Please note there are no vacancies on this course for September 2024
Page last updated 23 September 2024
Develop advanced creative and technical skills and craft new technologies and practices on this leading course, accredited by Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES).
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.
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.
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.
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
You will study:
You will study one or both of:
Plus, optional modules (two or three, depending on credit requirements) from:
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.
You will study:
Plus, at least two optional modules from:
Plus, optional modules from (the number depending on credit requirements):
*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 will inform you.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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 Virtual Tour of the Audio and Music Technology facilities and see what's on offer here for you.
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
We provide support in the way you need it.
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We are pleased to confirm that our New students webpages are now available for students starting this course in September 2024. Here you can find links to useful information about registering, course start dates, arriving on campus what to expect before and when you arrive.
We automatically send a message via your Welcome website plus an email to notify you once your Preparing to Study information is available. It is important that you regularly check your Welcome website for new messages.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
All applicants will be required to attend an online interview. For more details on the process, please see selection processes.
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.
Read more about entry requirements.
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
International/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333
International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644