Course Catalogue

We are committed to accepting students on to this course who have the potential to succeed as practitioners and who will gain sustained work in the performing arts and entertainment industries. With this in mind we wish to identify through applications and interview or audition key attributes and achievements. The key attributes that we seek to identify are: • Knowledge, ability and experience of music • Commitment to the performing arts • Ability to work effectively with others • Broad interest and engagement • Self-awareness • Spirit of enterprise.

The minimum educational standard that we are looking for is: GCSEs. We normally require a minimum of five GCSEs grade C. These should include Maths and English. UCAS TARIFF POINTS Plus a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points. Subjects studied at this level should include Music. We accept all types of equivalent qualifications, the following are the most common UK qualifications that people tend to apply to us with: A/AS Level. This should be from three A Levels (i.e. grades C, C, C), excluding General Studies. Points from AS and Key Skills are not counted.

Music theory candidates should be able to demonstrate a good working understanding of music theory. UK applicants should aim to attain Grade 5 London College of Music (LCM) Popular Music Theory or equivalent qualification such as a Distinction in Unit 27: Music Theory & Harmony BTEC National Diploma by the time they enrol with us. Candidates are tested on their music theory ability at auditions so if they achieve above a certain level at the audition the need to achieve a further grade 5 level qualification may be waived. Overseas students are considered on an individual basis and are also tested on their music theory ability at the audition stage. Audition or Interview Candidates are invited to audition/interview on the basis of completing the LIPA and/or UCAS application form. We look for evidence of the key attributes and an ability to achieve the qualifications standard. In exceptional cases people may be invited to audition/interview who have not met or are not on course to meet the qualifications standard. In these cases there must be substantial potential demonstrated against the other attributes. The audition or interview allows us to evaluate you as a practitioner in your area of interest. Offers of a place will follow where you demonstrate high ability and the potential to succeed. At the audition we provide an overview of LIPA and candidates are asked to present prepared pieces, to take part in a song writing workshop and to undertake a music theory test.

Equal Opportunity
LIPA is an equal opportunities organisation and aims to successfully recruit students from a wide range of different socio-economic and personal backgrounds. To ensure we provide effective equality of opportunity within the application process we carefully consider each application individually and acknowledge differences that can exist between applicants’ experiences from diverse backgrounds. We regularly update our approaches to take into account changing understanding of communities and cultures and we monitor applicant/student characteristics such as age, gender and ethnicity.

Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning [RP(E)L] and Credit Transfers
If applicants can demonstrate they have already achieved learning equivalent to a module or modules, or a level of study, in the programme they may be eligible to be awarded credit for this learning or to have credit transferred from another UK institution. They will be required to complete an application to have their qualifications or experience approved by the Head of Discipline and the university. This requires the presentation of appropriate evidence and we will map the evidence against the programme outcomes to be certain of equivalence. If approved credit will be awarded and they will proceed on to the appropriate level of the course to complete the remaining credit for the award.

Extended Diploma (i.e. Merit, Merit, Merit profile).

BTEC Diploma (i.e. Distinction, Distinction): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications such as an A Level, in which case total needs to be 72 (2017 UCAS tariff points) or 240 (2016 UCAS tariff points) across both qualifications.

90 Credit Diploma (Distinction, Distinction): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications such as an A Level, in which case total needs to be 72 (2017 UCAS tariff points) or 240 (2016 UCAS tariff points).

Acceptable on its own and with other qualifications. Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own, but is ideally combined with other qualifications as it is equivalent to one A Level.

We welcome applications from students with qualifications from outside of the UK. Each application is considered on an individual basis and mapped to the appropriate entry level. We value the diversity of experience that students from different backgrounds bring to the course. IELTS score of 6 is required.