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Audio and Music Production with Foundation Year at Buckinghamshire New University - UCAS

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. The initial 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 programme. After your Foundation Year, this course has a shared first year across multiple specialisms. 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; BA (Hons) Music Production and Business; and BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production. 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. 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.

Modules

Modules will vary depending on the specialism you choose. Foundation Year Live Performance Introduction to Popular Music Introduction to Composition Introduction to Entrepreneurship Professional Skills Final Project Year One Core Audio Production Technologies (20 credits); Live Audio (20 credits); Sound Design for Moving Image (20 credits); Recording & Mixing Techniques (20 credits); Entertainment Industry Framework (20 credits). Opportunity Modules You must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 4 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue www.bnu.ac.uk/oppmodules Year Two Core Live Production Technology (20 credits); Creative Audio Production (20 credits); Research Methods (20 credits) Optional Choose modules to the total of 40 credits: Location Sound & Post-production (20 credits); Sound Design for Non-linear media (20 credits); Electronic Production Techniques (20 credits); Music Publishing (20 credits); Music Publishing (Placement) (20 credits). Opportunity modules In addition, you must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 5 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue www.bnu.ac.uk/oppmodules Year Three Core Creative Audio Project (20 credits); Professional Production Project (20 credits); Dissertation/Independent Work (40 credits) Optional Choose modules to the total of 40 credits: Immersive Audio Techniques (20 credits); Creative Performance Technology (20 credits); Sound Design & Sonic Installation (20 credits); Performance Application or Strategy (20 credits); A&R (20 credits)

Assessment method

Our teaching staff have a wealth of professional and academic experience, with many still actively working in the music industry. You’ll also engage with our dynamic programme of visiting lectures and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and plenty of networking opportunities. Previous live-industry briefs have seen students work at Glastonbury, Dolby and Pinewood Studios. You'll also get the chance to work with up and coming music artists. Previous artists have included the Ting Tings, Jake Bugg, and Florence and the Machine. You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only will you be able to make friends for life, you’ll also make important connections that could last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in the working-world. A variety of assessment methods will be used as appropriate to the modules you take, including essays, reports, portfolios of creative audio content, written evaluations, presentations, and some continuous assessment on practical tasks. Assessments will be appropriate to the task, achievable, motivating and vocationally focussed, forming a constructive part of your learning process.


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
J934
Institution code:
B94
Campus name:
Buckinghamshire New University
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

For information about applying to Buckinghamshire New University as an International applicant, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/international

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the 3-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a Level 4 course, will be considered for the 4-year programme including a Foundation Year.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://bucks.ac.uk/applying-to-bucks/general-entry-requirements


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
65%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
EU £15000* Year 1
International £15000* Year 1

*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

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

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Sponsorship information

Buckinghamshire New University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/financial-support-bursaries-and-scholarships

Audio and Music Production with Foundation Year at Buckinghamshire New University - UCAS