- Level
- 3-Year Bachelor Degree
- Duration
- 1 year bachelor’s degree completion
- Open intake
-
Off-shoreSep 2027
- Field
- Fine and Performing Arts
- Institution
- Public University
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
- Next deadline
- 2026-09-01
Program overview
A one year completion route converting a recognised music diploma into a full honours degree, covering advanced performance or production practice, professional context and a final year project.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up assumes an existing music diploma with practical grounding, so it is a progression route for people already playing, producing or teaching rather than a beginner course.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up is delivered on the Sunderland campus and awarded by the University of Sunderland, and completing Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up supports an application under the UK Graduate Route, which gives 18 months of post study work permission for applications made from January 2027. The university is a licensed student sponsor with a track record of compliance, so the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up is issued directly. Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up is a taught programme, and UK rules in force since January 2024 do not allow students on taught programmes to bring a spouse or children as dependants. Apply Study Visa confirms the visa position for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up in writing before you pay a deposit.
Admission to Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up requires a recognised diploma or equivalent qualification in a related subject at 50 percent or above. The English requirement is IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, and tuition for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up is recorded at GBP 16,000 a year with no application fee. The Global Leaders Scholarship cuts Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up tuition by an automatic GBP 5,000 for eligible applicants, shown on the conditional offer letter. September entry only, across the three listed years. Apply Study Visa manages the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up application, deposit and UK student visa as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: A completed diploma, HND or equivalent qualification carrying the credits required for direct entry to the final year, in a related subject.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, or PTE Academic 59 overall with no component below 59. TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test are not accepted.
- Application and deposit: No application fee. A non refundable tuition deposit of GBP 3,500 is required before the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies can be issued.
- Scholarship: An automatic GBP 5,000 Global Leaders Scholarship tuition reduction applies to eligible undergraduate applicants, and is shown on the conditional offer letter.
- Work permit: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Top-Up leads to a University of Sunderland degree at a licensed student sponsor, so it supports a Graduate Route application, granted at 18 months for applications made from January 2027. Dependants cannot accompany students on taught programmes under UK rules in force since January 2024.
- Student visa: Apply Study Visa completes the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies stage and the UK student visa submission with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Performer: live and session work
- Music Producer: studio and freelance production
- Sound Engineer: live and recorded settings
- Music Teacher: private and community teaching
- Content Composer: media and games audio
- Postgraduate Study: music and audio master degrees
Reality check: music income is overwhelmingly freelance and portfolio based, and most graduates combine performance or production with teaching to make a living.
About University of Sunderland
- Type
- University
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.5
- World rank
- #17803
- Established
- 1901
- Reference No.
- 10007159
