BA (Hons) Songwriting
Leeds, United Kingdom
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
14 Jan 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 20,900 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* this is a provisional fee and subject to change | BA with foundation year (year 0 only) - £15,700
Whatever your musical interests – acoustic to electronic, mainstream to left-field – you’ll explore the art and the mechanics of songwriting in a way that enables you to identify and develop your own unique direction, rooted in originality and purpose.
Through individually tailored one-to-one tuition and taught collaborative group writing sessions with professional songwriters, you will develop advanced songwriting skills, refine your artistic identity, and cultivate your collaboration skills. You’ll have the creative freedom to develop your own projects with other writers and performers, focus your creative practice, and work in our Apple Mac labs, where you will learn the skills required to realise your ideas into recordings using industry-standard software and facilities.
You’ll explore the cultural, social, and industry context of popular music and will learn how to analyse songs and recordings, empowering you to become an informed and adaptable songwriter. Through expert tuition and a regular series of visiting masterclasses and Q&A sessions, you will also learn the music industry skills that prepare you for the realities of a portfolio career.
Whether you want to be behind the mic or behind the scenes, this course will nurture your songwriting voice and help you build a sustainable career in the music industry.
Industry Collaboration
Masterclasses, Q&A sessions, live sessions, and input from alumni and industry guests provide insight and mentorship.
Leeds Conservatoire Undergraduate Principal's Scholarship
We are offering eight scholarships of £5,000 to new international students starting on a 3-year undergraduate course at the conservatoire in September 2025.
Please note that Foundation Year students can apply for scholarships for Years 2 to 4 of their studies. The scholarship does not apply to the Foundation Year, as it already benefits from a lower fee.
Principal's Scholarships are awarded to exceptionally deserving students based on audition and personal statement.
Full details can be found in the Eligibility & Terms section below.
Applications are now closed for 2025/26 entry
Foundation Year (L3)
- Foundational Songwriting 1
- Foundational Songwriting 2
Year 1 (L4)
- Musical Analysis
- Musical Contexts
- Songwriting 1: Skills
- Songwriting 2: Technique
- Songwriting Creative Environments 1
- Songwriting Creative Environments 2
Year 2 (L5)
- Songwriting 3: Artistry
- Songwriting 4: Performance
- Songwriting Creative Environments 3
- Songwriting Creative Environments 4
- Industry 1: Infrastructure
- Industry 2: Portfolio Skills
Year 3 (L6)
- Major Songwriting Showcase
- Focus 1
- Focus 2
- Industry 3: Strategy
- Industry 4: Implementation
Creative Opportunities
You’ll have the chance to perform on and off campus or collaborate with other songwriters, producers, and artists, and build a songwriting showcase portfolio for the industry.
Graduate Destinations
Graduates go into songwriting, production, live or studio performance, music education, promotions, working at a label, and journalism. Progression to our postgraduate music degrees in songwriting, performance, and production will be available.
Performance Opportunities
Our Songwriting students have the opportunity to join the Contemporary Pop Choir, play at our regular student showcase, Crosswire, and perform at venues throughout the city, including the Brudenell Social Club, Belgrave Music Hall, Oporto, and Nation of Shopkeepers.