BA (Hons) Music & Sound Production

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UCAS Code:
W391
Institution:
B50
Delivery:
Sandwich (Thick) out of college.

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Our captivating Music & Sound Production degree will help you to develop your audio creation skills and push the boundaries of the field, by utilising cutting-edge technology and various sound production techniques to create music and sound in a range of contexts.

Ultimately, our expert lecturers will teach you how to compose, arrange, record, edit, manipulate and produce music and sound to a professional standard, while also helping you to hone your creativity.

These pieces formed part of a final-year project from one of our students, exploring different approaches to creating live music performance set-ups

According to Unistats, 88% of final year students from similar courses think our staff are good at explaining things. Join us on live chat now to find out more, or register to meet us at an Open Day.

If you’re passionate about music and want to continue to develop your talents while you’re studying for your degree, our BU Music scholarships are available to support you.

All statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO 2017), Unistats, Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE), BU institutional data and Ipsos MORI (National Student Survey) unless otherwise stated.

Accredited by:

Key information

Next start date:

September 2019, September 2020

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus

Duration:

3 years, or 4 years with a minimum 30-week work placement

Accreditations:

Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES)

Required subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

For September 2019 and September 2020 entry: 104-120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent. For more information check out our international entry requirements.

Course details

On this course you will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators, technicians and research students. You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from industry.

Contact hours and assessment

Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.

Download the programme specification (418kb)

Year 1

Core units

Composition 1: Focus on the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic elements within your track. Learn how tracks are structured in order to elevate your music above that of the competition.
Digital Media Tools: Develop the fundamental technical knowledge and skills to support your creative work and generate content for an online creative portfolio.
Music, Sound & Culture: Develop an understanding of the political, sociological and technological factors that impact upon music by studying contemporary musical genres, histories and associated music subcultures.
Production & Mixing 1: Develop essential music production skills to become a professional producer. This is the first of three units that will enable you to learn how to mix audio from start to finish.
Sound Design: Synthesis: Create your own signature sound to a professional level by learning how to use cutting-edge music software. You will begin building a portfolio of work that you will develop throughout your degree
Studio Techniques: Working in our state-of-the-art studios you will develop the fundamental skills of audio capture, and hardware and software recording.

Year 2

Core units

Composition 2: Develop your capacity to experiment and create through a number of compositional tasks. You will gain skills that can be applied in a range of areas enabling you to produce and compose music for a variety of stylistic briefs.
Creative Studio Production: Working professionally and creatively on a large scale recording you will explore how to get the fullest creative potential from the studio whilst learning how to manage a production project.
Music Industry Awareness: Learn how to navigate through the music industry by developing an awareness of copyright, royalties and intellectual property. Develop an ability to identify and analyse new business models, technological developments and new revenue streams.
Production & Mixing 2: Developing an understanding of the historical, cultural and technical influences on music production, you will work in our studios to explore the creative potential of hardware and software based production practices.
Production Portfolio: Responding to a creative brief, you will collaborate within a team to propose, plan and manage a project, developing skills to reflect on your own creative practice.
Sound Design: Audio: Design and create dynamic, complex and unique sounds. Learn to capture and transform sound and implement sound design strategies for music and visual media.

Optional placement year

Final year

Core units

Interactive Music: Create your own interactive software/hardware system for making music whilst developing an awareness of the historical and technological impacts of creating music live with technology.
Production & Mixing 3: MIx and produce music to a professional standard with a critical understanding of current industry practices. Finish your work for a variety of formats and distribution methods.
Music, Sound & the Moving Image: Learn how to create music and sound for visual media in a surround-sound format. You will develop a range of practical skills in music, sound design and audio post-production.
Individual Project: Create a substantial portfolio of work based on a personal area of interest. Develop and demonstrate your professional skills and understanding related to research in your chosen area of the music industry.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Example final-year projects

We’re proud of the work produced by our students. This includes that of Jake Blenkinship, who went on the BU field trip to BBC Introducing Live 2018, and bravely played his music to the demo panel, to a brilliant reception. Presented under his own project name, JakeTheOne, you can hear it on iPlayer (forward around 40 minutes in).

In another example, for his final-year project, Gareth Cload created a whole collection of ambient electronica tracks inspired by the techniques of surrealist painters and paintings; this one was inspired by Magritte’s The Signs of Evening:

In another example, Harlie West created music inspired by the concept art for video games; this music was inspired concept art for Resident Evil 4, and the village scenes specifically:

Placements

At BU, we recognise that placements are extremely valuable and can give you a head start when it comes to your future career. That’s why we offer every new student the opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of their course.

We will provide a great deal of support to help you find the most appropriate work placement for the subject you’re studying and the career you’re interested in, which means you could be based anywhere in the UK, or even overseas.

In 2018, students from the Department of Creative Technology are on placement in Luxembourg, Holland, Denmark, Bulgaria and Italy.

Find out about BU students’ experiences on placements All you need to know about placements

How placements benefit you

A placement should be a highly rewarding experience for you and the employing company and we do our best to ensure that everyone involved feels that they have got the most that they can from the experience.

Placements provide a great opportunity to make your first career steps and enhance your employability while you’re completing your studies. You’ll get the opportunity to:

Put the theory learnt throughout the course into professional practice
Enhance your study and help you decide on subject options (where appropriate)
Learn a wide range of skills such as time management, problem-solving and teamwork (all of these are important to succeed in any career)
Make contacts, as it is not uncommon for our students to be offered permanent positions to return to after graduating
Gain a real insight into how the industry operates in roles that would be almost impossible to achieve for an outsider.

Many of our students, during their placement, are given responsibilities normally associated with graduate trainees.

How long will your placement be?

What support will be available?

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Co-ordinator.

They’ll help you plan your placement so make sure you get the right experience for you. That includes offering help and support if you need to move to another part of the UK – and even another country – to get the most out of your time.

We’ve also built close industry links over the years – so our network of employers that are keen to work with placement students is always growing. Or if you’d prefer to arrange your placement independently, we can offer advice on how to do that too.

Your application

For this course we are looking for applicants who:

Have a strong interest in producing music and sound
Are looking to develop a career in music and sound production
Looking to use sound more creatively.

How to apply

Selection methods

How we assess your application

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review.

Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range. If you meet one or more of our contextual data indicators for educational disadvantage (such as being in care, having a disability, being a refugee, living in a low participation neighbourhood or in an area with less advantaged socio-economic characteristics), your offer could be between 8-16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Our offer-making process

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

Our Unconditional Offer Scheme (2019 entry)

Applicants who are predicted to achieve strong academic results will be eligible for BU’s Unconditional Offer Scheme in recognition of their academic performance and potential to succeed at university. If you are selected for the scheme and commit to us as your firm choice of university, then we will match this commitment by making your offer unconditional, which will guarantee your place at BU.

You will receive a standard conditional offer based on the entry requirements for your course via UCAS Track and your offer letter – it will advise that you are eligible for the Unconditional Offer Scheme. We will then update your offer to unconditional should you choose BU as your firm choice on UCAS Track. We believe that unconditional offers reduce pressure on applicants who will continue to strive to achieve the best grades possible. If you achieve ABB or above at A-level or equivalent, you’ll also be eligible for our Academic Excellence Scholarship.

Visit our Unconditional Offer Scheme FAQ page

Entry requirements

We use the UCAS Tariff in our entry requirements and will accept a combination of grades and qualifications to meet the overall tariff requirement. You can use the UCAS calculator to see how your qualifications equate to UCAS tariff points.

We have outlined our entry requirements below using the most common qualifications that we consider for this course. If your qualification is not listed, please contact our Future Students Enquiry Team who can advise accordingly. You can also find out more about how we consider your application in our offer-making process section.

For September 2019 and September 2020 entry: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.

Numeracy and Literacy requirement: GCSE English and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework.

A-level and AS levels: 104 – 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two A-levels.

Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate – Skills Challenge Certificate: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Access to HE Diploma: 102 – 118 UCAS tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit, Pass grades.

BTEC National:

Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points)
Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points)
Foundation Diploma/ 90-credit Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff
Extended Certificate/ Subsidiary Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Cambridge International Pre-U Diploma: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two principal subjects.

Cambridge Technical:

Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points)
Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points)
Subsidiary Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff
Introductory Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

Extended Project Qualification: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by two A-level sized qualifications to meet the overall UCAS tariff.

International Baccalaureate Certificates: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Higher Level certificates.

International Baccalaureate (Diploma): An overall score of 28 - 31 points.

Scottish Highers: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of four Scottish Highers.

Scottish Advanced Highers: 104 - 120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Scottish Advanced Highers.

Other useful information

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry.

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry onto Year 1 for September 2019 and September 2020 entry:

Диплома за средно образование (Bulgarian Diploma of Completed Secondary Education) or Диплома за средно специално образование (Bulgarian Diploma of Completed Secondary Specialised Education). Minimum score of 4.5
Hong Kong HKDSE Diploma with required scores (4,3,3 to 4,5,5. Minimum 4 in English required)
Italian Esame di Stato[AB1] with minimum 60%+
Spanish Curso de Orientaciòn Universitaria (COU) prior to 2009 or if you hold a Titulo De Bachillerato awarded from 2009 onwards with a minimum of 6/10+
USA High School Diploma with minimum GPA 3.0 plus SAT Reasoning (1200-1300) or ACT (24-29).

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

For September 2019 and September 2020 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

Careers

This innovative course is designed to give you all the technical skills and theoretical knowledge you need to succeed in the music and sound production industry. There is growing demand for skilled graduates in this area within the music and entertainment sector, particularly given the expansion of the multimedia environment.

Our music graduates possess a diverse skillset, and have gone on to work in the music industry in a wide variety of roles, both within companies and as freelancers.

Students from our music courses have gone on to work for organisations such as Absolute Music, BBC, Allen and Heath, It's Done Technology, Sound Tree Music and Focusrite.

Typical starting job roles

Industries worked in

Further study

Costs and fees

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. You can find full information about funding your studies and paying your fees in our undergraduate fees and funding section. That’s also where you’ll find information about the scholarships and bursaries on offer – including unlimited Academic Excellence Scholarships for UK, EU and International students.

Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise, and we’re committed to ensuring there are no hidden extra costs while you’re at university – that’s why we’re clear about what you can expect us to cover, and what your cost of living will be.

Find out more about budgeting and living expenses

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

One set of study-related consumables such as a memory stick/ DVD
Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
Disability and additional learning support
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team
Standard enclosed headphones

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website
Optional fieldwork travel, outdoor wear and footwear (where applicable)
Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.

Repeat units

Our staff

You can read more about the specialist interests of our Creative Technology staff in our department pages, or register for an Open Day to meet us.

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. You may also benefit from guest lectures from industry, including our alumni. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Dr Ambrose Seddon – Senior Lecturer In Creative Technology

The course leader is Dr Ambrose Seddon, an electroacoustic composer whose work has been performed internationally in concert and on radio. Ambrose has presented at various international conferences and festivals. With a background in electronica and experimental pop music, he continually strives to integrate new and varied approaches into his compositional language.

View Dr Ambrose Seddon’s staff profile

Dr Tom Davis – Principal Academic In Music & Audio Technology

Dr Tom Davis is Head of Research for the Department of Creative Technology. In addition to PhD supervision he teaches on the BSc and Masters programmes. Tom is also a practising artist working mainly in the realm of sound installation and live performance, who has exhibited and performed throughout Europe and in the United States. Tom's PhD is from the Sonic Arts Research Centre, Belfast

View Dr Tom Davis’ staff profile

Dr Panos Amelidis – Lecturer (Academic) In Music & Audio Technology

Dr Panos Amelidis is a composer, sound designer, sound artist and music technologist. He is active as both performer and composer in a variety of fields, including electroacoustic composition and performance, sound installation, live-coding and sound recording. Panos has worked as a composer and sound designer for a number of short films and TV productions.

View Dr Panos Amelidis’ staff profile

BA (Hons) Music & Sound Production

Course search

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Accredited by:

Key information

Next start date:

Location:

Duration:

Accreditations:

Required subjects:

Entry requirements:

International entry requirements:

Related courses

Our stories

‘Making the most of your time at BU’ – read Music & Sound Production student Chris’ blog

Planning your future

Course details

Contact hours and assessment

Year 1

Year 2

Optional placement year

Final year

Programme specification

Example final-year projects

Placements

How placements benefit you

How long will your placement be?

What support will be available?

Your application

Selection methods

How we assess your application

Our offer-making process

Our Unconditional Offer Scheme (2019 entry)

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

International entry requirements

Careers

Typical starting job roles

Industries worked in

Further study

Costs and fees

No hidden extras

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Repeat units

Our staff

Dr Ambrose Seddon – Senior Lecturer In Creative Technology

Dr Tom Davis – Principal Academic In Music & Audio Technology

Dr Panos Amelidis – Lecturer (Academic) In Music & Audio Technology