The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts – LIPA (UK)

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in Liverpool, England was co-founded in 1996 by Sir Paul McCartney.

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) is a haven for highly creative, passionate students looking for a non-formulaic program to further their careers in music.  We want to ensure you become who you want to be musically and make your living from music, whether performing, creating or producing or a combination of these.

We design our programs to meet the changing demands of the arts and entertainment industries. Focusing on popular, non-classical music, we offer the following music and music-related programs.

3 year undergraduate degrees (BA) and 1 year postgraduate degrees (MA) in:

• Music
BA (Hons) Music (Popular, Contemporary & Commercial)
BA (Hons) Music (Contemporary Pop Voice & Performance)
BA (Hons) Music (Production)
BA (Hons) Music (Session Musicianship)
BA (Hons) Music (Songwriting & Performance)
BA (Hons) Music (Songwriting & Production)

• Music for Acting
BA (Hons) Acting (Musicianship – instrumental skills for actors)

• Management
BA (Hons) Management for the Creative Industries and Performing Arts
MA Music Industry Professional Management

• Sound Technology
BA (Hons) Sound Technology

• Foundation Certificate (FC) in Popular Music & Music Technology

* Honours programs (Hons) offer a higher standard of study than the ordinary bachelor’s degrees.

LIPA is a more affordable option than many U.S colleges and universities. We are also able to authorise US Federal Loans and Sallie Mae loans.

Receiving over 3000 applications for 250 places each year, entrance is competitive, however, you’ll become part of a supportive community focused on collaboration and creativity.

Musicians (excluding Production programs) receive one to one instrumental/vocal training tailored to their specific interests.

There are no general education classes, instead you’ll focused on your chosen fields.

Our six recording studios are open 24/7.  We have 30 music practice and rehearsal rooms, many of which have been refurbished and upgraded over summer 2023.

You’ll benefit from our extensive links with the music industry. Tutors are active as producers, writers and performers; industry professionals are actively involved to help you prepare for working in the music industry and you’ll work on career planning, with strong mentoring to assist your development.  We’re visited regularly by record labels for A&R purposes. Numerous students secure management, publishing, production, touring and record deals whilst at LIPA.

Visiting professionals offer weekly master classes and these have included Paul McCartney, Mark Ronson, and Robert Plant.

Graduates include St. Lucia, The Wombats, Frances, Dan Croll, and Clean Cut Kid; others work extensively alongside artists including The 1975, Foals, Foo Fighters and Sam Smith as engineers, producers, session musicians, arrangers and composers.


I chose to study Songwriting and Performance at LIPA because the program was unlike anything I had seen in the U.S. and it seemed like a great place for someone to focus on and curate their art in a collaborative setting.– Haiven Sellers (BA Hons Music – Songwriting and Performance), USA


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