Locations
London, Liverpool, Leeds
UCAS code
W3S1
Start date
15th September 2025
Course length
3 Years
COURSE OVERVIEW
The BA (Hons) Songwriting and Artist Development course has been designed especially for artists who write their own material across a multitude of modern genres – from pop, rock and indie, to hip-hop, R’n’B, grime and drill.
Whether you’re a solo artist, band frontperson, rapper, acoustic singer–songwriter or something else entirely, you’ll be guided and supported by expert ICMP tutors across three years of study to develop your songwriting craft, improve your performance skills and define your persona as a creative artist.
Across this songwriting and artist development degree, you’ll explore a different aspect of the art of contemporary songwriting each week, writing a minimum of two songs to brief and covering a range of styles, genres, themes and writing approaches. You’ll regularly collaborate with other students on this course’s ‘sister’ programme – the BA (Hons) Songwriting and Production, as well as ICMP musicians and entrepreneurs across other courses, to hone your songwriting craft and enhance your live performance skills. As you progress the course, you’ll frequently analyse your own work and that of your peers, engaging in small group discussions and ‘A&R-style’ feedback sessions.
This distinctive course aims to foster both your songwriting abilities and independence as a creative artist, empowering you to build and sustain a successful career in songwriting and performance.
Our talented ICMP tutors all have dynamic careers in both music and higher education, so you’ll learn your craft with backing from some of the UK's best songwriters, musicians and performance artists. They’ll organise recurring opportunities for you to learn about business and music entrepreneurship, as you build your songwriting portfolio, showreel and professional network. You’ll be encouraged to take part in songwriting and performance events and masterclasses, with visits from music business representatives, and opportunities to perform at ICMP’s renowned Songwriters’ Circle nights and showcase events.
At the end of your time with us, you’ll have developed and curated a portfolio of more than 100 songs, gaining the confidence and performance skills you need to fully bring them to life on stage. With expert musicianship abilities, demo-recording experience, knowledge of how to create marketing assets to grow your online presence, and an awareness of the culture and history of songwriting, you’ll graduate inspired, motivated and ready to unleash your talents as a writer–performer on the music industry.
Fees & Funding
Taking a music course at ICMP makes financial sense too, making studying a Songwriting degree at ICMP great value as well as great fun. Student Loans are available to eligible UK students, see our Fees page for further information.
Course Fees: UK Students | EU/EEA/International Students
Programme Specification | Programme Handbook
Click to view the full terms and conditions of applying to study at ICMP.
Successful completion of the BA (Hons) Songwriting and Artist Development course leads to the award of Bachelor of Arts degree by The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance.
Experience ICMP in-person
Open Days
Featuring information about this course, the many benefits of studying here, tour our facilities and much more.
You can also join our online event or book a personalised tour.
Key facts
- Created especially for writer-performers with their own artist projects
- Study the art and craft of modern songwriting, with a focus on toplining, lyric & concept, chords and arrangement
- Discover your creative voice as an artist, with weekly individual and collaborative writing activities.
- Hone your performance skills in weekly playback sessions designed to build confidence and gain valuable feedback
- Write more than 100 unique songs across different genres and styles.
- Discover how the world of contemporary music operates, developing solid entrepreneurial business practices.
- Showcase your songwriting and performance skills at top London venues.
- Make connections with the wider creative industry and establish a supportive songwriter/artist network.
- Explore music marketing techniques and create a collection of engaging self-promotion content.
UCAS CODES
- Course Code: W3S1
- Institution Code: i25
- View course on UCAS