Skip to Main Content

Music Foundation Diploma

This qualification equips students with the professional skills needed to go to work or further study in music performance and the wider music industry. The course is 100% practical and all work is assessed internally by the course teachers.

The course aims to develop a well-rounded music professional.  You will improve your technical and performance expertise, develop production skills on a D.A.W. and build vital knowledge to take charge of your career. You will spend lessons engaged in rehearsal and performance work, supported by production lessons; exploring a wide range of repertoire from the 1950s to the present. You will develop composition skills and you will perform & produce original music as well as cover versions. There is a specific unit to help you plan your career in the music industry. You will stretch your imagination, and develop group skills, self-confidence, self-reliance and organisation skills. Studying Music performance will give you the ability to continue to improve as a performer and gain an understanding of this ever-growing industry.

Qualifications & Assessments

Exam Board Pearson
Level Level 3
Qualification BTEC National Foundation Diploma
Assessment Method 100% Internally Assessed Coursework
Entry Requirements Entry Requirements
Photograph of a student playing the drums

During the two years, you will study four different units designed to allow development in every area of modern music-making.

  • Performing as an ensemble
  • Creating musical material
  • Using musical Styles
  • Planning a career in the industry

The course is ideal for those who love to play their instrument or sing. A high proportion of our students go on to study music at University. Past students attend some of the most prestigious institutions in the UK, including: Royal Northern College of Music; Leeds College of Music; BIMM, Salford University. Students have also left us and forged successful professional performance careers without further study.

We regularly welcome professional music performers and practitioners to college to deliver workshops and masterclasses. Students will have the opportunity to observe open rehearsals by visiting professionals and become involved in college events and performances. The course culminates in a full-scale public gig in which every student performs.

Related Courses

Skip Courses

Creative Media Practice

The Creative Media Practice qualification equips students with professional skills to work in the media and creative industries. The course is 100% practical and all work is assessed internally by[...]

Photograph of students producing a mock live TV programme in the studio.

Drama and Theatre

Drama and Theatre is a practical, engaging and creative specification. It will provide opportunities to examine drama and the work of others, to explore a range of plays, and to[...]

Drama students a play in the theatre

Media Studies

Students who take A Level Media Studies find that they are challenged in different ways to other subjects. We study areas of representation including gender, sexuality, age and ethnicity in[...]

Photograph of a media student holding a handheld rig

Music

Music A Level supports students in forming personal and meaningful relationships with music through the development of musical knowledge, understanding and skills including performing, composing and appraising.

Photograph of a music student playing the piano

Music Technology

Music Technology A- Level supports and develops skills in Music Production and Recording. In addition, students are challenged to listen critically to music and analyse how the appropriate use of[...]

Photograph of a Music Technology student operating a mixer
News & Blog

Latest From Aquinas

Two representatives from Waterbear Music College visited Aquinas on 7th October 2026 to deliver a presentation on the Music Industry and related careers. Waterbear is a relatively new Popular Music based institution with campuses in Sheffield and Brighton, offering degrees up to Masters level accredited by Falmouth University, formerly Dartington Arts College. All Lower 6th […]

Photograph of a reprehensive from Waterbear giving a lecture

Hard work and original storytelling have paid off for college student Rebecca Smith, whose short film Death is a Teenage Girl won the Comedy Genre Prize at the STEEL-TO-REEL College Film Competition. Developed during last year’s Filmmaking Enrichment program, Rebecca spearheaded the project entirely from scratch- from initial screenwriting and storyboarding to managing her own […]

Photograph of a student receiving her award

A bumper crop of 30 Chemistry students took part in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge Lower 6th Competition in June this year. The Cambridge Challenge extends students beyond the A-level specification with problem-solving questions that, this year, featured a mix force constants (pushing physical chemistry calculations) and IR spectroscopy (analysing complex structures from wavenumbers). They also […]

Group photograph of Chemistry challenge students

Aquinas College and the University of Salford have formalised their long standing partnership, cementing a relationship which will provide Aquinas students even greater access to the university’s world class facilities, industry leading expertise and academic insights.

A photograph of a group of people who were involved in the Salford Memorandum of Understanding signing event