ICMP is a small specialist provider of higher education to around 1,000 students of contemporary music. Established over 30 years ago and located in north west London, ICMP students have access to industry-standard, state of the art facilities including recording and live performance studios, technology suites and teaching classrooms. Their teaching is supported by a wide range of careers advice and guidance; music industry engagement and connections; and wellbeing and personal support and guidance. ICMP is registered with the OfS and currently completing the scrutiny phase of application for its own degree awarding powers.

ICMP has long been a champion of lifelong learning and counts on a sizeable cohort of mature students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. We understand that developing a sustainable and rewarding career in the music industry (a key component of Britain’s economic and cultural economies) requires constant attention to both technical and commercial changes in the sector, and through our alumni engagement ICMP provides continuous support to graduates throughout their careers. We have long been champions of shorter, practical, skills-based education, with L4 courses forming a key part of our portfolio. We have been arguing for many years for a more flexible approach to student finance which will enable our students to build their credit portfolios over time, selecting relevant modules and courses with our guidance that will enable them to combine industry work with their learning pathway. Having engaged extensively for more than a decade with efforts to reform the sector, we were delighted with the Higher Education and Research Act of 2018 which established a level playing field for all providers. The pandemic has demonstrated that there are now many opportunities for more flexible and focused deliver of higher education, which has long been stuck in a traditional mode of delivery, and we are excited to now have the opportunity to be part of this next phase of change.