BA/BSc (Hons) Music and Sound Design

This course prepares you to work as a music and sound design specialist within the dynamic environment of the creative industries. You’ll graduate with a portfolio of work that highlights your expertise, providing you with a competitive advantage in the world of work.

You’ll cover music production, film sound, game audio and studio practice.
Your practical work will be supported by a dedicated teaching team with extensive experience across a range disciplines in music and sound production and you’ll have access to cutting-edge studio facilities, editing suites and sound recording equipment. Read more about our Elephant Studios facilities here. The main software used on the course include:

• Ableton Live
• Avid Pro Tools (Avid accredited)
• Max/MSP
• Unity & Fmod
• VCV Rack

Your practice will be underpinned by a critical exploration of how music and sound resonate through culture and influences our perception of media artefacts. This will help you to articulate the intentions of your work through independent thinking and a deeper understanding of related concepts.

Methods of assessment for course overall: 100% coursework.

Year 1

• Sample and Sequence
  This module introduces you to music production, remixing and arranging in Ableton Live DAW software using multitrack stems.
• Creative Music Technology
  This module introduces you to the fundamentals of how to create sounds and explore a variety of advanced synthesis techniques such as granular synthesis and frequency modulation. You’ll work with software such as Ableton Live, Max and Max for Live, along with hardware analog and modular synths.
• Contemporary Music Industry
  This module provides an overview of the evolution of the recording industry. You’ll examine contemporary issues in the dissemination and commercialisation of music, and study the relationships between audiences, artists, record labels, production companies, and different modes of distribution.
• Introduction to Film Sound
  In this module, you will create a soundtrack to a short film created by students on the Film Practice BA. You will learn the key concepts in film sound, and industry techniques to mix music, dialog and sound effects using Pro Tools software.
• Introduction to Game Audio
  This module will introduce you to key concepts in game audio. You will explore the use of sound and music in an interactive environment, and learn how to create character sounds and game music.
• Introduction to Studio Practice
  This module will introduce you to the underlying concepts of a sound studio. You will explore the use of different microphones and acoustic principles, taking sounds through both analog and digital realms.

Year 2

• Studio Production: Recording
  This module builds on the Introduction to Studio Practice at Level 4. You’ll develop your knowledge of microphone techniques, acoustics, critical listening skills, and learn about the relationships between different studio roles from engineering to performing and producing.
• Studio Production: Mixing
  This module will give you an in depth understanding of studio mixing techniques, including mixing with Pro Tools while using an analogue mixing console with outboard hardware, applying automation to give your productions a polished and professional sound.
• Sound Design: Specialism 1
  This module gives you an opportunity to specialise in sound design for either film or games, whilst collaborating with students from your chosen discipline. The first semester sound design module will focus on understanding the pre-production processes, preparing the music, sound effects and dialogue elements for a game or film.
• Sound Design: Specialism 2
  This module gives you an opportunity to specialise in sound design for either film or games, whilst collaborating with students from your chosen discipline. The second semester sound design module will focus on aspects such as film post-production and game audio implementation.
• Music Image Text
  This module will address contextual issues in the understanding of sound practices, in terms of production, consumption, distribution and subjectivity. It will support your sound and music production work by making connections between sound and specific cultural and technological contexts.
• Performance
  This module will explore the diversity of the live music sector, from local gigs to international tours, from small venues to music festivals. It will outline the roles of agents, promoters, managers, event organisers, merchandise teams, and venue owners. It will explore the economics of live music, the effects of live music on communities, and the effects of legislation and regulations. As part of this module, you will work as a team to organise a live music event.

Year 3

• Research Project
  The final year research paper module gives you the opportunity to conduct original research in an area of your degree or field of interest under the guidance of an academic supervisor.
• Professional Practice
  In this module, you'll gain all the necessary knowledge and understanding to become a successful professional in real-world creative sound and music contexts. You'll have the opportunity to undertake a work placements and develop a professional portfolio. The module will feature guest talks from industry professionals.
• Advanced Project
  You'll produce and exhibit a coherent and critically informed advanced final year project. Building upon individual research and experimentation undertaken in the prototype phase, you'll be working independently with support from tutors to produce and display at the End of Year Show. You are expected to work at a professional standard while exploring opportunities to innovate and challenge conventions. You can work individually or collaboratively to produce a piece of work such as sound for games, films, or produce stand alone sound/music production.

The modules were the right mix of theory and practical experience which was a crucial part of my decision. The chance to learn from well-respected lecturers was also really important, as was using facilities I would be expected to understand in the industry.

Nate Gallardo, BA (Hons) Sound Design (2013)

Employability Service

We are University of the Year for Graduate Employment for the second year in a row - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, 2019.

At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:

• An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
• Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.

Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.

Covid impact

The course is currently being delivered using a blend of online and on-campus activity. Students are provided with access to the software required on the course and will be able to access facilities and equipment in line with university regulations.

Course team

Your Lecturers are leading practitioners and world-leading researchers in their fields, so everything we do is ahead of the pack and industry relevant. Inspiring guest speakers from renowned record labels, studios and production houses will give you further industry insight and build your professional connections

Our studio techs are experienced producers and sound engineers who will be on-hand to support your studio sessions.

Personal Tutor

As an undergraduate Arts and Creative Industries student, you will be allocated a personal tutor. The role of your tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support.

Your tutor will support you to get the most of your time at LSBU, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University.

Your tutor should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are affecting your work. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem.

You will meet your tutor at least twice a semester throughout your course. You can contact your tutor for additional meetings or support via our dedicated communication app, Slack.

• A Level BCC or;
• BTEC National Diploma MMM or;
• Access to HE qualifications with 9 Distinctions 36 Merits or;
• Equivalent Level 3 qualifications worth 106 UCAS points
• Applicants must hold 5 GCSEs A-C including Maths and English or equivalent (reformed GCSEs Grade 4 or above)
• We welcome qualifications from around the world. English language qualifications for international students: IELTS score of 6.0 or Cambridge Proficiency or Advanced Grade C.

For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for undergraduate students.

Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.

See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 160 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 102 KB).

Possible fee changes

The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.

The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.

Scholarships

We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on our scholarships page.