Expand+How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained...

Hide-How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.

When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in Autumn 2020 from 1 September 2019.

Advisory closing date: 15 January 2020 (18:00).

Late applications are, in practice, accepted by UCAS throughout the remainder of the application cycle, but you should understand that they are considered by institutions at their discretion, and there can be no guarantee that they will be given the same full level of consideration as applications received by the advisory closing date.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Expand+A level requirements
ABB plus successful audition.

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3 plus successful audition.

Access Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70% plus successful auditio...

Hide-A level requirements
ABB plus successful audition.

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3 plus successful audition.

Access Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70% plus successful audition.

International Baccalaureate Diploma
33 points overall including 6,5,5 at Higher Level plus successful audition.

BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma
QCF Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits), with 120 credits at Distinction grade and 60 credits at Merit grade plus successful audition.

RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 Guided Learning Hours (GLH)), with at least 660 GLH at Distinction grade (minimum 240 GLH to be externally assessed) and 420 GLH at Merit grade plus successful audition.

Graduate
A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree plus successful audition

All applicants
There are no specific subject requirements to study Music Performance. However, applicants being considered for entry are required to submit a video audition demonstrating a wide ranging ability of their musical performance style.


Selection Criteria

In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.


Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by individual University Schools. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

For last year's intake, applicants for this BA programme offering A-level/BTEC qualifications must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade C/4 or better (to include English Language). Performance in any AS or A-level examinations already completed would also have been taken into account and the Selector checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.

Applicants being considered for entry are asked to submit a 15-minute video audition to the School of Arts, English and Languages. This should demonstrate a wide ranging ability of the applicant’s musical performance style. Any type of repertoire is welcomed and applicants may include supporting musicians in their audition video. Assessment of this audition by the School forms part of the selection process.

Offers are normally made on the basis of three A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered. The offer for repeat candidates is set in terms of three A-levels and may be one grade higher than for first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.

Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification), or one A-level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of performance in individual BTEC units rather than the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.

Applicants offering other qualifications, such as Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, will also be considered.

For applicants offering a HNC, the current requirements are successful completion of the HNC with 2 Distinctions and remainder Merits. For those offering a Higher National Diploma, some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile but, to be eligible for an offer, the grades obtained in the first year of the HND must allow the overall offer to be achievable. The current entrance requirement for Stage 1 entry is successful completion of the HND with 2 Distinctions, 10 Merits and 4 Passes overall. Applicants with sufficiently high grades in the first year of a relevant HND in Music Production or Music may be considered for entry to Stage 2 and, where offers are made, these are conditional on successful completion of this HND with 3 Distinctions and 13 Merits overall.

The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of BA degrees, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking four A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

If you are made an offer then you may be invited to a Faculty/School Visit Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.


International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs


If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
•Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
•Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

International Students - Foundation and International Year One Programmes

INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.

Expand+Overview

The BA in Music Performance is a course that focuses on practice and is aimed primarily at students who have a particular interest in pursuing a professional career in performance. The degree is distinguished by its inclusive approach and...

Hide-Overview

The BA in Music Performance is a course that focuses on practice and is aimed primarily at students who have a particular interest in pursuing a professional career in performance. The degree is distinguished by its inclusive approach and will have broad appeal to musicians who specialise in all performing traditions, including classical, folk, traditional, pop, rock, jazz, singer/songwriter, electronic and experimental. Students gain extensive experience of performing in solo, ensemble and improvised settings in addition to developing skills for performing in the recording studio and the use of technology in performance practice. Students will have access to world leading facilities and concert spaces, including the Sonic Lab which is housed in the world-renowned SARC facility. Teaching is delivered by a team of dedicated staff with a wide ranging expertise covering music performance, improvisation, composition and audio engineering.

Music Performance Degree highlights


Global Opportunities
•Students may opt to spend a semester or a year studying abroad. The School has links with a number of international institutions including Sibelius Academy (University of the Arts Helsinki), University of Groningen, Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo do Porto (Instituto Politecnico do Porto), Université Français Rabelais Tours, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Technological Educational Institute of Crete.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/Studyabroad/StudyAbroad/

Professional Accreditations
•The School is an Avid Learning Partner and Avid-accredited courses in Sibelius for music notation and Pro Tools for music and audio production are embedded into the curriculum.
https://www.avid.com/education

Industry Links
•The School benefits from strong industry partnerships including BBC NI, Ulster Orchestra, Opera NI, Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble, Cathedral Arts Festival and Moving on Music.

World Class Facilities
•The Music Department is one of the largest and best-equipped institutions in the UK working in the field of music and sound. Students on the BMus in Music have access to state-of-the-art performing and rehearsal spaces that includes two concert spaces that are used for public concerts. The department comprises two buildings: the Music building is a beautiful older building with several stunning teaching spaces; the Sonic Arts Research Centre is a world-leading facility that includes the Sonic Laboratory – a unique performance space capable of three-dimensional sound projection.

Internationally Renowned Experts
•Many of our staff are leading international experts in their fields of research. Additionally, the School employs a number Industry Fellows – internationally renowned professionals in their fields of composition, performance, song-writing, sound engineering and music production.

Student Experience
•Northern Ireland has an exceptional track record for producing outstanding musical talent and has a unique identity within the global music industry. Belfast is the creative hub of the Northern Irish music industry and students on this programme will contribute to the vibrant musical life of both the University and the wider city.


"Studying Music Performance at Queens has gone far beyond my expectations of how much I would enjoy the course. The lecturers/tutors are genuinely interested in each pupil and endeavour to see you reach your full potential. The music department is truly mind blowing with the highest level of equipment provided for our use. I am so excited as to what the next three years will bring and am confident in the knowledge that when I graduate, I will be fully prepared for an exciting career in music."
Jessica Walker, Performance Student (2019)

Expand+Level 1
Level 1 of the programme consists of four core modules and optional modules. All students receive weekly performance tuition and participate in weekly performance platforms – an open session for peer critique of solo and ensemble performan...

Hide-Level 1
Level 1 of the programme consists of four core modules and optional modules. All students receive weekly performance tuition and participate in weekly performance platforms – an open session for peer critique of solo and ensemble performances.

Modules Include (* indicates core module)
Solo Performance*
Ensemble Performance*
Introduction to Music*
Musicianship*
Sound Recording and Production
Introduction to Film Studies
Sound Synthesis and Audio Mixing
Being Creative
Composing Music
Fundamental Harmony
Music in History

Level 2
At Level 2 students continue to develop solo, ensemble and improvised performance practice through individual tuition, group tuition and performance platforms. Student ensembles work in a recording studio setting to create recordings of newly conceived repertoire.

Modules Include (* indicates core module)
Solo Performance*
Ensemble Performance*
Fame*
Improvisation*
Experimental Popular Musics
Song Writing
Live Production Systems
Sound Design for Screen
Music Psychology
Introduction to Arts Management
Sound Recording and Production
Sonic Arts
Composition
Instrument and Installation Design

Level 3
The primary focus at Level 3 is further refinement of solo performance practice culminating in a double weighted performance recital. All students are also asked to complete a project focusing on an aspect of professional practice in musical performance.

Modules Include (* indicates core module)
Double Performance*
Professional Practice*
Musical Thought and Scholarship
Auditory Perception
Composition
Traditional Irish Music
A Night at the Opera
Sound Recording and Production
Politics and Popular Song
Film and Music
Audio Post Production
Designing Musical Interactions
Orchestration
Composing for Screen
Sonic Arts
Work Based Learning
Composition
Directed Study
Special Project / Dissertation
Mozart and Bach

N.B.
This is not an exclusive list and these options are subject to staff availability.

For further information, course related queries or to arrange to visit our facilities please contact our Music Student Recruitment Officer, Krista Gallagher at k.gallagher@qub.ac.uk

Expand+The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Many Music modules are assessed solely through practical project work, continuous assessment or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combin...

Hide-The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Many Music modules are assessed solely through practical project work, continuous assessment or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Module Outline Document which is provided to all students at the beginning of each teaching semester.

Feedback

As students’ progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.

Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.

Placement employer comments or references.

Online or emailed comment.

General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.

Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.

Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.

Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Expand+Career Prospects

Introduction
The BA in Music Performance is a new degree programme which commenced in September 2017. The programme prepares students for a wide range of possible career paths and graduates from Music degrees at Queen's have foun...

Hide-Career Prospects

Introduction
The BA in Music Performance is a new degree programme which commenced in September 2017. The programme prepares students for a wide range of possible career paths and graduates from Music degrees at Queen's have found success throughout the UK and internationally in both musical and non-musical careers including orchestral playing, opera singing, solo artist careers, performance, composition, teaching, media employment and arts administration.

Alumni Success
Graduates of related programmes at Queen's have been very successful in the area of Music Performance and include;

Marcella Walsh, Operatic Soprano, Scottish Opera
Oisin McAuley, Fiddle Player, Danú
Kitt Philipa, Solo Artist
Joshua Burnside, NI Music Prize Winner 2017
Niamh McGowan, Violinist, Ulster Orchestra
Scott Flannigan, Jazz Pianist
Nathan Morrison, Singer
Chris Day, Professional Trombonist, Germany
Elaine Pelan, Singer
Carol McDonnell, Solo Clarinettist, Juliard School, New York
Colin Stark, Oboe, Ulster Orchestra

Professional Opportunities
The Level 3 Work Placement module is an excellent opportunity for students to gain real-world employment experience. Some of the organisations our students have completed placements with include: The Mac, Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast Music Society, Fleming Fulton Special Needs School, JAM (Junior Academy of Music), and a large number of local secondary and primary schools.


Additional Awards Gained

All BA Music Performance students are awarded a generous performance bursary that covers the cost of all practical performance tuition for both solo and ensemble performance modules. These performance bursaries are provided across all three years of the programme.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.