/
/
ACM (The Academy of Contemporary Music)

117 ACM (The Academy of Contemporary Music) reviews

Our collection of real, honest student reviews of unis and courses is the largest in the UK, and help you make well-informed decisions about your future. Student reviews also form the basis of our annual Whatuni Student Choice Awards(WUSCAs), which highlight great work carried out by institutions for their students.
2023 WUSCA winners

Student rating
This is the overall rating calculated by averaging all live reviews for this uni on Whatuni.
(4.3)
  • ACM (The Academy of Contemporary Music)
CJ
Chloe Jeens
1 review
SECOND YEAR

Music Performance - Vocals BA (Hons)

University rating (5)

It has amazing facilities for recording and rehearsing and is open all year round through summer and holidays if you want to work on anything for yourself or for the courses. It has two studios, lots of mac suites with access to logic pro and production software. It has an amazing community of people and everyone gets along with everyone including the staff who are great to talk to. Staff all have a wide range of experience in the music industry and can give valuable advice and support with your studies and futures outside of ACM. They help with opportunities and live performances and are always happy to help with mental health and well being if you are struggling with their wellbeing team!

Reviewed: 10 August 2023
J
Jadesola
1 review
FOURTH YEAR+

Music Business (Management & Entrepreneurship) BA (Hons)

University rating (5)

I have spent the past 4 years of my life at ACM and I am so grateful for all the skills gained and experiences I have had while here. I did my undergraduate degree and Masters's at ACM. For my undergraduate degree, I achieved a 1st class and for my Masters, I received a distinction. ACM have helped support me throughout my time at university and I am very happy with the overall experience I had there. I would recommend this awesome institution to anyone looking to get into the creative arts. ACM is a real game-changer!

Reviewed: 10 August 2023
SR
Student Reviewer
1 review
FIRST YEAR

Music Performance - Drums BA (Hons)

University rating (1)

The school is rooted in money making, lies and sexism. Avoid this school if you want a proper education or/are a women. Course Leaders speak to students (and female team members), particularly women disgustingly. Huge waste of time and money.

Reviewed: 23 January 2023
O
oreenL
1 review
THIRD YEAR

Music Production BA (Hons)

University rating (2)

No administration, highly unorganised in their manner of working. When asking about next term schedule/societies/graduation/exams no one ever knows anything. Lecturers are great, but university seems to have no admin working there. My dissertation supervisor quit due to serious personal reasons in the middle of the term, university did nothing to replace him. I had one proof read of my dissertation before submission. Most of my classes were hardware based and throughout covid had no experience with hardware. 2022 spring term was moved fully online as well. What was scheduled as 3h lecture turned into "everyone gets 20 minutes 1:1 time". University doesn't provide necessary software to your personal laptop, so it's only going to university to use software or buying it yourself. There is no proper library or study area, everywhere is really noisy and if you need to go to uni to study/have one to ones outside of your lecture time, it is nearly impossible to find a quiet space. There's definitely better things to do with that £9000 a year, BIMM has a similar pathway, with a lot more included. ACM does not introduce you to live sound at all, BIMM has separate course for that. YouTube is free, network on Facebook and at music events, get a degree in something else, that helps your career.

Reviewed: 17 November 2022
KM
Kira Margenout
1 review
SECOND YEAR

Commercial Songwriting BA (Hons)

University rating (2)

One of the worst “learning” experiences I’ve ever had. Most of the facilities are broken or In disrepair, the learning syllabus is outdated and not taught well. The faculty show little interest in their fields and never go out of their way to help and student to to offer support. Reconsider going to ACM. A broken learning institution that will most likely be gone in a few years from how many students drop out.

Reviewed: 14 September 2022
T
Thou
1 review
University rating (4)

Firstly I’d like to say the tutors are amazing and you can learn a lot by asking the right questions, but it’s a shame how the place is setup by overlord excecs at the top that control everything, I’ve spoke to countless tutors and employees from a multitude of specialisms and they all confirm my suspicions that the acm bosses do not know what is in the best interest for the students (or do not care). Acm has a fantastic foundation having lots of recording spaces, over qualified tutors, student support hub etc and I can not forget sue. Unfortunately the execution is poor, students and tutors all agree on the same things that need to be put in place to improve acm not just for the students but also for the longevity of the place, if acm genuinely want to produce the best in the business and actually live up to the motto (I’ll let you look that up) then the execs need to get their heads out of their temporary money printers and look to the future. I have so many examples of area of improvement that it will take me too long to write here. I’m told there are some significant changes coming but I’m afraid they will be implemented to late. If you are a person who is not afraid to ask questions 1 to 1 then this place will get you a long way but with all lectures being power points on zoom, assignment briefs loosely related to the modules, half of classes being online and no clear reinvestment into the gaff 11ish bags A YEAR and no real specialised modules for the different pathways being afraid to ask questions will definitely hold you back. Time will tell

Reviewed: 01 May 2022
J
Julia
Aged 18-24 years
First gen student
1 review
SECOND YEAR
University rating (2)

I was dreaming about becoming the uni student, the life, the friends, the vibes, the knowledge! It al seemed like a dream come true, unfortunately all I got is lecturers who possess incredible knowledge and experience but don’t really know how to pass it to students so students are ending up learning from YouTube videos and paying crazy money for tuition.

Reviewed: 27 March 2022
AD
Anthony Dimambro
Aged 35-44 years
1 review
FIRST YEAR
University rating (3)

Small campus and no fresh food or eating area.

Reviewed: 21 February 2022
L
Lauren
1 review
SECOND YEAR
University rating (4)
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.

The pandemic has definitely hindered the experience, and having online classes for such a physical subject has been a disappointment. However; the uni are still providing access to their facilities. I still think it is over priced to pay £9,000+ a year, like it is for all unis.

Reviewed: 02 April 2021
SR
Student Reviewer
1 review
University rating (5)
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.

As someone who is serious about a career in music as a singer I have found ACM to be supportive in every area I need them to be. Inside and outside of the classroom they give us plenty to be getting on with. I have been here for just over four years and have felt positive change in the time I have been here. It keeps getting better and better.

Reviewed: 28 February 2019
wusca logo

Whatuni Student Choice awards