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Music Production & Sound Engineering

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

24

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-M

P (Pass) grade must be C or above, not D or E

UCAS Tariff

104-120

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


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Music technology

If you see yourself as a producer or sound engineer and want to focus on studio-based production, this BA (Hons) Music Production and Sound Engineering degree will give you the skills, knowledge and industry experience to master the studio at a professional level.

The perfect blend of creativity and technical expertise, our BA (Hons) Music Production & Sound Engineering degree has been meticulously designed to transform you into a highly skilled music producer and sound engineer equipped with the expertise and confidence to record and produce music at the highest level.

Master recording techniques, composition, modern production methods, and sound engineering principles while exploring the diverse world of music and audio. Stay ahead of the curve with our cutting-edge modules on Immersive Audio and Innovation in Sound, delving into the world of object-based audio, surround sound, and Dolby Atmos, and learning how to harness the power of sound in real-world environments.

In addition to the technical skills, you’ll explore idea generation, workflow, and project management, which will enable you to be productive with your skills and prepare you for a career in the music industry. You will also learn about the various revenue streams available in the music industry, equip you with the skills needed to take advantage of these income opportunities.

Throughout your studies you’ll have access to a substantial guest lecture programme with topics ranging from demonstration and instruction in new technology to personal viewpoints and techniques from experienced professional practitioners.

This course is taught by dBs and awarded by Falmouth University.

Modules

YEAR 1

In Year 1 of your music production and sound engineering degree, you’ll be introduced to the fundamental skills that make a great sound engineer through practical and theoretical study. You’ll grow through an exploration of studio practice, creative recording techniques, mixing, and develop your understanding of music production as a whole through practical and analytical study. We’ll also introduce you to the audio industry and examine the key factors that go into a successful career as a sound engineer.

Modules
● Studio Practice
● Music Production
● Production Analysis
● Mixing
● Creative Recording Techniques
● Industry Foundations

YEAR 2

In Year 2 of your degree, you will begin to expand your skill set through several advanced modules focusing on music production, mixing and mastering. These modules will be complimented by the introduction to the world of acoustics and immersive audio, which will introduce you to new and innovative techniques that can be applied to your own processes. You’ll continue to develop your industry knowledge through the examination and completion of commercial briefs and will also conduct research which will provide the foundations for one of your final year projects.

Modules
● Advanced Music Production
● Immersive Audio
● Advanced Mixing & Mastering
● Applied Acoustics
● Industry Practice
● Research Practice

YEAR 3

In the final year of your music production and sound engineering degree, you will have the opportunity to channel everything you’ve learnt in the first two years into a series of larger projects that are directly linked to your specialism within music production and sound engineering. You’ll be given the freedom to identify, research and realise a project that resonates with your passions and expertise, alongside a more experimental and innovative approach to music and sound creation. You will also produce an extended research project, which can take the form of either a full written dissertation or a practical research project.

Modules
● Innovation: Exploration
● Innovation: Realisation
● Investigation
● Professional Portfolio Development
● Professional Portfolio Delivery
● Research Project

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


Course location:

DBS Institute, Plymouth

Department:

The Academy of Music and Theatre Arts

Read full university profile

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.

77%
Music technology

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Music

Teaching and learning

82%
Staff make the subject interesting
92%
Staff are good at explaining things
84%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
74%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

70%
Library resources
79%
IT resources
81%
Course specific equipment and facilities
70%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

85%
UK students
15%
International students
84%
Male students
16%
Female students
83%
2:1 or above
37%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

E
B
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

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.

£16,000
med
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education
59%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

51%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
9%
Teaching and educational professionals
9%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers

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

£13k

£17k

£17k

£21k

£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.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
University of York | York
Music and Sound Recording
BA (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 48-136
Lower entry requirements
University of Nottingham | Nottingham
Music and Music Technology
BA (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 96-135
Nearby University
University of Plymouth | Plymouth
Audio and Music Technology
BA (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 104-112

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here