BA (Hons) Music and Sound Design at Manchester Metropolitan University

Programme overview

Music and sound design is a field that mixes the artistic and the technical to produce the vital ingredient for a range of media. On the one hand, it’s a discipline of creative composition and emotional interpretation. On the other, it’s about harnessing the latest technology and studio techniques to produce compelling music and sound content.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Humanities | Department: School of Digital Arts (SODA) | Duration: 3 years full-time; 4 years full-time with placement; 4 years full-time with foundation | Study mode: full-time, placement year available | Intake: September 2027 | Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Each year focuses on developing your creative and technical skills in the three core themes we will explore throughout the course: Music Production, Composition and Sound Design. Within these themes you’ll have the freedom to pursue your own strengths and interests, while developing the collaborative skills so vital in the professional world. Year 1 core: Audio Production, Fundamentals of Composition, Creative Strategies in Music and Sound, Sound Design. Year 2 core: Music and Sound for Film, Game Audio, Studio Engineering and Production, Speculative Futures. Year 3 core: Industry Practice, Applied Research, Generative Music and Sound Design, Independent Project.

Career pathways

Our graduates will gain the knowledge, skills and creative expertise to become highly valued music composers, producers and sound designers that have the business and industry knowledge to compete with the highest and brightest in this rapidly growing sector of digital arts. Previous graduates have gone on to: Composing for film.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

GCE A levels - grades BCC or equivalent. Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma - grade DMM. Access to HE Diploma - Pass overall with a minimum 106 UCAS Tariff points. UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma - grade of Merit overall. OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - grade DMM. T level - We welcome applications from students undertaking T level qualifications. Eligible applicants will be asked to achieve a minimum overall grade of Merit as a condition of offer. IB Diploma - Pass overall with a minimum overall score of 26 or minimum 104 UCAS Tariff points from three Higher Level subjects. Other Level 3 qualifications equivalent to GCE A level are also considered. A maximum of three A level-equivalent qualifications will be accepted towards meeting the UCAS tariff requirement. AS levels, or qualifications equivalent to AS level, are not accepted. The Extended Project qualification (EPQ) may be accepted towards entry, in conjunction with two A-level equivalent qualifications. Please contact the University directly if you are unsure whether you meet the minimum entry requirements for the course. GCSE grade C/4 in English Language or equivalent, e.g. Pass in Level 2 Functional Skills English. IB: IB Diploma with minimum 26 points overall or 104 UCAS Tariff points from three Higher Level subjects. If you plan to meet the Level 2 course requirements through your IB Diploma you will need to achieve Higher Level 4 or Standard Level 5 in English. IELTS: 6.0 overall with no individual element below 5.5.

Domestic applicants: GBP 10,050 a year (2027/28). Standard UK and Channel Islands full-time fee for 2027/28 as stated on the course page Source

Intake: September 2027

Duration: 3 years full-time; 4 years full-time with placement; 4 years full-time with foundation

Apply through the official page: https://www.ucas.com

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