BA (Hons) with Foundation Year
Not sure if you are ready for conservatoire level training? Want an extra year to develop your performance, production skills or music theory? Did you miss the grades you need for a three-year music degree?
Our BA (Hons) with Foundation Year courses are designed to give students an extra year of conservatoire study including specialist teaching and access to our incredible facilities.
With courses in Popular Music, Songwriting, Classical Music, Jazz, Film, TV & Games Music, Music Production and Electronic Music Production, the Foundation Year route qualifies you to continue straight onto our BA (Hons) degrees.
Our courses with Foundation Year are 4-year integrated degree courses. We do not offer the Foundation Year as a standalone year-long programme. On successful completion of the Foundation Year, students will automatically progress to Year 1 of their chosen course, with no need to apply.
How to ApplyCourses Available with Foundation Year
The following are 4 year courses that include an integrated Foundation Year:
- BA (Hons) Classical Music with Foundation Year
- BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production with Foundation Year
- BA (Hons) Film, TV & Games Music with Foundation Year
- BA (Hons) Jazz with Foundation Year
- BA (Hons) Music Production with Foundation Year
- BA (Hons) Popular Music with Foundation Year
- BA (Hons) Songwriting with Foundation Year
"The Foundation Year has really helped me develop as a musician.
The 1:1 and ensemble classes are tailored to you and your group, so this meant I was learning music at my level and not below.
It gave me an extra year to solidify my skills as a performer before entering into the degree course itself."
-- India Ashberry (Classical)
Apply nowWhat Will You Study during your Foundation Year?
The Foundation Year of a BA (Hons) with Foundation Year (4-year course) is tailored to each course to provide the foundation you need to excel in your chosen specialism.
Across our range of foundation year courses you'll find courses featuring different things, which may include personal instrumental and/or vocal tuition, ensembles, technical workshops, contextual studies and theory, for example.
Content is different for each course - full module details can be found on the course page on our website for each course.
There are also numerous workshops and masterclasses from guest musicians and music industry professionals throughout the year which students may attend.
On successful completion of the Foundation Year you will be well prepared to continue onto the first year of your chosen BA (Hons) course with no need to apply to join the first year.
"It helped me to get familiar with the conservatoire, meet more people and find my feet as a musician before beginning first year.
It's such a valuable year and it means you get more time taking advantage of the conservatoire's facilities."
-- Lauren Gray (Songwriting)
Apply nowLeeds Conservatoire & Simone Hooymans - Foundation Year Video Installation Project
Tasked with bringing life to the vibrant visual art of Dutch artist Simone Hooymans, our 2022 Foundation Year students stepped into the studio to make an array of sounds and textures. Edited and produced by Simone, the finished art installation has featured in exhibitions all the way from Norway to South Korea.
Foundation Year FAQs
Throughout the year, you can apply for a BA (Hons) with Foundation Year (4-year course) as standard through UCAS / UCAS Conservatoires, dependent on your course.
If you are unsure whether you should apply for a standard three-year BA (Hons) or four-year BA (Hons) with Foundation Year, we recommend that you apply for the standard three-year BA (Hons) course.
If at your audition our tutors think you would be better suited to the four-year BA (Hons) with Foundation Year option, our Admissions team will then help you alter your application and you would not need to formally apply or audition again.
Yes, if you apply to study a BA (Hons) with Foundation Year (4-year course), you are able to apply for a loan from the Student Loans Company to cover both the tuition fees and maintenance costs for your four years of study.
This is subject to the normal eligibility requirements, and previous study rules.
For further information about Tuition Fees, visit our dedicated Fees & Funding page.
Tuition fees for the Foundation Year for those eligible to pay Home fees are the same tuition fee as Years One to Three of a three-year BA (Hons) degree.
These fees may be subject to government-approved increases in future years.
Tuition fees for International students are listed on our International pages.
Academic Entry Requirements:
64 UCAS tariff points from Level 3 studies, or equivalent, which normally include A Level Music or a BTEC Extended Diploma in a Music-related subject, and can include music grade exams.
GCSE English Language grade C or above and two additional GCSE subjects grade C or above.
The English language requirement for international applicants depends upon whether or not you will need a Tier 4 visa to study with us. You can see comprehensive information on our international applicants’ entry requirements page.
Musical Entry Requirements:
The Musical Entry Requirements for our pathways with Foundation Year vary from subject-to-subject.
You can see a full breakdown of what we require for each subject in the dedicated Entry Requirements page.
No, on successful completion of the Foundation Year you will automatically continue onto Year One of your BA (Hons) with Foundation Year course and will not need to re-apply.
We hope this guide has helped you further understand our four-year courses, but if you have any questions at any information on this page or our degree courses in general, then please don't hesitate to get in touch with our Course Enquiries team by using our contact form or via email: hello@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk.
