BSc(Hons) Creative Music Technology
This course is open for applications
Introduction
Develop and refine your creative process using inspiration from past and present composers. Express and apply this in different areas using a broad range of techniques and technologies. Recognised as the 'most musical city' in the UK (per capita) it is a fantastic place to study all genres of music.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study creative music technology?
Music as an art form evolves constantly, with practitioners taking inspiration from composers and artists past and present and developing future sounds.
New technologies and techniques allow us to express our creativity in more ways than ever. These ideas can be applied to live performances, to music for film or computer games.
Musicians who understand the creative process and how to work within technical boundaries are well-equipped to build careers in this exciting industry.
If you're a performing musician, or a composer/producer, or both, with a basic understanding of technologies involved in the creative arts and a desire to develop your craft and expand your knowledge and practice into different areas of the audio sector, you'll find this course rewarding.
Why UWE Bristol?
BSc(Hons) Creative Music Technology is accredited by 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'.
Explore composers and artists past and present, taking inspiration from Bach to Boulez, The Beatles to Hans Zimmer.
Refine and define your own creative process. Develop programming skills and learn how to enhance the sound and quality of audio using technology.
Study composition and enhance your formal musical training in music theory and performance. Get involved with inspiring musical projects in the community, for schools and with local media companies.
Perform in events organised by our celebrated Centre for Music. Activities range from big band, to chamber ensembles and a full symphony orchestra.
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?
As a graduate, choose from careers in composition, performance, production and concert management, as well as audio and sound engineering.
You'll also be suited for work in creative areas where there is a heavy reliance on technology such as film, theatre and the arts.
Watch how Creative technology alumni, Jack Cookson entered the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Artist of the Year competition early in 2016. Just a few months later he was performing in the final at the Royal Albert Hall.
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 Technology
- Audio Engineering
- Music.
Year two
You'll study:
- Advanced Composition.
Plus, three optional modules from:
- Research and Practice in Creative Technology
- Audio Recording
- Audio Process Design and Implementation
- Sound Design and Post Production
- Creative and Physical Computing.
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
- Music Portfolio.
Plus, optional modules (the number depending on credit requirements) from:
- Professional Experience or International Experience or Professional Development
- Live Sound
- Audio Post Production
- Instrument Recording Investigation
- Audio For Games
- Advanced Technologies
- Architectural Acoustics
- Broadcast Practice.
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
Work together in small groups on the Composition and Performance modules, and join larger classes of students studying music technology for other subjects.
Discuss difficult concepts with friends and colleagues in pairs and small teams. Learn through hands-on, practical studio and computer lab sessions so you can process theory and principles 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 backstage and in the studio.
Study acoustics and recording in depth and grow an appreciation of audio for video and film.
Choose modules that allow you to specialise in your areas of interest. Take on an individual final year project, showcasing your composition.
Play and perform a range of musical styles at our celebrated Centre for Music. We have 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
Demonstrate your work at the annual degree show.
Past exhibits include music composed for film and computer games.
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 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 choose the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.
Past students have worked in composition, library music or as session musicians with organisations including the BBC, Dolby and Acoustic Design.
You'll get help to find your placement and support throughout from staff within the School and our award-winning careers service.
Fieldwork
We arrange trips to the Dolby Labs so you can experience the latest in feature film surround sound 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.
To inspire your creativity, we arrange trips to performances such as the Welsh National Opera.
We encourage students to get involved on projects with local organisations. Our students have worked with the BBC composing music for wildlife programmes and audio for food festivals, and producing podcasts for the Natural History Museum.
Study facilities
Create and perform in our well-equipped studios and performance spaces.
Compose and play in a choice of four performance spaces with both live to dead acoustics.
Record and mix audio in our recording studios with professional standard analogue and digital consoles.
Enhance, edit and 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 be able to create professional quality music and sound in both live and studio environments.
Career opportunities are available in performance, production and concert management, as well as audio and sound engineering.
You'll also be suited for work in creative areas where there is a heavy reliance on technology such as film, theatre, and the arts.
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*
Full-time; Sandwich course
Indicative Additional Costs
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.
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.
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.
- A-level subjects: Music or Music Technology preferred.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: Creative Media Production, Music or Music Technology preferred.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: No specific subjects required.
- Baccalaureate IB: A minimum grade of 5 in Higher Level Music preferred.
- Irish Highers: Higher Level in Music preferred.
- 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 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.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644