- Location
- Langside Campus
- SCQF Level
- 8
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- HND
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 2 Years (August to June)
Applications open 15th January 2025
This two-year live performance-based HND Music course is an effective stepping stone to advanced entry to music degree programmes and provides a broad range of vocational training if you are looking to pursue a career in the music industry. Students on HND Music benefit from exceptional teaching from music industry professionals which helps our students develop a wide range of skills that enhance their confidence and employability.
Many former students have been offered advanced entry for university music courses in Scotland after completing the course. Others have continued their training in London. Several former students are now music teachers, session musicians, media composers and community artists.
What will I learn?
Within the course students give regular themed public performances in a variety of local venues. Recent examples include a 1969 revue at the Classic Grand, a selection of European music at Stereo and vintage reworkings of songs of the noughties at the Glad Café.
Subjects including in the HND Music course include:
- Live performance skills
- Instrument study
- Songwriting and composition
- Music business for musicians
- Music theory
- Stagecraft for musicians
- Keyboard and vocal skills
- Introduction to instrumental instruction
- Recording techniques.
Assessment is continuous, with a mix of practical and theoretical assessments and includes Graded Units.
We welcome students from diverse musical backgrounds from classical to heavy rock. This blend of student specialisms creates vibrant opportunities for creative collaborative learning.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- No formal qualifications are required but NC Music and Higher English are considered highly desirable
- Applications are welcomed from brass, strings, woodwind and percussion players as well as singers, pianists and guitarists
- Entry is by audition. Auditions will take place until the course is full.
- You are also invited to apply if you have relevant life and/or work experience.
Entry requirement equivalency table
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
The music department frequently uses a variety of Glasgow venues for external student performances. It also has links with Glasgow music studios (e.g. The Audio Lounge, Carlton and Maybank), the Voice UK, the Southside Fringe and a number of performing bodies (e.g. The Springfield Cambridge Festival Chorus and Fizzgig Theatre Company). We have also welcomed a variety of music professionals as guest speakers.
Jobs and further study
If successful you may progress to music degree courses at
- University of Glasgow
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Aberdeen
- Edinburgh Napier University
- University of the Highlands and Islands
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS).
Take a look at the course progression map for music courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Invited to an audition – This will be a ten minute audition where you will be asked to perform a single piece of music of minimum Grade 5 standard on your principal instrument or voice. This should demonstrate as much of your musicianship and technique as possible. You must bring your own instrument. Drum kit (not drumsticks), pianos, glockenspiel, xylophone and amplifiers are available for your use. This will be followed by a brief informal interview. You will also be given a half hour written test, assessing music theory and knowledge
- Auditions will begin in February and continue until the course is full
- If your application is unsuccessful and you have not met the entry requirements for this course you are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to audition, you will be informed of the outcome of your audition by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in June/July.
