BA in Global Popular Music

Programme Code: W301

Start of programme: September 2015

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

The BA Global Popular Music offers a unique programme that allows students to focus on popular and contemporary music styles and cultures in global perspective.

The degree includes regional modules that build on the expertise of SOAS staff in music in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, world music performance, practical skills modules in multimedia, approaches to the study of popular music, and opportunities for directed independent study projects on topics ranging from K-Pop to hip-hop, Latin to Rai.

The programme leads into careers and vocational pathways including arts management, festival administration and curating, music journalism, teaching, performing and composing, album production, and management and consultancy within the music industry in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Programme Structure

Please note that a 15 credits module corresponds to a 0.5 unit (taught over one term) and a 30 credits module corresponds to a full unit (taught over both terms).

Students are required to take modules to the total value of 360 credits over the duration of their degree, 120 credits per year.  A 30 credits module will be taught over both terms, while a 15 credits module is taught over one term.  
Up to 90 credits may come from "open option modules" (modules outside of this programme - e.g. language or non-music modules), but only 30 credits of open option modules may be taken in each year.

Year 1

You will take six 15 credits introductory modules and up to 30 credits of open option modules.

Year 1 Compulsory Modules:

• Global Pop - 155800089 (15 credits)
• Music and Culture - 155800060 (15 credit)
• Performance 1b - 155800062 (15 credits)
• Sounds and Cultures - 155800071 (15 credits)
• Studying Popular Music - 155800090 (15 credits)

Year 1 Optional Modules:

• Great Works: recordings, objects, films -158100003 (15 credits)  or
• Performance 1a - 155800061 (15 credits)

Year 2

You will take one compulsory module and must choose one skills module in recording or in radio presenting and at least two modules on popular music (including, among others, Global Hip Hop, Pop and Politics in Israel, Music of Cuba. You can also select other modules offered within the Music Department (including generic modules such as Music and Gender, regional modules on musical traditions of Asia and Africa, and performance, available from the lists below, and up to 30 credits from our open option modules.

Year 2 Compulsory Module:

• The Music Business - 155800053 (15 credits)

Year 3

You will take two compulsory modules and choose one skills module, one popular music module and other modules offered within the Music Department (including generic modules such as Music, Shamanism and Healing, regional modules, and performance, available from the lists below, and up to 30 credits from our open option modules.

Year 3 Compulsory Modules:

• Arts, Culture & Commodification: Themes in the Global Creative & Cultural Industries - 158100001 (15 credits)
• Urban Soundscapes - 155800083 (15 credits)

Year 1 Compulsory Modules

Year 1 Optional Modules

Year 2 and 3 Area Modules

Year 2 and 3 General Modules

Project Modules

Performance Modules

Disclaimer

Teaching & Learning

The Department of Music has been highly rated for teaching and research in all recent assessment exercises, and is regularly ranked amongst the top Music departments in the UK in Good University Guides.

The Department has a unique concentration of expertise in popular music of the major regions of Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and their diasporas. Its staff, research associates and teaching fellows have wide-ranging experience in the music industry, including the production of high profile albums, radio and print journalism, and concert and festival organisation.

Our students have access to the world renowned SOAS Library, which holds numerous books, journals and recordings relevant to the study of ethnomusicology and world music, as well as the nearby British Library Sound Archive and other London libraries and museums. The Department also maintains a large working collection of musical instruments from Asia and Africa.

Tuition Fees

Full details of undergraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Undergraduate Tuition Fees page.

Fees for 2017/18 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. 

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

• How to Apply
• UCAS website
• Request a prospectus
• Got a question - use our enquiry form (opens a new window)
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts