The Institute’s BA (Hons) Songwriting course has been developed entirely by music industry writers & producers, and it provides students with a unique opportunity to learn through working alongside talented artists.

Applicants will typically have GCE /VCE A levels equivalent to 200 UCAS points, Institute BTEC level 3 Diploma MP profile, Institute Higher Diploma BTEC level 5 pass profile or equivalent qualifications in suitable subject areas.

Applicants will usually be expected to possess 3 GCSEs with grades A-C, including Maths and English Language.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) is required.

All applicants will be expected to attend an interview that will assess the suitability of their abilities for study on the programme. At assessment students should come prepared to play three original songs, one of which must be live, and present lyric sheets. These can be finished songs or draft songs. Tracks and/or musical accompaniment can be basic level.

The Institute also welcomes applications from established practitioners who are keen to undertake study at the HE level but may not possess the required qualifications.

Students may be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes.

International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.

The Institute’s BA (Hons) Songwriting is an industry led and practically focused course for those who want to be professional Songwriters, whether that is performing or not. It combines intensive and practical study in songwriting whilst expanding your creative repertoire, with studying music business and the wider topics associated with the History & Culture of Songwriting to achieve a Degree award.

• Industry style ‘Artist and Repertoire’ (A&R) feedback specific to your individual writing goals
• Weekly performance classes to showcase your material with a professional band
• Variety of studio based applications and recording skills covered suitable for songwriters
• Co-write songs to real music industry briefs with expert feedback and tuition
• Learn to write within different contemporary musical genres
• Learn to read, write and arrange music
• Research your favourite songwriter and their songs for your dissertation

This is a 3 year course but can be offered over 5 years part-time. All modules are core.

Your study will be at the Institute’s bespoke facilities in Kilburn, utilising the live rooms, tech suites and in-house music studio facilities as well as songwriting, class and lecture rooms. You will have access to use these facilities outside of class time while you are a student in order to rehearse and record your music. Your learning will be in small mixed groups for seminars and writing classes and small workshop groups for practical skills. Some lectures are in larger groups.

Each module must be completed and all are individually assessed. Modules are assessed through a variety of means, including practical exams and performance, submission of course work, projects, examination and essays.

Details are clearly stipulated in the course handbook and could include a seminar presentation, essay, or project. All students must complete a dissertation.

Students are encouraged to engage in work experience where appropriate.

You will have many opportunities to work in collaboration, and to develop your own ideas, in a range of projects throughout the course, such as in ‘Commercial Songwriting’, and arranging a performance in ‘Individual A&R Project’ module, or producing demos of your original work in the ‘Live & Recorded Demonstration’ modules

By studying at the Institute you will be in a highly creative environment, with many hundreds of other like minded students. You will find this a highly stimulating, exciting and vibrant environment!  

Moreover, as the Institute is located inLondonand at the heart music capital of the world, this provides students with unrivalled opportunities to experience and interact with all aspects of the music industry.

Students on the BA (Hons) Songwriting will be offered many opportunities for collaborative work both with other Creative Programmes inLondonand professional organisations. These opportunities, offered in addition to the curriculum, are a great way for students to build their show reels.

In the third year a mentorship scheme with an established industry practitioner provides an opportunity to study in the professional space.

• Singer/songwriting
• Commercial songwriting
• How to manage your career in the music industry
• Working within the wider music industry

• Writing songs, for both personal or commercial use
• Working in a creative environment
• Collaborating with others
• Creating original work

• To develop and manage a career as an artist and songwriter
• To develop and manage a career as commercial songwriter
• To work in the wider music industry

• Professional performing Singer / Songwriter
• Professional Non-Performing Songwriter
• Professional Non-performing Writer / Producer
• Co-writing as a member of a band project
• Working as a music business professional in a specialist song writing related role or for an industry song writing body

All students have access to the Student Services Department for support and advice concerning welfare, finance, personal development, safeguarding etc. You also have access to ‘The Hub’; the Institute Professional Development team, who provide careers advice, student opportunities, auditions, internship, gigs, etc

You will also have access to the Learning Resource Centre, containing key texts and industry journals, online resources, listening library, PC resources etc, as well as access to the wider Institute facilities which include rehearsal / performance studios, project studio, digital audio workstations and drum booths.

In addition, all students have ‘open door’ access to the Programme Leader and their personal tutor.

As a student of UEL you will also enjoy access to a range of UEL facilities, including the 24/7 multimedia libraries, with over 300,000 books, journals, audio-visual resources and archives, 500 electronic books and 25,000 electronic journals and databases.

Studying inLondon, the musical capital of the world, provides opportunities to engage with the music industry that are unequalled. Students have immediate access to gigs, events, conferences, industry, promoters, agents, mangers, aggregators and distributors, fixers, agents, publicity and PR agents.

The Institute also has a dedicated Careers Service, known as ‘The Hub’, whose remit is to support and assist student in the transition to the workplace.

The Hub provides a wide range of services to meet this aim, including 121 sessions (such as A and R, career planning, personal development), careers events and fairs, networking events, internships, auditions, student opportunities, performances, showcases, industry days, etc.

Members of the Institute faculty are drawn from a pool of musicians and business leaders who have all performed at the highest levels professionally. More importantly, all are still active in their fields allowing students to benefit from their practical experience and industry networks.

The mentorship programme in the final year also provides students with an active professional mentor providing real networking opportunities and feedback.

• To equip you with a systematic understanding of key aspects of current songwriting, live demonstration and production techniques.
• To prepare you for working within the future music industry in multiple ways, from the traditional employee to the portfolio career.
• To stimulate and develop your ability to expand on and exploit your songwriting ability by building confidence and creative flexibility as a music business entrepreneur.
• To develop your transferable, analytical, research and creative commentary skills to a level sufficient to engage in songwriting critique and commentary, songwriting teaching and further study.

Knowledge

On completion of this programme the successful student will be able to:

• Identify and reproduce current songwriting and demonstration skills along with their application in context
• Describe the role of the creative music entrepreneur in the modern music industry
• Outline the main professional music industry practices and structure

Cognitive (Thinking) Skills

On completion of this programme the successful student should possess:

• An advanced level of communication, imagination and creativity
• An understanding of the commercial nature of the popular music industry
• The ability to construct a reasoned, evaluative argument with an independent point of view

Subject-Based Practical Skills

On completion of this programme the successful student will be able to:

• Use established techniques to generate industry standard original musical material
• Implement music technology to assist in the production of recorded demonstrations of original work
• Utilise music theory and aural perception skills through arranging, transcribing and composition
• Engage in music industry practices including marketing, promotion and writing business plans.

Skills For Life And Work (General Skills)

On completion of this programme the successful student will be able to:

• Use ICT appropriately for working in songwriting
• Communicate and collaborate effectively as a member of a creative team
• Evaluate and organise their own learning effectively
• Work independently, managing their own time, motivating themselves and managing their own schedule effectively.

All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.

One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).

Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:

0          equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme

1          equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme

2          equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme

3          equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme

M         equivalent in standard to a Masters degree

The expected duration of this programme is 3 years when attended in full-time mode or 5 years in part-time mode.  It is possible to move from a full-time mode of study to a part-time mode of study and vice-versa, to accommodate any external factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments.  Many of our students make use of this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period.

The teaching year begins in September and ends in June. A typical student, in full-time attendance mode of study, will register for 120 credits in an academic year. A student in a part-time mode of study may register for up to 80 credits in any academic year.

This programme is part of a modular degree scheme. A student registered in a full-time attendance mode will take six 20 credit modules (or fewer, if any are 40 credit modules)  per year .  An honours degree student will complete modules totalling 120 credits at level one, modules totalling 120 credits  at level 2 and modules totalling 120 credits at level 3.

In order to gain anhonoursdegree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain anordinary degree  you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
• A minimum of  60 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain aDiploma of Higher Educationyou will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a  minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher and 120 credits at level two or higher

In order to gain aCertificate of Higher Educationyou will need to obtain 120 credits at level one or higher

In order to gain an Associate Certificate you will need to obtain a minimum if 20 credits at level one or higher

In order to gain a Foundation Degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 240 credits including:

A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher

A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher

(A Foundation degree is linked to a named Honours degree onto which a student may progress after successful completion of the Foundation degree)

Knowledge is developed through

• Lectures
• Writing Workshop Classes
• Seminars  / Feedback Sessions

Thinking skills are developed through

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Group Workshops

Practical skills are developed through

• Skills Workshops
• Lectures
• Seminars

Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through

• Project Based work supported by Tutorials / Workshops
• Mentorship Scheme

Knowledge is assessed by

• Essays
• Recorded Tracks
• Live performance of original material

Thinking skills are assessed by

• Essays
• Project Proposal

Practical skills are assessed by

• Recorded Tracks
• Live performance of original material
• Research

Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by

• Showcase / Event organisation
• Recorded Tracks

Before this programme started, the following was checked:

• there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
• adequate resources would be in place;
• the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
• the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
• the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
• the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning  and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.

This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.

The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:

• external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
• statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
• student feedback.

Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation.  The process is monitored by the Quality and Standards Committee.

Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists.  The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions.  The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.

This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff).  The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality.  The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures.

The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner.  External examiners have two primary responsibilities:

• To ensure the standard of the programme;
• To ensure that justice is done to individual students.

External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:

• Approving exam papers/assignments;
• Attending assessment boards;
• Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
• Ensuring that regulations are followed;
• Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.

The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:

• Module evaluations (e-survey)
• Course evaluations (e-survey)
• Student representation on programme committees (meeting each semester)
• Academic Programme committee (meeting annually)
• Suggestions box

Students are notified of the action taken through:

• Publishing the minutes of the Student Rep meeting on the student website
• Providing details on the programme notice board  

The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:

• Annual student satisfaction questionnaire
• Alumni questionnaires
• Industry liaison
• Student Representatives
• Suggestions