Audio and Music Technology - BSc(Hons)

This course is open for applications

Introduction

Develop advanced creative and technical skills and craft new technologies and practices on this leading course, accredited by Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES).

Accreditations and partnerships:

Why study audio and music technology?

New technologies and techniques are changing creative expression in music.

Today's audio and music industry whether studios, production companies, or tech firms look for practitioners who think outside the box but also know what goes on inside it.

Studying this field opens career pathways from musical practice and professional sound to acoustics and audio software development. It allows you to explore and influence technological and musical innovations to shape the future of audio.

Why UWE Bristol?

BSc(Hons) Audio and Music Technology receives both accreditation and acclaim from Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES), the education arm of the Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS) and the Music Producers Guild (MPG) who describe the course as 'highly relevant to current industry practice'.

This course is ideal if you're passionate about music and the technology behind it, but don't necessarily have formal musical training or prior technical experience.

It allows you to explore and develop advanced knowledge, techniques and technologies for recording, production, musical expression, digital creativity, audio programming and the science of sound (acoustics and psychoacoustics).

Musical opportunities abound on and off campus, through our celebrated Centre for Music and countless venues, groups, studios and projects in one of the UK's most musical cities.

Gain valuable real-world experience and a professional portfolio through a series of placements that prepare you for a career in the music industry.

Where can it take me?

Learn from professionals and experts from the music, film/TV and technology industries and research, and prepare for a variety of careers in audio.

Choose from careers in audio and sound engineering as well as performance, composition and concert management. Work in creative areas where there is a heavy reliance on technology such as film, theatre and the arts. Apply your technical expertise with audio hardware and software companies, designing new musical instruments and digital technologies or as an acoustician, designing new spaces and concert halls.

Graduate destinations include the BBC, Allen & Heath, Focusrite/Novation, plus various studios and production houses worldwide. Get support for freelance careers through Impulse, our in-house music technology innovation and enterprise studio and bridge to professional practice.

Structure

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year one

You'll study:

Introductory Audio Programming
Audio Engineering
Audio Technology
Music.

Year two

You'll study one or both of:

Audio Process Design and Implementation
Audio Recording.

Plus, optional modules (two or three, depending on credit requirements) from:

Sound Design and Post Production
Creative and Physical Computing
Research and Practice in Creative Technology
Advanced Composition.

Placement year (if applicable)

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two.

You'll complete a professional practice module.

See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.

Final year

You'll study:

Music Technology Project.

Plus, at least two optional modules from:

Instrument Recording Investigation
Broadcast Practice
Advanced Technologies
Live Sound.

Plus, optional modules from (the number depending on credit requirements):

Professional Development*
Audio Post-production
Music Portfolio
Architectural Acoustics
Audio for Games.

*Only available to students who have not taken the placement year.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.

Learning and Teaching

Getting to grips with new subjects can be demanding, but we aim to support you throughout your studies.

We take a practical approach that uses lab investigation and experiments to help you understand, explore and remember ideas more easily.

Develop a foundation of skills in music and computing and build your creative skills as a composer and performer. Work on your programming skills to extend your digital studio.

Discover the science and engineering of sound and study how instruments are engineered to produce their characteristic sound behaviour. Explore how a range of digital signal processing techniques are used for effects and synthesis.

Choose modules that allow you to specialise in your areas of interest. Undertake an individual final year project, a chance to delve into a specific area you're passionate about in depth.

Play and perform a range of musical styles at our celebrated Centre for Performing Arts. These include a thriving Symphony Orchestra, Big Band, Brass Consort, Chamber Orchestra, Contemporary Music Group, Chamber Choir and the University Singers.

Attend industry talks from visiting professionals, including TV and film sound recordists and composers from the BBC.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Showcase your work

Show your final year projects at the annual degree show.

Past exhibits include music and audio processing software and musical performances.

Assessment

Each module is assessed individually. The style of assessment will be appropriate to the modules and help you develop a range of technical, creative and practical skills.

Some modules are assessed entirely on practical work and in-class tests while others are assessed through written assignments and end of module exams.

Learn more about assessments.

Features

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES), the education arm of the Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS) and the Music Producers Guild (MPG).

Placements

Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you highly employable on graduation.

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend your third year away from the University on a work or study placement. We also actively support freelance and self-employed modes of work, to help prepare you for the increasingly contract-based nature of work in the audio industry.

Past students have worked with national orchestras. Others have worked in acoustics, recording and post-production studios for the BBC, Dolby and Acoustic Design. Several leading tech firms, such as Focusrite/Novation, Allen&Heath and ROLI/JUCE actively recruit graduates and interns from the course.

Fieldwork

We arrange trips to the Dolby Labs and other technology pioneers, so you can experience the latest in emerging tools and formats.

You'll also get to explore technology and sound systems behind the scenes on trips to locations such as BBC Studios and the Albert Hall.

We encourage students to get involved on projects with local organisations. Our students have worked with the BBC composing music for wildlife programmes and producing audio for festivals and radio, podcasts for the Natural History Museum and recordings for local industry partners and venues.

Study facilities

Create and enhance music in our well-equipped studios and performance spaces.

Compose and play in a choice of four performance spaces with options ranging from live to dead acoustics.

Record and mix audio in our studios with professional standard analogue and digital consoles.

Mix music in our advanced surround mixing room, six control rooms and isolated booths.

Edit videos and audio in our video post room, equipped with industry standard software like Pro Tools and Logic.

A mix of traditional and creative learning environments will enable you to learn essential knowledge and real-world skills, standing you in good stead for your professional career.

Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.

Take a personalised virtual tour of the Audio and Music Technology facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.

Life

Accommodation

An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

As a graduate, you'll have a clear understanding of the role of technology in music and be able to use a range of modern technologies.

Career opportunities are available in performance, production and concert management, as well as audio and sound engineering.

You'll be suited for work in creative areas where there is a heavy reliance on technology such as film, theatre and the arts.

Your technical expertise will also prepare you for designing new audio tools and systems, with leading music software developers and technology makers and careers in research and development.

Get inspired

Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.

We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.

Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.

Fees*

There is currently no published fee data for this course.

Supplementary fee information

*The UK Government recently proposed that tuition fees for Home students will increase by 3.1% to £9,535 from 1st August 2025. This increase is subject to Parliamentary approval and the vote is expected to take place later this year.

Any tuition fee which is impacted by this change will be updated following approval.

Please see GOV.UK for further information.

Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.

You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.

Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.

Learn more about funding.

Additional costs

This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.

Learn more about costs.

Entry

Typical offers

Tariff points: 112
Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.
A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required. Please list the units you are taking in your application. For further advice on acceptable units please email us.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
Access: No specific subjects required.
Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
Welsh Baccalaureate: We accept tariff points achieved from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
Cambridge Technical: No specific subjects required.
T Levels: No specific subjects required.

Entry requirements

International applicants

For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.

If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.

How to apply

For further information

Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
International/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk
Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333
International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644

BSc(Hons) Audio and Music Technology