MA Popular Music (Writer Producer)
Leeds, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 20,000
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
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Launch your career in music with our MA in Popular Music (Writer Producer). Designed to empower you with a blend of musical expertise, a professional mindset and creative ingenuity, this postgraduate degree will prepare you to enter the ever-changing landscape of the modern music industry.
At Leeds Conservatoire, students are in control of their personal, creative, and intellectual growth. They emerge as skilled musicians and reflective practitioners who are prepared for enduring success in the music industry.
You’ll be challenged to explore, experiment, and uncover fresh perspectives and methodologies. You'll be empowered to craft your best work and stand out in today's competitive global music scene.
A Collaborative Curriculum
When you enrol at Leeds Conservatoire you will join a lively community of creative practice. We celebrate creative diversity, fostering collaboration among practitioners from varied stylistic backgrounds to pioneer new musical frontiers and build foundations for sustainable careers in the industry. Through dynamic group sessions, students from diverse stylistic backgrounds will collaborate, sparking innovation and forging lifelong connections.
Master Your Skills
Alongside developing your music practice as a performer, we also provide our students with vital networking and entrepreneurial skills, essential for thriving in diverse professional arenas.
Specialist tutors, peers, and industry guests provide invaluable support, constructive critique, and expert insights across a spectrum of disciplines.
You’ll also engage in theoretical and research activities that will place your talent within a range of philosophical, historical, sociological, industrial and critical contexts.
Suppose you’re a writer whose stage is in the studio rather than at a gig. In that case, the ‘Writer Producer’ pathway in our postgraduate pop music program is ideal for artists who write their own material and want to master both songwriting and production within a DAW environment.
You'll explore the songwriting and technical skills needed to realise your music digitally, working with industry-standard software and equipment to create polished, professional-quality recordings. Collaboration with fellow students across various disciplines will enhance your ability to produce a wide range of innovative and compelling music.
You’ll benefit from one-to-one tuition and training in songwriting, arrangement, and modern production techniques as well as from expert guidance and feedback from experienced producers and songwriters.
You’ll graduate ready to excel in the studio, bringing your musical visions to life with technical precision and creative flair.
Specialist Study
Specialist Study modules in trimesters 1, 2 and 3 give students opportunities to reach their musical potential through one-to-one tuition and group workshops in songwriting and/or production.
Creative Practice in Context
Creative Practice in Context modules in trimesters 1 and 2 engage students in research activities that place their music within a range of philosophical, historical, sociological, industrial and critical contexts.
Assessment
Trimester 1:
- Specialist Study 1 – assessed by one of the following: a public performance of existing work a public performance or sharing of original compositions or production work newly created; a portfolio of original compositions/production work evidenced by appropriate documentation, i.e. scores, recordings, etc.
- Creative Practice in Context 1 – assessed by one of the following: essay, or presentation with an accompanying written commentary.
Trimester 2:
- Specialist Study 2 – assessed by one of the following: a public performance of existing work; a public performance or sharing of original compositions; a portfolio of original newly-created compositions/production work evidenced by appropriate documentation, i.e. scores, recordings, etc.
- Creative Practice in Context 2 – assessed by one of the following: essay, or presentation and an accompanying written commentary.
Trimester 3:
- Specialist Study 3 – assessed by one of the following, accounting for 70% of the mark: a public performance of existing work/repertoire or a public performance or sharing of original newly-created compositions and/or production work, which may be live or digitally conceived, i.e. application-based, web-based, digital or physical EP release. Additionally, accounting for 30% of the mark, either a written critique examining the creative project submitted, or a panel-led spoken examination examining the creative project submitted.
With a deep understanding of the creative and industrial contexts within which your practice exists, as an alumnus you will be prepared for a career as a musician.
Our postgraduate students have received commissions, performed at regional and international festivals including South by South West, The Reeperbahn Festival, Glastonbury and Live at Leeds, progressed to teaching positions, and created public installations.