MA Music Production and Audio Cultures

The MA Music Production & Audio Cultures programme aims to teach critical listening and studio practices for musical recordings based on creative uses of technologies ranging from various digital audio workstations through to tape machines, analogue console desks, and 3D audio systems. Informed by research from multidisciplinary perspectives (acoustics, cognitive psychology, cultural anthropology and sociology, engineering, feminist and queer theories, and musicology of production), this programme is designed both to convey the scientific principles behind sound reproduction and engage the new generation of music producers and sound engineers in a critical dialogue on audio cultures and the pressing needs to de-gender and decolonise the field. In this way, the evolution of aesthetics and genres are presented through economic, historical, and political lenses, empowering students to follow their artistic vision and to find their own voice in the global music industry.

The programme offers a balance of theoretical lectures, listening seminars, and guided studio workshops taught by industry professionals and scholars. Students complete their productions in the well-equipped performance and recording facilities of the School of Arts and Creative Technologies. Moreover, they have opportunities to contribute to group projects with non-academic partners to gain experiential knowledge in real-life settings and to expand their professional network. Our research-enriched pedagogy enables our graduates to apply a wide range of specialist practical skills, detailed knowledge, and informed judgement to studio-based tasks and other associated music production activities such as live engineering. The interdisciplinary approach of the programme also opens doors for them to pursue a career in education, business and management, and research and development.

Undergraduate degree 2:2 or equivalent in Music or another relevant subject. We will also consider unrelated first degrees provided you can demonstrate a good grasp of music theory and some practical ability in music making.

Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component

Cambridge CEFR B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component

Oxford ELLT 7, minimum of 6 in each component

Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in all other components

LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component

LanguageCert Academic 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component

Kaplan Test of English Language 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components

Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component

PTE Academic 61, minimum 55 in each component

TOEFL 87, minimum of 21 in each component

Trinity ISE III Merit in all requirements

IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component

Cambridge CEFR B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component

Oxford ELLT 7, minimum of 6 in each component

Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in all other components

LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component

LanguageCert Academic 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component

Kaplan Test of English Language 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components

Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component

PTE Academic 61, minimum 55 in each component

TOEFL 87, minimum of 21 in each component

Trinity ISE III Merit in all requirements