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Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Sound Engineering with a Foundation Year
Birmingham City University
Entry requirements
Here's what you will need to get a place on the Sound Engineering with a Foundation Year course at Birmingham City University.
Select a qualification to see required grades
A level
C,D,D
A Level: 80 UCAS tariff points / CDD (or equivalent). AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels. A maximum of four subjects will be considered
Tuition fees
| Location | Fees |
|---|---|
| England | £9,535 per year |
| Scotland | £9,535 per year |
| Wales | £9,535 per year |
| Northern Ireland | £9,535 per year |
| EU | £18,570 per year |
| International | £18,570 per year |
Course summary
What this course is about
UCAS code: 1264
Here's what Birmingham City University says about its Sound Engineering with a Foundation Year course.
Do you dream of engineering the future of sound? Our BSc (Hons) Sound Engineering course with a Foundation Year is designed to immerse you in the cutting-edge world of audio technology and production, equipping you with the skills to pursue careers in live sound, acoustics, audio hardware and software development, and studio production. Delivered in collaboration with Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC), this course blends technical expertise, creative flair, and hands-on experience to prepare you for a dynamic career in the world of sound engineering.
The foundation year will equip you with key knowledge and skills to ensure success on your degree.
The degree offers a comprehensive curriculum to develop your skills across several audio disciplines and employment sectors. You will explore the principles of acoustics, live sound, broadcast audio, studio recording, immersive technologies and software development. Alongside practical experience, you will engage with advanced topics, embracing embedded audio systems, machine learning in audio, and multi-channel sound design—positioning you at the forefront of the emerging technologies shaping the audio industry.
Our facilities are purpose-built for innovation and hands-on learning, from world-leading state-of-the-art recording studios at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to the immersive SoundLab® in STEAMhouse. You will use industry-standard tools such as Logic, Pro Tools, MATLAB, Python, and C++. You will study on state-of-the-art Solid State Logic (SSL) recording consoles, run live sound sessions with industry-standard PA, and utilise our vast array of microphones from Neumann, Brauner and AKG.
Source: Birmingham City University
Course details
Qualification
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Department
School of Computing and Digital Technology
Location
Millennium Point Campus | Birmingham
Duration
4 Years
Study mode
Full-time
Subjects
• Audio technology
Start date
September 2026
Application deadline
14 January 2026
Birmingham City University reviews
1 year ago
Birmingham City University is a wonderful place to be, very accommodative irrespective of your ethnicity. Staff are well approachable
Graduate
Showing 596 reviews
3rd year
Paramedic science
Great simulation facilities for practicing skills learnt in university
2 months ago
3rd year
Paramedic science
The staff are very helpful and always available when needed. I feel the course has well prepared me for life as a graduate paramedic.
2 months ago
3rd year
Paramedic science
Very supportive staff and students, wide range of activities available
2 months ago
Graduate
Fashion design
In terms of societies and events, I always found things to do on campus. The Freshers' fair was always really good with lots to do and lots of freebies. I loved the society I joined too.
2 months ago
Graduate
Fashion design
I was mostly as City Centre campus so I was close to the city centre area. I always found things to do in my free time, had shops close by for my food shopping and could always find somewhere to meet friends. My friends and I really enjoyed the pub quiz at the Eagle and Ball and this became a week...
2 months ago
Graduate
Fashion design
I think I managed pretty well at uni with my finances. I did work a part time job which helped out with extra costs and I thankfully had family support too. My biggest financial concern would probably be financing my course itself - like my equipment and materials. But this is quite course specifi...
2 months ago
National Student Survey (NSS) scores
The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.
Here you can see ratings from Birmingham City University students who took the Sound Engineering with a Foundation Year course - or another course in the same subject area.
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
88%
med
Teaching on my course
88%
med
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
89%
med
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
96%
med
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
84%
med
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
83%
med
Learning opportunities
84%
med
Learning opportunities
84%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
91%
med
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
86%
med
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
87%
med
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
83%
med
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
71%
low
Assessment and feedback
84%
med
Assessment and feedback
84%
med
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
86%
med
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
97%
high
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
75%
med
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
77%
med
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
83%
med
Academic support
94%
med
Academic support
94%
med
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
94%
med
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
94%
med
Organisation and management
72%
med
Organisation and management
72%
med
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
81%
med
How well organised is your course?
66%
low
Learning resources
88%
med
Learning resources
88%
med
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
88%
med
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
88%
med
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
86%
med
Student voice
88%
high
Student voice
88%
high
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
78%
high
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
95%
high
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
90%
med
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
70%
med
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?
90%
med
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
88%
high
Student information
See who's studying at Birmingham City University. These students are taking Sound Engineering with a Foundation Year or another course from the same subject area.
| Most popular A-levels studied | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Grade | |||||
| Mathematics | A | |||||
| Music | B | |||||
| Business Studies | B | |||||
| Music Technology | C | |||||
| Product Design | C | |||||
Graduate prospects
What graduates do next
Facts and figures about Birmingham City University graduates who took Sound Engineering with a Foundation Year - or another course in the same subject area.
Graduate statistics
65%
In a job where degree was essential or beneficial
90%
In work, study or other activity
55%
Say it fits with future plans
60%
Are utilising studies
Top job areas
25%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
10%
Elementary occupations
10%
Information Technology Professionals
5%
Administrative occupations
Graduate statistics percentages are determined 15 months after a student graduates
Earnings after graduation
Earnings from Birmingham City University graduates who took Sound Engineering with a Foundation Year - or another course in the same subject area.
Earnings
£22.3k
First year after graduation
£24.5k
Third year after graduation
£22.6k
Fifth year after graduation
Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Sound Engineering with a Foundation Year.
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree
Discussions
Discussions
Students are talking about Birmingham City University on The Student Room.
Chat with Birmingham City University
At Birmingham City University, we make it easy for you succeed. Our focus on practical skills and real-world learning means you'll leave ready to make waves in your chosen career.
University is about more than a degree - it's an experience that shapes your future, unlocks your potential and helps you grow professionally and personally.
Located at the heart of the UK's second city, studying at BCU means you'll be at the centre of it all, experiencing student life to the fullest. Our cutting-edge facilities, vibrant and diverse city-centre location bring our students a wealth of opportunities, industry connections and not to mention, a whole lot of fun.
Birmingham City University open days
Open Days are the perfect way to find out more about university, you’ll be able to attend course talks, meet lecturers, chat to current students, find out about finance and other support services. It also offers a great way to get a feel for campus life and help you see firsthand why Birmingham City University is a great place to study.
Our next open days are taking place on:
• Saturday 4 October
Source: Birmingham City University
