You'll take the following compulsory modules:

Candidates may take modules, totalling 20 or 40 credits, in a foreign language. Please note that:

• This must be approved by the Degree Programme Director, who will also agree on an appropriate module or modules to drop from the Music degree provision to maintain the 120-credit total for the year.
• some modules at stage 2 have Musicianship, Audio Production Skills, or Creative Projects as prerequisites.
• opting out of Contemporary Pop Performance at this stage will disqualify you from taking Performance Studies at a later stage in the degree programme.

You'll choose from a selection of historical, cultural and practical options. These options give you more flexibility to shape your own path through the degree.

You’ll continue to develop your professional practice through practical and applied modules. These modules cover key skills such as songwriting and orchestration.

We also offer you modules that will deepen your understanding of music’s historical and cultural dimensions.

You take at least two of the following Historical/Cultural modules:

* Students will need to take an audition if they wish to take Folk Ensemble 2

You take at least one of the following Applied or Practical modules:

* Students will need to take an audition if they wish to take Folk Ensemble 2

You'll complete a major specialist study, which could be:

• an original composition
• a creative project
• a performance
• a dissertation/project on an area of interest which you hope to focus on in your life and work after leaving University.

You may also take a minor study in a second area of specialism.

You'll choose the remaining balance of modules from a selection of historical, cultural and practical options offered by the world-leading research-active staff within the music department.

You must take one of the following compulsory modules:

*To take these modules you must have passed the relevant pre-requisite modules with a mark of 60% or higher

Optional Modules

You may choose a Minor Specialist Study module from the following list. This must be in a subject area that is substantially different to your major specialist study.

* These modules are only available to candidates who have successfully completed the relevant pre-requisite modules.  A threshold mark in the pre-requisite module may be a requirement; for more information consult the module catalogue (2025/26 MOFS at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/module-catalogue/)   

You choose modules from the list below so that the total credits for the year adds up to 120:

*Students need to have passed Folk Ensemble 2 in Stage 2 in order to take Folk Ensemble 3.

You may, with the discretion of the Degree Programme Director, take one module from the list below, if not taken already at Stage 2.

* Students will need to take an audition if they wish to take Folk Ensemble 2.