About the course

Immerse yourself in a world of sound, expression, and innovation. Combine critical study and creative practice in New Zealand's most flexible music degree.

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 myriad forms, popular music is a dynamic force that shapes contemporary culture.

Through the Bachelor of Popular Music, you’ll develop the creative, technical, and critical skills you need to flourish in the wide open world of popular music—whether you want to make music, record and produce it, or communicate about it.

Discover new and exciting study areas including electronic music, audio production and recording, popular music studies, and songwriting. The majors in Electronic Music and Popular Music Studies are the first of their kind in New Zealand.

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.

Flexible study options

This exciting new degree is highly flexible. 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.

To enter the BPM programme, you don’t need to have any prior musical training—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, which 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, and an example is Bachelor of Popular Music/Bachelor of Arts (BPM/BA).

Popular pairings with a BPM include:

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Law
Bachelor of Music

Having a conjoint degree can help you find specialised jobs and prepare for changes in your career by giving you a broader range of knowledge and connecting you with a wider professional network.

Find out more

Fill in a form to register your interest and find out more about the Bachelor of Popular Music.

Degree structure

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 (from 2026).

The Electronic Music and Popular Music Studies majors are the first of their kind in New Zealand.

Whichever major you choose, you’ll have valuable opportunities for work-integrated learning in your third year.

Learn from experts

The courses that make up this degree are taught by staff in the New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Our staff are internationally recognised for their work as artists, music technologists, industry experts, and researchers.

Connect and explore

As a BPM student, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with peers, engage with musicians from across the NZSM, use our studios and recording facilities, and explore the latest approaches to making, understanding, and learning about popular music.

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.

Further afield, BPM graduates may find work in education, research, journalism, policy and government, or in museums and other cultural institutions.

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.

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Entry requirements

Domestic entry requirements

University Entrance or alternative admission type.

International entry requirements

Achieve the International Baccalaureate Diploma, or three GCE Advanced Level passes at C grade, or equivalent.

English language requirements

You may also be required to demonstrate your proficiency in English.

About the provider

Victoria University of Wellington, full name Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, was founded in 1897 and is one of New Zealand’s largest and most prestigious universities. The University is located in the heart of New Zealand’s vibrant capital city and its three city campuses are all within easy walking distance of one another, as well as local attractions, shopping districts, and cafés.

The University’s central location gives students access to a variety of national organisations in the areas of business, government, politics, culture and heritage, the arts and filmmaking industry, as well as the science and technology communities. Wellington is a compact city where students can easily explore nature trails, beaches, galleries, museums, and events. It is multicultural, safe, friendly, and has a reputation for great food and coffee—it regularly ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities.

Victoria University of Wellington at a glance

Top 1% of the world's universities for research quality and teaching
170+ subjects
20 undergraduate programmes and 180 postgraduate programmes
40+ research institutes and 4 libraries
3,000 of our 17,000 students are international students, from 120+ countries
130+ clubs and societies
5+ stars from the latest QS Stars Rating of Excellence
#1 in New Zealand for research intensity (in the latest assessment of the Performance-Based Research Fund)
Wellington School of Business and Government is one of an elite group of commerce faculties worldwide that hold the Triple Crown of international accreditations of EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA
Top 2% of the world’s universities (QS World University Rankings 2026)
Top 100 in the world in 7 subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)

Graduate outcomes*

Of the graduates who responded that they are currently working full time, 91% were employed prior to or within 6 months of degree completion.
67% were in full-time employment.

*Based on those who completed the 2023–2024 Graduate Destinations Survey.

Entry requirements

To study at Victoria University of Wellington, international students need:

a good command of the English language
a good record of academic achievement.

Entry requirements are provided under each programme. The University considers each student’s academic and English-language background when assessing applications. If a student doesn’t meet entry requirements, our team can help them meet their study goals.

If a student doesn’t meet the entry requirements for:

English language - Students can apply for our English for Academic Purposes programme
Undergraduate study - Students can apply for our Foundation Studies programme
Postgraduate study - Students can talk to us to help build a pathway to their degree

Student support

The University offers complete support for students through a range of wellbeing and learning services. These include a specialised international team that is dedicated to supporting students during their studies, which helps international students meet new friends and settle into university and Wellington life.

Some of the support services include:

dedicated international student orientation and events
a free arrival meeting service at the airport
the International Buddy Programme, where you get paired with a ‘buddy’ from the get-go

Students can make the most of the many opportunities to get involved in different communities, embrace new experiences, and develop skills for their future careers. The university encourages all students to develop strong global citizenship skills through their studies and extracurricular programmes such as the Kitea Impact Programme, which is also free to join.