Electronic Music Production (Level 6 Top-Up)
Entry requirements
We welcome A Levels in a wide range of subjects, especially in those relevant to the course for which you apply.
We may consider a standalone AS in a relevant subject, if it is taken along with other A Levels and if an A Level has not been taken in the same subject. However, you will not be disadvantaged if you do not have a standalone AS subject as we will not ordinarily use them in our offers.
60 credits (with a minimum of 45 credits achieved at level 3) in a relevant subject.
A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points
A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications
A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications
A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points
A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points
T Level
P (Pass) grade must be C or above, not D or E
UCAS Tariff
A typical offer is between 104 and 120 UCAS points, primarily from Level 3 equivalent qualifications, such as A levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma, or current, relevant experience. Grade 4 (or C) or above in GCSE English Language, or equivalent, is a minimum language requirement for all applicants. Due to the creative nature of our courses, you will be considered on your own individual merit and potential to succeed on your chosen course. Please contact the Applicant Services team for advice if you are predicted UCAS points below this range, or if you have questions about the qualifications or experience you have.
a minimum of 40 UCAS tariff points, when combined with a minimum of 64 UCAS tariff points from the Supporting Qualifications
About this course
If you have a Foundation degree or HND in any area of music production, then we offer the opportunity to top up your qualification to a full BA (Hons) undergraduate degree with one further year of study.
Our Top Up Year pathway provides an excellent opportunity to turn your Foundation degree or HND into a full BA (Hons) undergraduate degree in Electronic Music Production. If you’ve enjoyed learning the foundations of music production and music technology, this Top Up Year allows you to focus in on the area you are most interested in and develop those skills and knowledge to a professional level.
During this intense 1 year course, you will complete a creative dissertation as well as a large-scale practical project of your choice, utilising our industry-standard facilities and amazing teaching staff during your studies. By the time you graduate, you will be capable of professional-grade work and have mastered the techniques required to pursue a career in the music industry as a producer or sound engineer.
This pathway provides the perfect end to undergraduate studies for students who have a passion for making music in a variety of contexts.
This course is taught by dBs and awarded by Falmouth University.
Modules
Innovation: Exploration
This is the first of two modules that run consecutively over two semesters. Exposing you to the rich and diverse history of innovation in sound and music, you will be encouraged to push your own sonic and technical boundaries with the aim of creating a space for creativity and innovation to flourish. You will be introduced to a wide range of new concepts and will learn how to embrace and apply creative risk, looking at the potential benefits of incorporating this into your commercial and artistic public profile. You will explore innovative compositional skills and fresh perspectives on sound and music working towards a portfolio of practical work.
Professional Portfolio: Development
This is the second of two modules that run consecutively over two semesters. It will allow you to focus on your specialist area of practice by conducting self-directed planning and development towards a final major production work aimed at commercial consumption. At this stage of your Top Up Year, you will be conducting research relating to your area of focus, enhancing your existing practical skills that you may form part of your production process, and presenting comprehensive research material to your peers for critical discussion, thereby outlining your plans and commercial direction.
Investigation
Plan, develop and propose a research project within sound and/or music. Building on the skills, knowledge and understanding developed in your Foundation degree or HND, you will identify an area to specialise in, culminating in a research project to be undertaken in semester 2.
Research Project
Undertake, manage and deliver a research project within sound and/or music. You will fulfil the methods, aims and objectives set out within your extended research proposal formulated in the Investigation module in semester 1 and deliver either a written research project or a practical research project that includes a final product with written evidence of supporting research materials.
Innovation: Realisation
Drawing on the explorations you developed in semester 1, you will apply innovative skills and practices towards the realisation of a large-scale, practical project. Alongside this, you will examine commercial revenue streams associated with innovation in sound and the means by which you can develop your practice in the professional arena. This is an opportunity to develop your own unique practice in new ways and, as such, you are encouraged to approach the module with an open mind, remaining receptive to unexplored creative and technical approaches within your work.
Professional Portfolio: Delivery
In semester 2, you will perform the role of project manager, ensuring the development and realisation of a substantial portfolio of work that builds on the foundations of the development and planning completed in semester 1. You will produce practical work that utilises your specialist creative and technical skills established throughout your Foundation degree and this Top Up Year, while developing new and advanced techniques to bring forward a substantial body of creative work to a professional standard, suitable for commercial consumption.
Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.
The Uni
DBS Institute, Bristol
The Academy of Music and Theatre Arts
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Music
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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Music
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Music
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£13k
£17k
£21k
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.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
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Graduate field commentary:
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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