Expand+How to Apply

Applications 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 websi...

Hide-How to Apply

Applications 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.

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/filling-your-ucas-undergraduate-application

UCAS will start processing applications for entry in autumn 2019 from 1 September 2018.

The advisory closing date for the receipt of applications is 15 January 2019 (18:00), however, for applicants applying to Oxford or Cambridge and for those whose choices include Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Medicine/Science the closing date is 15 October 2018 (18:00).

Currently there are two intakes to Adult Nursing (one in September and the other in February) and application is made for both courses by 15 January (18:00) prior to the academic year of entry ie for September and the following February. The application deadline will not change but it should be noted that from 2019-20 entry, the two intakes may be combined. Please refer to the online prospectus which will be updated as further information becomes available.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses. Earlier applicants normally receive decisions more quickly, however, UCAS accepts that some applicants, especially those from outside the UK, may find this difficult. 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.

Applications for Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work must be submitted by the 15 January (18:00) deadline. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

Take care to enter the details of the institutions and courses clearly and correctly on the application. For Queen’s, the institution code name is QBELF and the institution code is Q75. These should be entered in the Choices section of your UCAS application. Please note a Campus Code is not required.

Expand+Entrance requirements

A level requirements
ABB plus successful audition.

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3 plus successful audition.

Access/Foundation Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an aver...

Hide-Entrance requirements

A level requirements
ABB plus successful audition.

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3 plus successful audition.

Access/Foundation Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70% 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 notes on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.

How we choose our students

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, which is considered by the Selector for that particular subject or degree programme along with a member of administrative staff from the Admissions Service. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

Applicants for this BA programme must have, or be able to achieve, a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade C or better (to include English Language). Performance in any AS or A-level examinations already completed will also be 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 BTEC Extended Diplomas, Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, the International Baccalaureate, Irish Leaving Certificate or an Access course, will also be considered.

The same GCSE profile is usually expected of those candidates taking a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Higher National Certificate (HNC).

The current entrance requirements for applicants offering a BTEC Extended Diploma are successful completion of the BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3) with 120 credits at Distinction and 60 credits at Merit. 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,

Candidates offering Access/Certificate in Foundation Studies courses will be considered individually on their own merits. Where offers are made, these will be conditional on achieving an average of 70%.

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 an Open 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

QS World University Ranking recently placed Queen’s University Belfast in the top 50 universities worldwide for the performing arts.

Global Opportunities
•Students may opt to spend a semester studying abroad. The School has links with a number of international institutions including Oberlin College, Ohio, Capital University, Ohio and University of Groningen.

Professional Accreditations
•The School is an Avid Learning Partner and Avid-accredited courses in Pro Tools for music and audio production are embedded into the curriculum.

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

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.

Expand+Stage 1
Level 1 of the programmes consists of four compulsory modules encompassing both solo and ensemble performance, general musicianship and an historical introduction to music. All students receive weekly performance tuition and participate in w...

Hide-Stage 1
Level 1 of the programmes consists of four compulsory modules encompassing both solo and ensemble performance, general musicianship and an historical introduction to music. All students receive weekly performance tuition and participate in weekly performance platforms - an open session for peer critique of solo and ensemble performances. Optional modules include composition, sound recording principles, sound design, audio mixing, and introduction to the arts.

Stage 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. Optional modules are available in areas such as song-writing, instrumental composition, sound design, sonic arts, audio production, instrument and installation design, music psychology, or introduction to arts management

Stage 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 focussing on an aspect of professional practice in musical performance. Additional level 3 options include modules in designing musical interactions, composing for film and television, instrumental composition, sonic arts, and audio production

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 Stage 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 Ar...

Hide-Career Prospects

Introduction
The Stage 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.

Further study, including Masters programmes, is also an option; see the School website for further information.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/ael

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.