Course summary
On this Masters you'll learn the fundamental technical skills necessary to begin a career in screen sound, both as a location sound recordist and post-production sound designer. But equally importantly, you will gain an understanding of how a film’s narrative relies on the precise partnership between image and sound.
- Within this MA programme you'll expand your existing knowledge of sound. Through recording and design you'll investigate what it means to listen with awareness and to translate that experience to your audience. And you'll study how sound is created, how you can manipulate its form, whether it’s natural, synthesised, digitised or analogue, and how to work with sound as a storytelling medium.
- MA Filmmaking is housed in a new purpose-built media facility equipped with state-of-the-art teaching spaces including a film studio for sound shooting, Pro Tools suites, Audio Postproduction facilities with Foley recording studios, Avid Media Composer, screening rooms and an Avid NEXIS network linking all teaching spaces.
- Goldsmiths is an Avid Learning Partner offering Sound students accredited training in Pro Tools and the opportunity to certify as an Avid Pro Tools Specialist, enhancing student's skills and CV.
- The Sound curriculum focuses on the structure of the soundtrack, deconstructing it from its beginnings in pre-production to the final mix, experimenting with the ways in which different components (dialogue, atmospheres, sound effects, music) allow an audience to engage with a film’s story. Through iterative exercises, group reviews and regular feedback, you gain the awareness and ability to construct soundtracks that interpret stories through sound.
- As a sound specialist you work on one film each term, ending with a major production.
- You learn about related fields such as directing, editing, producing and documentary, and work with students across specialisms within Goldsmiths Screen School.
- You'll also benefit from guest lecturers who bring their professional expertise into our classrooms. Last year, specialist classes featured Oscar-winning sound recordist Ray Beckett (The Hurt Locker), film/TV sound editor Adele Fletcher (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus) and composer Stuart Earl (The Secret Agent, Lilting).
- In addition, MA Filmmaking students collaborate with composers and players from Goldsmiths’ Department of Music who offer a wide range of musical styles from classical to electronic to popular. Pro Tools tuition is offered to all Sound Recording, Post-Production & Design pathway students giving you the opportunity to achieve Pro Tools Certified User accreditation.
- The Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies has been ranked second in the UK for 'world-leading or internationally excellent' research (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and 16th in the world (third in the UK) in the 2024 QS World Rankings for communication and media studies.
Modules
For two terms you will spend a full day a week in specialised contact with your specific programme convenor. These sessions include: Practical demonstrations and exercises Lectures Screenings Small group seminars Workshops You will also take three optional modules, taught through practical workshops and hands-on experiences, as well as critical discussion and essay writing. The third term will be taken up with your substantive Final Project and you will take part in a series of progress and feedback meetings. Group film projects You will work with other students from across the five MA Filmmaking fiction pathways to create film crews in a professional structure. This allows you to develop realistic industry experience while making work with extremely high production values. Specialist Studies You will take the following modules: Sound Recording, Post-Production and Design: Specialist Skills Contemporary Screen Narratives in Practice and Theory You will also complete a Final Project, assessed by a portfolio of work and a viva that reflects your practice. Optional modules You will choose three optional modules. Examples of recent optional modules include: Social Activist Film Archaeology of the Moving Image Camera Fundamentals Film Producing Fundamentals Representing Reality Sound Design Fundamentals The Ascent of the Image Doctor Holby: Writing for Existing Continuing TV Drama Series Media Law and Ethics Practical Law for Film-makers Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in a relevant/related subject as well as a level of practical experience from work in the arts or the media. Experience working with sound and image and proficiency with Pro Tools (equivalent to Pro Tools 101) is recommended. You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level. Because funding deadlines and requirements vary around the world, applications are considered on a rolling basis and places on the programme fill up across the recruitment cycle. For this reason, we strongly advise you to submit your completed application as early as you can. We accept a wide range of international qualifications. If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW