Feel the pulse
Popular music spans the globe. It’s one of the most powerful ways we express ourselves and connect with other people. In all its forms, popular music is a dynamic force that shapes contemporary culture.
Study for the Bachelor of Popular Music (BPM) to develop the creative, technical, and critical skills you need to flourish in the open world of popular music—whether you want to make music, record and produce it, or communicate about it.
Explore exciting subjects like songwriting, audio production, and recording. You could also study Electronic Music or Popular Music Studies, two subjects that are unique to Te Kōki—New Zealand School of Music (NZSM).
Explore the Bachelor of Popular Music
Why Wellington
Make the most of our decades of scholarship and study. Our Department of Music was established in 1946 and became Te Kōkī—New Zealand School of Music in 2006. Our academic staff include top professional musicians and singers, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise.
As the cultural capital, Wellington is home to many of Aotearoa New Zealand's most acclaimed performers, composers, teachers, scholars, and arts organisations.
National Music Centre
Opening in 2027, the National Music Centre will be a vibrant and innovative hub celebrating music, creativity, and connection in the heart of our city.
Bringing together Te Kōkī students, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra musicians, and industry leaders, the Centre will enable some of the best music education and performance experiences in the world.
What you’ll learn
You'll learn about aspects of popular music like:
- music production, sound engineering, recording, and synthesis
- sound design and editing for film and other audiovisual media
- what drives artistic identity in popular music
- post-1950s rock and pop music, and related genres.
Learn from experts
The courses that make up this degree are taught by staff in the New Zealand School of Music and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Our staff are internationally recognised for their work as artists, music technologists, industry experts, and researchers.
Year breakdown
First year
In your first year, you’re likely to take at least six courses. Most or all of these will be core courses you'll need for your major. If you're majoring in Classical Performance, Digital Music and Audio Production, or Music Studies, you'll also be able to choose one or two electives.
You might study the development of popular music, Western art music, jazz history, or music in a global context. You could receive basic training in harmony and counterpoint, aural perception, and keyboard skills. You could also play in the big band or orchestra as part of a large ensemble course. Performance students will give a 15- to 20-minute recital at the end of the year.
By the end of your first year, you’ll have a solid foundation in your major subject.
Second year
In the middle year of your degree, you’re likely to take a minimum of six courses. In this year there are fewer core courses and you’ll have more choice to follow your particular interests or career aspirations.
You might take a gamelan performance course, learn about recording, mixing, and audio production, be part of a jazz fusion ensemble, study 19th century European music, and more.
Performance students will give a recital of around 30 minutes at the end of the year.
At the end of your second year, you’ll be developing your creative and academic skills and be ready for more advanced music study in your final year.
Third year
In the third year, you’ll study mainly 300-level courses. You’ll take two or three electives from courses at 200 or 300 level.
Depending on your major, you might study film music, orchestrate music for large ensembles, or do an in-depth study of the social and historical context of an aspect of jazz.
Performance students will give a recital of around 50 minutes at the end of the year.
By this stage you’ll have developed an intimate understanding of your major. You’ll be confident in your music skills as a creator, critical thinker, writer, and performer.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
How our degrees work
Flexible, or structured? Learn more about the different types of undergraduate degrees at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed secondary school in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
A New Zealand university entrance qualification or equivalent.
Degree requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the BPM
For this degree, you'll need to complete at least 360 points, including:
- at least 230 points from courses in the BPM schedule
- at least 75 points from 300-level courses.
You need to complete the following core courses:
- At 100 level:
- At 200 level:
- At 300 level:
And meet the requirements for at least one major subject.
Major requirements
Majors are the subjects you focus your degree on.
Major subjects and requirements
Explore your major options below.
BPM subjects
Audio Production and Recording
Electronic Music
Popular Music Studies
No matching majors found.
Second major subjects
You can choose to add an optional second major from within the BPM or from another degree. Explore your options for a second major below.
Accounting
Actuarial Science
Animation and Visual Effects
Architecture History and Theory
Art History
Artificial Intelligence
Asian Studies
Audio Production and Recording
Biology
Biotechnology
Brain Sciences & Mental Health
Cell and Molecular Bioscience
Chemistry
Chinese
Classical Performance
Classical Studies
Climate Science
Cognitive Science
Commercial Law
Communication Design
Computer Science
Criminal Justice & Psychology
Criminology
Cultural Anthropology
Data Science
Design for Social Innovation
Development Studies
Digital Health
Digital Intelligence
Earth Science
Ecology and Biodiversity
Economics
Education
Education for the Environment
Educational Psychology
Electronic / Computer Systems
Electronic Music
English Literature
Environmental Humanities
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Fashion Design Technology
Film
Finance
French
Game Design
Geography
German
Greek
Health Informatics
Health Policy and Innovation
Health Promotion
Health Psychology
History
Human Genetics
Human Resource Management and Employment Relations
Industrial Design
Information Systems
Instrumental/Vocal Composition
Interaction Design
Intercultural Communication
International Business
International Relations
Japanese
Jazz Performance
Kaitiakitanga
Language Sciences
Latin
Literary and Creative Communication
Management
Māori Psychology
Māori Studies
Marine Biology
Marketing
Marketing Communication
Mathematics
Media Design
Media Studies
Mental Health Principles and Applications
Modern Language Studies
Molecular Pathology
Molecular Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry
Music
Music Studies
Pacific Studies
Philosophy
Physical Activity & Hauora
Physics
Political Communication
Political Science
Popular Music Studies
Psychological Science
Public Policy
Samoan Studies / Matā‘upu tau Sāmoa
Science Communication
Sociology
Space Science
Spanish
Statistics
Study of Religion
Sustainability and Ethics in Business
Taxation
Te Reo Māori
Theatre
Tourism Management
Work and Organisational Psychology
21 of 107 major subjects shown
Change filtersNo matching majors found.
Minor requirements
Add another dimension to your degree by choosing an optional minor. Most major BSc subjects are available as minors.
Some subjects are only available as minors. While most minors require 60 points at 200- and 300-level, there are a few minors with specific requirements.
Minor subjects and requirements
Start planning your study BPM
Use the tiles to find out how you could include the selected minor in your degree. Not all major and minor combinations are available, so talk to us before you lock down your plan of study.
BPM minor subjects
Audio Production and Recording
Creative Writing
Digital Health
Electronic Music
Geographic Information Science
Health Policy and Innovation
Language Sciences
Management
New Zealand Sign Language
Popular Music Studies
Samoan Studies / Matā‘upu tau Sāmoa
Songwriting
No matching minors found.
Build your degree
The three-year BPM includes six core courses that provide a solid foundation in audio production and the analysis of the social and cultural dimensions of popular music. You’ll also choose a major subject from the following:
- Audio Production and Recording
- Electronic Music
- Popular Music Studies
- Songwriting.
The Electronic Music and Popular Music Studies majors are unique to this university.
Flexible study options
You can combine creative practice and critical study, while also exploring other subjects you’re passionate about.
You can take a double major within the BPM or add an outside major from one of our other Bachelor’s degrees.
You don’t need to have any prior musical training to enter the BPM programme—it’s open to students from a wide range of study backgrounds.
Combine your BPM with another degree
You can combine your Bachelor of Popular Music (BPM) with another degree. This means you can complete two undergraduate degrees in a shorter time than if you’d do one degree and then another. This is called a conjoint degree—an example is Bachelor of Popular Music/Bachelor of Arts (BPM/BA).
Other popular pairings with a BPM are:
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Law
- Bachelor of Music.
A conjoint degree can help you find specialised jobs and help you adapt to a changing job market by giving you a broader range of knowledge and connecting you with a wider professional network.
Future careers
A BPM can lead to many careers, including working in the industry as a:
You could also find work in education, research, journalism, policy and government, or in museums and other cultural institutions.
More career information
Find out more about careers.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for music and humanities
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The Scholarship exists to attract and support cellists of outstanding ability and potential to study cello performance at NZSM, and to engage each recipient with the life, artistry, and legacy of Greta Ostova.
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Applicants will be current violin, viola or violoncello students, enrolled in the NZSM. A particular of the scholarship is to fund postgraduate study, travel, accommodation and other expenses incurred in the pursuit of such study, both within and outside New Zealand. The scholarship is available to both domestic and international students.
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The Clare Galambos-Winter Scholarships were established to support students in the New Zealand School of Music who demonstrate exceptional talent in violin performance.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
We also have specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
Scholarships for music and humanities
-
The Scholarship exists to attract and support cellists of outstanding ability and potential to study cello performance at NZSM, and to engage each recipient with the life, artistry, and legacy of Greta Ostova.
-
Applicants will be current violin, viola or violoncello students, enrolled in the NZSM. A particular of the scholarship is to fund postgraduate study, travel, accommodation and other expenses incurred in the pursuit of such study, both within and outside New Zealand. The scholarship is available to both domestic and international students.
Postgraduate study
If you choose to continue to postgraduate study with us after finishing your degree, you’ll join a talented team of internationally recognised researchers doing innovative work.
If you want to do independent research, you could apply to be a candidate for a PhD.
Accommodation
Live in accommodation close to campus at one of our:
- catered halls of residence
- self-catered apartments or flats
- self-catered studios.
We provide care and support across our halls and flatting communities.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
And if you're ever having trouble with money, talk with us. You could be eligible for government or community support, and we have a hardship fund for financial emergencies.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.