About this course
The world of sound engineering and audio production offers many opportunities on a global scale, and on this course you’ll explore the technical world of sound recording, creation and processing in numerous applications.
You'll experience sound capture and manipulation within contexts such as game audio, and sound for film and post-production, recording studio engineering, mixing, and sound design – all wrapped up within employability contexts.
You’ll get to learn and perform in world-class studios and performance spaces, surrounded by experts who are working professionals in the music and creative industries.
You’ll also benefit from being assigned an industry mentor in your final year to support you with your industry-focused modules and provide a network of contacts and opportunities for when you graduate.
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.
Sound Design (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you will learn how to conceptualise, design and create sounds using recording, processing and synthesis techniques. The art of sound design can be applied to many disciplines; such as sound design for games, film and TV, general sound design and Foley.
Through a range of projects involving both linear and non-linear timelines, you will learn how to analyse sounds, how to choose from and creatively implement a range of synthesis techniques, and how to prepare your sound design work for real-world application.
Software and hardware synthesisers and samplers, as well as MIDI, and DAW skills will come into play, in a creative, practical and playful approach to the discipline.
Sound and Audio Fundamentals (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you will experience the core principles of the subject area, in order to understand fundamental theory and how this can be applied to the relevant technology in this field. Areas such as sound wave principles, audio signals, analysis tools and industry standards will be developed, both in understanding and application.
The module is designed to underpin all the technology applied in other modules to ensure you have a solid base of knowledge to build upon.
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.
Audio for Games (20 Credit Points)
In this module you will develop your sound design and implementation skills, for games, using a range of industry-standard software and techniques. You will create in-game audio content for objects, such as weapons, vehicles, ambience, and user interfaces.
You will develop a personal showreel that will showcase your audio for games skills, which will support your employability in the industry.
Sound for Visual Content (20 Credit Points)
In this module you will undertake the full audio production for a piece of film from sound design, location and field recording, Foley, right through to editing, ADR and final mix.
You will be in charge of gathering all audio assets to complement the video and create an audio visual product you can use as your showreel for potential employment.
Acoustic Theory and Application (20 Credit Points)
In many aspects of sound and audio work, the perception of the professional and the end consumer is vital. Acoustics plays an important role in approaching and completing work to the desired standard. In this module you will experience acoustic theory and application, including the human perception of sound, room acoustics, and electro acoustics, to better inform your application.
Holding the knowledge and understanding of these areas, allows you to apply these areas to creating realistic gaming environments, film atmos, and appropriate reverberation and time-based effects on musical productions.
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.
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.
Sound and Audio 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 sound and audio, that builds on your existing knowledge, experience, skills and interests.
You will be required to 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.
Showcase
You will be given the opportunity to exhibit your work during your time at NTU to members of the creative industries.
Careers and employability
Your time at NTU 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.
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 for a degree at a popular university has many benefits but none more so than having access to a large employability team.
Our friendly, experienced career 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
With its unrivalled reputation for the quality of its sound and visuals, Metronome hosts a successful commercial programme of live events throughout the year – and it’s here where you’ll learn from the best and gain real work experience.
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
- Exigy and MPC ATC monitors
- Specialist IT and production suites with software such as Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton
- Industry-standard recording, mixing and mastering studios including SSL Duality, Neumann and Schoeps Studer equipment
- Specialist IT Suites with Logic, Pro Tools, N.I Komplete M4L and Ableton software
- Performance rehearsal rooms
- 400 capacity live events venue
- Post-production suites including Soundfield, 5.1, Foley Room, Binaural and VR technology
- Synth Lab: a shrine to the synthesiser
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.
Sign up for emails
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.
