About this course
This degree is delivered at our London Campus in Whitechapel.
Learning in world-class studios, packed full of industry-standard kit, you'll explore music creation from a technical and creative standpoint and discover and nurture your own creative path. You’ll learn practical music theory and apply to your own compositions, whether that’s individually or collaboratively in your work in employable fields such as media composition or songwriting.
You'll understand and work within commercial parameters to ensure you graduate with the best chance of working within music, but you'll be encouraged to explore the more experimental ends of recording, production and composition to truly find your own identity.
You'll have plenty of opportunities to put your learning into practice, through live projects, masterclasses and guest lectures. You’ll also benefit from being assigned an industry mentor in your final year.
Industry exposure at Tileyard
As part of your degree you’ll get exclusive access to the UK’s best music industry insights and connections through our partnership with Tileyard – the world’s largest professional music community.
What you’ll study
The course curriculum balances theoretical study alongside practical application. Throughout the course you’ll be challenged to develop your decision-making in new, and at times, complex and unpredictable contexts. The content of the course also closely reflects current working practices in industry, and aims to prepare you for work in a highly competitive workplace. Students in audio and music technology will increasingly be faced with freelance and self-employed models of work upon graduation.
Introduction to the Studio
(20 Credit Points)
You will begin your journey into the studio environment by developing your understanding of the fundamentals of recording. You will learn about large format consoles, signal flow, connections, microphone types, and DAWs to record audio.
You’ll be able to apply these skills whether you’re in a traditional studio or have a small home set up: get this right now, and it will set you up for all of your future studio work.
Studio Practice
(20 Credit Points)
In this module, you’ll discover the magic of recording various artists using different styles of recording such as multitracking and overdubbing, in session and in your own time, to form a portfolio of studio work.
Pro Tools Techniques
(20 Credit Points)
In the professional audio world Pro Tools is the DAW of choice. In this module, you’ll learn how to use this powerful application by covering Pro Tools navigation and operation, setting you up for the rest of your course and career in audio, and paves the way for Pro Tools accreditation.
Creative Music Technology
(20 Credit Points)
In this module, you will explore the creative potential of various music technologies. You will exercise your creativity through music production, and learn a variety of techniques and technologies, such as sampling, synthesis, improvisation and composition in the DAW, hardware controllers, sound design, and remixing.
You will also gain a deeper contextual understanding of electronic music, through a global and ethical lens.
Music Composition and Theory
(20 Credit Points)
Composing music is like painting on a blank canvas, and depending on the genre there are certain rules to be aware of. This module will provide you with the guidelines that will form the foundation for your music to be functional with these forms, as well as allowing you to build in your own creativity and originality.
This module will teach you the fundamentals of music theory such as harmony, melody, accompaniment and arranging, enabling you to communicate emotions and feelings through your compositions. You'll demonstrate your understanding though portfolio tasks and explore a genre of interest and compose a representative piece as well as research the genres context in a short negotiated practical research submission.
Your Industry
(20 Credit Points)
You will explore contexts of working in the international world of sound and music and how you might establish a career by exploring the flow of money through the industry and relevant current and emerging trends. You'll assess your current skill set and discover what you need to do to improve your chances of success on your employable journey.
You'll choose work like briefs lasting at least 80 hours to enable you to experience working opportunities in a field of interest, then reflect on your learning to set you up for the rest of your course in an employable mind set. Your future starts now!
Studio Production
(20 Credit Points)
You will explore digital, analogue, and hybrid studio technologies, developing recording and processing techniques to take on a variety of productions over the module: this could be using traditional studio environments (on-site or external) or your own DIY production set ups.
You will collaborate with performers, artists, and other students to work on a wide base of genres, selecting a range of your productions for a portfolio that should be approaching commercial standards.
Mixing
(20 Credit Points)
In this module, you'll work to client supplied briefs as well as your own self sourced material, engaging in technical and creative post production and mixing processes to create a portfolio of work. You'll critically compare your mixes with industry outputs from around the world and learn approaches to help you meet commercial benchmarks.
You'll cover techniques with compression, effects and automation with additional production skills such as vocal editing and production, drum production and other genre specific approaches of additional production through a range of projects.
Contextual Studies in Music Production
(20 Credit Points)
The history of music technology has informed where we are and where we might go next. In this module, you will be exposed to decades of key recordings, technologies, events, artists and the movers and shakers involved in shaping modern popular music as we know it.
You will choose your own specific area of interest in music technology and production and explore how it's impacted creativity and the development of the wider world of music within an essay, accompanied by practical assets to illustrate your understanding.
Creative Music Technologies 2
(20 Credit Points)
This module focusses on the creative use of music technology hardware, in the production of original work and recreation of key historical techniques. You will learn the particulars of hardware production techniques, investigating modular, patchable instruments, hardware sequencing and sampling devices, and drum machines.
We take a creative, experimental approach to creating and manipulating sounds, using a range of vintage, vintage-inspired, and cutting edge contemporary technology. The module also builds on the contextual research undertaken in year 1, as we pick apart in detail and recreate a piece of musical history, researching as we do so the people and techniques concerned.
Industry Practice
(20 Credit Points)
During this module you will source and execute appropriate self-directed projects, working individually and collaboratively on creative work, allowing you to directly apply the research, knowledge and skills learnt throughout the programme in the context of the workplace. This module aims to develop your overall professionalism and provide you with the knowledge and resources to begin a career in the creative industries. The nature of creative industries is increasingly defined by freelance and self-employed models of work.
Consequently, individuals seeking work in industry need to appreciate the pressures of working on multiple projects to strict deadlines and the subsequent demands this place on time and resources. Similarly, an understanding of professional practice and the legal and economic imperatives in industry is important, as is effective communication, self-efficacy and autonomy.
This module aims to develop these skills and knowledge by challenging you to develop a range of self-directed projects along with analysis of the processes involved along the way.
Music for Modern Media
(20 Credit Points)
This module focuses on exploring the exciting world of composing for media. Building on your compositional and DAW skills from year one, you will utilise them in a variety of real-world scenarios to create music for media use. These may include jingles, genre-based library music, and music for film and other media. You will examine and research these areas, gaining insight into how best to apply your current DAW knowledge with other tools and techniques and expand on that skillset by successfully completing example scenarios. Composing for media is a substantial part of today’s industry and an area in which you should be well prepared to engage.
Commercial Music Production
(40 Credit Points)
In this module, you will propose and negotiate a commercial project(s) to produce from start to finish. You will go through the whole process of planning, managing, recording, mixing and mastering the delivery of musical projects such as a single, EP or album and examine creative decisions from your own production standpoint to find your 'production voice'.
You’ll explore studio production and examine different styles of creative approaches and the benefits of working as part of a team. You will be able to explore roles in other peoples projects whether that’s as a mixer, vocal producer, additional production, engineer or assistant engineer but ultimately you'll oversee your own final product, recorded, mixed and mastered by yourself.
Music Research Project
(40 Credit Points)You will propose and undertake a sustained and substantial research project based on a relevant current or emerging area of music or music production that builds on your existing knowledge, experience, skills and interests.
You will conduct secondary research of primary sources to support your proposal, which will then be negotiated and agreed upon with a subject supervisor. You will then continue your research project, generating your own material, and primary research to analyse and conclude your findings. You will have support from a subject supervisor, throughout your project.
The module is designed to provide you with the ability to devise and conduct an independent project that will benefit employment and/or further study.
Industry Brief
(40 Credit Points)
This module is the exciting link to your next steps into an employable future. You'll choose a live brief set by industry from a range of employers and scenarios and you'll receive tailored session delivery to ensure you have the skills to meet exactly what the industry needs.
Briefs could include work set from the games, broadcast, technical, film, and TV industries. Alongside specialist sessions, you will also take part in classes to develop your broader employability skills, and additionally, you'll be assigned an industry mentor related to your personalised journey to help you on your way.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
How you're taught
Teaching and learning will take place in a range of bespoke studios, IT suites and classrooms. You’ll develop your practical, technical and critical thinking skills through a mixture of lectures, workshops, seminars, academic tutorials and guest lectures. In these classes you’ll explore the core aspects of the module subject areas whilst also reporting back on your individual progress and research findings.
The audio and music industry is embedded in the course, with industry and work-related opportunities including live client briefs, guest lectures and short work placements. These will be offered in addition to your studies. By the end of your studies, you’ll have developed the skills to independently gain industry experiences.
Careers and employability
Your time at Nottingham School of Art & Design doesn’t have to stop once you finish your undergraduate course. Choose to continue your studies on our postgraduate degrees that can help you further develop your skills and obtain the experience you need to get a head start in your career. Browse our postgraduate degrees.
Typical job roles in industry might include:
- Sound designer
- Audio producer/engineer
- Mastering engineer
- Technology R&D
- Acoustician
- Post-production engineer
YouFirst – working with our Employability Team
Studying a degree at a popular university has many benefits, none more so than having access to a large employability team.
Our friendly, experienced careers consultants will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice you won't find in a book or on the internet. You can benefit from this at any time during your studies and up to three years after completing your course.
Campus and facilities
As part of our degree, you'll be working in the studio, collaborating with musicians, engineers and producers. And you're in for a treat, with world-class facilities...
We’ve worked closely with industry partner and leader, SSL, on creating a bespoke-built console. TriniTy is the first-of-its-kind system, delivering SSL’s SuperAnalogue sound, digital production power, and seamless integration.
Check out SSL’s announcement on their website.
You’ll find SSL ORIGIN consoles in all edit suites as standard. The studio mixing console has a traditional analogue studio workflow at its heart whilst providing the perfect partner for a modern DAW-driven ‘hybrid’ production studio.
Audio monitoring throughout the music facilities is provided by PMC and Focusrite Rednet interfaces throughout, allowing for audio recording to be captured remotely.
Metronome London is a purpose-built multi-discipline events and production space with the versatility built-in to function as a 600-capacity live venue, or a virtual production studio complete with LED volume.
Similar to our Nottingham venue, Metronome it's here where you'll gain valuable work experience and access world-class facilities. This world-class venue is home to some amazing facilities, jampacked with recording studios, rehearsal rooms, performances spaces, and a 400-capacity venue.
Industry kit and facilities
- Audient Heritage Console
- SSL Duality 48 Channel Super Analogue Console
- Neumann Microphones
- EMT 140 Plate Reverb
- Outboard from TubeTech and AP, DAWs (such as FL Studio, Ableton, Pro Tools, Logic, Reaper)
- Studer A827 2 inch 24 Track Tape Machine
- Plug Ins from Sound Toys, Arturia, SSL and Slate Digital
Entry requirements
UK students
- Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
- Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
You will also have at least one of the following music qualifications:
- A level or other level 3 qualification in a related subject such as BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology or Production (or similar, e.g. RSL Awards)
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Additional requirements for UK students
We welcome suitable applicants without standard entry requirements. Once we receive your UCAS application we may be in touch to request you evidence your relevant experience and interest in using Music Technology in this straight forward way:
- A short 2 – 3 minute video where you talk through a production you have been involved in on a DAW or where you have recorded live instrumentation
Contextual offers
If you don’t quite meet our entry requirements, we might be able to make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and your individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer, and we get data from UCAS to help make these decisions. We do this because we believe everyone with the potential to succeed at NTU should have the opportunity to do so, no matter what barriers you may face.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
You will also have at least one of the following music qualifications:
- A level or other level 3 qualification in a related subject such as BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology or Production (or similar, e.g. RSL Awards)
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
We welcome suitable applicants without standard entry requirements. Once we receive your UCAS application we may be in touch to request you evidence your relevant experience and interest in using Music Technology in this straight forward way:
- A short 2 – 3 minute video where you talk through a production you have been involved in on a DAW or where you have recorded live instrumentation.
If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Foundation preparation course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City campus.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
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Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.
Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
