HNC Sound Production at University of the Highlands and Islands

Programme overview

The HNC Sound Production covers studio recording and production, live sound and design, and multimedia sound including digital media, gaming and web sounds. It gives a basic understanding of sound engineering practice and theory and forms the first year of the BA (Hons) Audio Engineering. It is delivered through face-to-face lectures and tutorials plus practical studio sessions at UHI North West and Hebrides (Alness) or UHI Perth.

Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time (structured) | Intake: September | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Mandatory units are Audio skills, Digital audio workstations, Recording and mixing, Skills for business, Sound for live event and Sound production graded unit 1. Options may include Audio for multimedia, Creative music re-mixing, Creative project, Game audio, History of the audio engineering industries, and Music history: genres, record labels and artists, depending on location.

Career pathways

Graduates can engineer and produce music and design sound for television, film and radio, engineer conferences, concerts and live events, or work in web design, animation, gaming and other digital media. They can progress to BSc (Hons) Audio Engineering at UHI Perth, BA (Hons) Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands or BA (Hons) Applied Music.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

1 Scottish Higher at grade C or above, or 1 A level at grade D or above, preferably including Music, Physics, Maths or English. Applicants without the standard entry requirements are encouraged to apply; an interview may be required. Access routes: NC Music, NC Sound Engineering. Not open to international students who need a Student Route visa.

Domestic applicants: GBP 1,285 a year (2026/27). Full-time per year. Scotland-domiciled students with a Scottish term-time address (includes EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status and EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status) Source

International applicants: GBP 9,460 a year (2026/27). Full-time per year, students not normally resident in the UK (including EU/EEA/Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status) with a term-time address in Scotland. Part-time study is not open to those needing a Student Route visa. The course canno Source

Intake: September

Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time (structured)

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