Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Popular Music and Business Management

Students at Derby benefit from the university's strong connections with the music industry, gaining opportunities to participate in the annual Music Production Show, which features guest presentations from prominent industry professionals such as Sound on Sound, Avid, Yamaha, Ableton, and Focusrite. They also have regular chances to perform in public and are encouraged to engage with the local music scene. The university’s recording studios and rehearsal facilities inspire students to produce professional-quality recordings of their performances.

Alongside their music studies, students are challenged through Business modules, tackling real-world scenarios via projects, placements, and internships. The course combines both business learning and practical business experience, covering topics like responsible management, business ethics, business analytics, digital media, and innovation and globalisation.

This approach prepares students for careers in a fast-changing global business environment, helping them become more agile, innovative, and resilient. Throughout the program, students develop crucial self-learning and teamwork skills, which are essential for success in the professional sphere.

At Derby’s Markeaton Street site, students will find an exceptional range of music-making facilities, including state-of-the-art recording studios, rehearsal spaces, music technology labs, and three post-production rooms, all equipped with the latest software. The university has invested nearly £350,000 in these resources, ensuring that students have access to facilities on par with professional studios in the UK and internationally. A wide range of instruments, amplifiers, and outboard gear is available, alongside a classic 48-channel Neve recording console, allowing students to develop their skills in a professional setting.

As one of the leading universities conducting research into surround-sound technologies, Derby’s control rooms are equipped with 5.1 speaker arrays, and the university also boasts a surround-sound research lab with a 40-speaker ambisonics surround speaker array, providing students with a unique environment to explore height and depth parameters in sound.

In the new Cavendish Building, students have the opportunity to study alongside start-ups and small businesses, creating a dynamic environment where they can network, learn from, and inspire local business leaders and entrepreneurs.