Course summary

Do you have a passion for music and sound? On this course, you’ll explore both the technical and creative aspects of sound, with plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the industry with real life briefs and masterclasses delivered by professionals. Whether you see your future in studio and live production or in a record label, composing or performing, you’ll have the chance to develop your skills with expert guidance, making use of industry-standard technology to compose, perform, record and produce original music. The music sector offers a range of different roles in different environments for you to explore and opportunities in the UK music industry are plentiful. After your first year, if you want to study a different specialism you can choose to change between: BA (Hons) Music Production; BA (Hons) Audio and Music Production; and BA (Hons) Music Production and Business. Why study at Buckinghamshire New University? BNU has been delivering courses in the music industry for over 25 years and we have a wealth of expertise in our network of lecturing staff, guest speakers, and alumni, all with a track record of success in a variety of roles in the music business internationally. You’ll get comprehensive training in key elements of music and audio production: studio production, music performance and composition, immersive audio techniques, critical listening and analysis, sound design, and live audio production techniques. By the time you graduate, you’ll have the ability to project manage yourself and a portfolio crammed with real life experience. Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers. All our music degrees at BNU come with membership of UK Music’s Music Academic Partnership (MAP), a ground-breaking collaboration between educational institutions and UK Music. What will I study? Study both software and hardware to learn the best ways to record, mix and produce audio content for different systems. You'll work on real-life projects and collaborate with students from other courses on projects ranging from the screen to the stage. You'll also learn relevant business skills to help you tackle the challenges freelancers can face, including finance and legal guidance. This is a very practical, detailed course, and you'll also learn about the music and entertainment industries from experienced professionals. Depending on the modules you choose, you could also gain skills in performing, song composition, artist management, and create a substantial portfolio. This course is also offered as four-year programmes, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate degree. What facilities can I use? Our state-of-the-art recording studios and Dolby Atmos certified sound lab give you access to the space and technology you need. From individual edit rooms up to large Pro Tools Ultimate studios with attached live rooms and vocal booths, we have it all to help you gain hands-on experience. Equipment across our studios includes: a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 speaker system, an Avid S6 console, an Avid D-Command control surface and 24 channels of Focusrite ISA828 microphone preamps, an Avid S3/S4 control surfaces and UAD Apollo x8 audio interfaces, Genelec studio monitoring and KRK stereo systems. Find out more about our equipment on our website.