University offers Beatles Masters

The course will look at the studio sound of the Liverpool group

A Liverpool university has launched a Masters degree on The Beatles, popular music and society.

Liverpool Hope University claims the course is the first of its kind in the UK and "probably the world".

The course looks at the studio sound and compositions of The Beatles and how Liverpool helped shape their music.

Mike Brocken, course leader, said: "There have been over 8,000 books about The Beatles but there has never been serious academic study."

He added: "The Beatles influenced so much of society, not just with their music, but also with fashion from their collar-less jackets to their psychedelic clothes.

'Right time'

"Their output covered a huge range from the black and white film A Hard Day's Night to Strawberry Fields Forever which was accompanied by arguably the first pop video.

"Forty years on, now is the right time and Liverpool is the right place to study The Beatles.

FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service

"It is definitely the first Beatles related MA in this country and I would say probably the first in the world," he added.

The new course, which can be studied full and part-time, has four 12-week modules and a dissertation.

Mr Brocken said he had received inquiries from people in the United States about the course, which starts in September, as well as people in the UK.

He said he would consider applications from anyone with a good first degree, and in certain circumstances music industry experience may also be taken into account.