduates have combined the degree with other studies to pursue careers in areas such as law and education.

The Music Industries programme includes a placement which has been designed for those seeking a career in the creative industries, and more specifically, the music industries including record companies, management companies and promoters. This programme is unique in the UK, offering the only postgraduate placement involving a tailored research project within a music industries organisation. You will spend part of semester two on placement with one of a number of music industries employers.

Academic entry requirements

Entry requirements for postgraduate taught programmes are a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification (for example, GPA 3.0 or above) in a relevant subject unless otherwise specified.

International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of foundation courses.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training):

• overall score 7.0
• no sub-test less than 7.0
• or equivalent scores in another recognised qualification (see below)
   

Common equivalent English language qualifications:

• ibTOEFL: 100; no sub-test less than 24
• CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): A minimum
• CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): B minimum
• PTE Academic (Person Test of English, Academic test): 68; minimum 60 in writing

Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the Language Centre Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

• Language Centre, University of Glasgow
• BALEAP guide to accredited courses 

FAQs

Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:

• UK Border Agency Tier 4 English Language requirements
• UKBA list of approved English language tests [pdf]

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office: pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk

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For 2013-14

MLitt