Discover what makes music popular
Learn about the audiences, scenes, subcultures and fans, as well as the new technologies and media, behind popular music.
Explore music genres from rock and pop to hip-hop, electronic dance music, and global music. Gain a critical understanding of popular music in local and international contexts, and compare its historical and contemporary significance.
The Popular Music Studies major in the Bachelor of Popular Music is an interdisciplinary subject—it is taught by both the New Zealand School of Music and the School of Arts and Media.
Why Wellington
Wellington is a thriving hub of musical creativity. Every day, local and international musicians perform in venues across the city, while artists work in the city’s many recording and production studios. Wellington is also home to major radio stations, media outlets, archives, and other bodies that shape and support popular music in the country.
Choose your study path
You can take Popular Music Studies as a major subject within the Bachelor of Popular Music (BPM) and as a minor within a Bachelor of Arts (BA).
Bachelor of Popular Music
The three-year BPM includes seven core courses that provide a solid foundation in audio production and analysis of popular music. Along with the core courses, you’ll choose a major subject from the following:
- Audio Production and Recording
- Electronic Music
- Popular Music Studies
- Songwriting.
Studying as a minor
You can also study Popular Music Studies as a minor at undergraduate level—for example, in the Bachelor of Arts. When you take a minor, you need to choose a complementary subject to focus on for your major.
Combine your BPM with another degree
You can combine your Bachelor of Popular Music (BPM) with another degree, which means you can complete two undergraduate degrees in a shorter time than if you did each degree in turn. This is called a conjoint degree—an example is Bachelor of Popular Music/Bachelor of Arts (BPM/BA).
You could also combine a BPM with a:
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Music.
A conjoint degree broadens your knowledge and connects you with a wider professional network. These can help you find specialised jobs and prepare for changes in your career.
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.
Study options
Find out how you can take Popular Music Studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Future careers
A BPM can lead to many careers, including working in the industry as a musical artist, producer, artist manager, publicist, talent scout, or event organiser.
You may 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 in music.
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 postgraduate and doctoral 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
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This Scholarship was established in 2025 to honour Professor Margaret Hyland who held the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research at Victoria University of Wellington from 2018 to 2025.
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Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who have applied for the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Practice (MFA(CP)) within NZSM, will reside in Wellington during their studies, and have either completed an undergraduate performance degree on an orchestral instrument with a GPA of at least 7.0 at a New Zealand university or demonstrated equivalent professional experience.
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This scholarship is open to female students of the New Zealand School of Music who are studying or who aspire to study sonic arts. The successful applicant will be chosen on the basis of prior attainment and identified potential, taking into account, where appropriate, financial need.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also have postgraduate and doctoral 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
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This scholarship is open to female students of the New Zealand School of Music who are studying or who aspire to study sonic arts. The successful applicant will be chosen on the basis of prior attainment and identified potential, taking into account, where appropriate, financial need.
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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 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.
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 get good results in your undergraduate study, you could go on to an Honours degree. You could continue on to study a Master’s or PhD if you want to do independent research.
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.
If you're facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
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.