BA (Hons) Songwriting and Music Production
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three or Four Years
- Start Date: September 2025
Do you have a passion for song writing? Do you want to make a career out of it? Our BA (Hons) Songwriting and Music Production course gives you the opportunity to access expert guidance and the space to focus on, and hone, your craft. Develop your song writing skills to a professional standard, whilst learning about the process behind the art form, from recording and music promotion to making money from your songs.
Like the industry, we put collaboration at the centre of what we do. You will get the chance to work with other BNU courses, such as the Film and TV students. You’ll record sound and work on post-production which will give you experience of working with a wide variety of genres to help you perfect your production skills.
By the time you graduate, you’ll have the ability to project manage yourself and have built out a portfolio crammed with real life experience. Our Careers and Employability team will also help to find you work placements in and around the area.
You’ll also benefit from our work-opportunities. Previous students have worked with companies such as Sony, Sennheiser and Universal Music. As well as this our industry advisory group, BIGMusic, regularly reviews our courses which means you'll graduate with up to date skills and knowledge relevant for today’s industry demands.
All our music degrees at BNU come with membership of ’s Music Academic Partnership ().
MAP is a ground-breaking collaboration between educational institutions and UK Music, and is designed to maximise the relationship between the industry and educational institutions in order to inform the next generation of industry professionals.
MAP does this by nurturing collaborative projects, such as and careers events, panel events, various education and skills work, policy work, and career opportunities. Fundamentally MAP provides extra opportunities to individuals who want to build careers out of their passion for music. This helps to future-proof the music industry by ensuring new entrants have the right mix of experience and skills.
UK Music is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. We represent all sectors of our industry – bringing them together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music. The members of UK Music are: AIM, BPI, FAC, The Ivors Academy, MMF, MPA, MPG, MU, PPL, PRS for Music. UK Music also has an informal association with LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment).
What facilities can I use?
Our state-of-the-art recording studios and Dolby Atmos certified sound lab, give you access to the space and technology you need. From individual edit rooms up to large Pro Tools Ultimate studios with attached live rooms and vocal booths, we have it all to help you gain hands-on experience.
- Studio 1 boasts a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 speaker system and an Avid S6 console. We are one of the first Universities in the UK to adopt Dolby Atmos into a music environment. Find out more about Studio 1 .
- Studio 2 features an Audient ASP8024 Mixing desk, with outboard equipment by Neve, Universal Audio, Teletronix, Focusrite, Tegler, Maag, Manley and others. It also has monitoring by Genelec and Adam Audio.
- Studio three and the Electronic Music Studio are based around Avid S3/S4 control surfaces and UAD Apollo x8 audio interfaces.
- The edit booths are equipped with microphone preamps from Avid.
- Our microphone stock includes Sennheiser, Neumann, AKG, Shure, Rode and Electrovoice.
- Studio monitoring includes 5.1 systems by Genelec and stereo systems by KRK.
All studios feature a full range of plug-ins including RX3, Ozone6, Komplete and Speakerphone.
We have other top-quality suppliers, including Midas, Focusrite, Novation and AC Lighting, so you can get your hands on the same tools as the best in the business.
Whilst studying with us you will also use our BucksAnywhere web service, which provides access to many of the software applications you use for learning and studying. BucksAnywhere can be used from your own device or from a University owned PC or laptop, from any location.
What will I study?
This degree covers the main areas essential to building a career in this competitive field: song writing ability, recording knowledge, and business know-how. Each area is key to helping you turn song writing into a profession. We’ll ensure you have the tools, experience and industry awareness to get your career off to the strongest possible start.
You’ll learn how to develop your song writing skills to a professional standard by working on your material with our experienced tutors. You’ll explore a variety of techniques for writing songs, to help you maximise your creative potential and find a method that works for you. You’ll study audio production and recording, so that you can become confident at producing recordings of your own work as well as other people’s.
Aside from these technical skills, you’ll also learn how to monetise and promote your creativity. As part of this, you’ll have the opportunity to study artist management, music publishing (with a placement option), music law, A&R (artist & repertoire), sociological issues related to music and the music industry, and how to build your brand as a professional song writer.
You’ll learn about a number of DIY approaches to the music business, and explore other areas of music entrepreneurship too, such as sources of funding and how to set yourself up as a business.
Over the duration of the programme, you will be guided through the art of song writing, and given opportunities to develop your skills in our well-equipped music studios. You will take part in shared master classes and attend guest lectures with our industry partners and associates, including professional song writers and music publishers, who’ll share the latest insights and expert knowledge with you. Song writing is just one part of a bigger music production picture, so you will study modules, and collaborate with students, from our other well-established music courses, such as Music Production, Music Business, and Music Production and Performance, among others.
How will I be taught and assessed?
Our teaching staff have a wealth of professional and academic experience, with many still actively working in the music industry. You’ll also engage with our dynamic programme of visiting lectures and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and plenty of networking opportunities. You’ll also benefit from our expert-lecturers who have a wealth of knowledge and experience within the industry in fields such as music publishing and A&R ('artist & repertoire').
You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only will you make friends for life, you’ll also make important connections that will last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in the working-world.
A variety of assessment vehicles will be used as appropriate to the modules you take, including assignments carried out in your own time, in-class assignments, workshops and presentations. Assessments will be appropriate to the task, achievable, motivating and vocationally focussed, forming a constructive part of your learning process.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Those with no previous study, work experience, or who do not meet the specified entry requirements, including demonstrating the necessary knowledge and understanding, are welcome to apply for the 3-year BA (Hons) degree, however may be offered the four-year programme which includes a Foundation Year.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
What are the tuition fees
Home
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Home Foundation Year, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 *
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Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 per year *
International
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Overseas/International Foundation Year, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 *
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Overseas/International, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 per year *
Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes.
Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.  
Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.  
Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.  
We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU.
The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.
What are my career prospects?
Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.
As well as helping you establish yourself as a professional songwriter, our BA (Hons) Songwriting and Music Production course is a great preparation for working in other related areas of the music industry, such as music production, music publishing or artist management. The solid business skills you gain are widely transferable to other areas as well, both within and outside music, including fields such as music synchronisation.
To help you prepare for your chosen career, we invite experts from industry to come and talk to you at our High Wycombe campus.
Previous guests speakers include:
Graduates can also choose to study for a postgraduate course, such as MA Music Business or MA Music and Audio Production.
The course allowed me to strengthen my skills, express my passion for music, and explore multiple areas of such an exhilarating industry. Music Industry panels, networking opportunities, trips to Amsterdam and London, performance opportunities, supportive and experienced lecturers, plus likeminded students were just some of the factors that made choosing to study at BNU the best decision I ever made.Hannah Jobling Class of 2024 Graduate
Course leader
