Duration:
3 years full-time | Direct entry available

Location:
Confetti Nottingham Campus, NTU

UCAS course code:
J941

Institution code:
N91

Quick! We have some places remaining for this September. Check out the entry requirements below.

On this Sound Engineering and Audio Production course you’ll explore the technical world of sound recording, creation and processing in numerous applications, all in the creative heart of Nottingham.

You’ll experience sound capture and manipulation within contexts such as game audio, and sound for film and post production, recording studio engineering, mixing, and sound design – all wrapped up within employability contexts, as part of our Do It For Real ethos.

You’ll get to learn and perform in world-class studios and performance spaces, surrounded by experts who are working professionals in the music and creative industries.

You’ll also benefit from being assigned an industry mentor in your final year to support you with your industry-focused modules and provide a network of contacts and opportunities for when you graduate.

This course is for you if:

  • you love creating and manipulating sounds
  • you enjoy learning technical and science based concepts
  • you like using audio equipment creatively and technically

Industry exposure at Tileyard

As part of your degree you’ll get exclusive access to the UK’s best music industry insights and connections through our partnership with Tileyard – the world’s largest professional music community.

You can expect regular masterclasses, industry briefs, mentoring and a host of other opportunities to further develop your portfolio, industry knowledge and those all-important connections and contacts.

Progression route

MSc in Sound Engineering at our Nottingham or London campuses

Clearing 2024

  • 88 UCAS points from up to four qualifications.

Spaces are limited, so call NTU’s Clearing hotline on 0115 848 6000 to secure your place.

2025 entry

  • Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
  • Contextual offer (UK only): 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

You will also have at least one of the following music qualifications:

  • A level or other level 3 qualification in a related subject such as BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology or Production (or similar, e.g. RSL Awards)

We welcome suitable applicants without standard entry requirements. Once we receive your UCAS application we may be in touch to request you evidence your relevant experience and interest in using Music Technology in this straight forward way:

  • A short 2 – 3 minute video where you talk through a production you have been involved in on a DAW or where you have recorded live instrumentation

A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer and we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU and Confetti offer a student experience like no other and this approach helps us to find students who have the potential to succeed here but who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

Find out how we assess your application.

Fees & funding

We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:

English language entry requirements

You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors. Find out more about advisors in your country.

This degree is validated by Nottingham Trent University. You can apply through UCAS.

Apply now

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.

Fees & funding

Introduction to The Studio (20 Credit Points)

You will begin your journey into the studio environment by developing your understanding of the fundamentals of recording. You will learn about large format consoles, signal flow, connections, microphone types, and DAWs to record audio.

You’ll be able to apply these skills whether you’re in a traditional studio or have a small home set up: get this right now, and it will set you up for all of your future studio work.

Studio Practice (20 Credit Points)

In this module, you’ll discover the magic of recording various artists using different styles of recording such as multitracking and overdubbing, in session and in your own time, to form a portfolio of studio work.

Pro Tools Techniques (20 Credit Points)

In the professional audio world Pro Tools is the DAW of choice. In this module, you’ll learn how to use this powerful application by covering Pro Tools navigation and operation, setting you up for the rest of your course and career in audio, and paves the way for Pro Tools accreditation.

Sound Design (20 Credit Points)

In this module, you will develop a range of sound design skills that will allow you to complete various sound design briefs with the scope for further creativity.

You will learn how to analyse sounds and how to choose from and creatively implement arrange of audio generation and manipulation techniques, and how to prepare your sound design work for real-world application in a creative, practical and playful approach to the discipline.

Sound and Audio Fundamentals (20 Credit Points)

In this module, you will experience the core principles of the subject area, in order to understand fundamental theory and how this can be applied to the relevant technology in this field. Areas such as sound wave principles, audio signals, analysis tools and industry standards will be developed, both in understanding and application.

The module is designed to underpin all the technology applied in other modules to ensure you have a solid base of knowledge to build upon.

Your Industry (20 Credit Points)

You will explore contexts of working in the international world of sound and music and how you might establish a career by exploring the flow of money through the industry and relevant current and emerging trends. You’ll assess your current skill set and discover what you need to do to improve your chances of success on your employable journey.

You’ll choose work like briefs lasting at least 80 hours to enable you to experience working opportunities in a field of interest, then reflect on your learning to set you up for the rest of your course in an employable mind set. Your future starts now!

Studio Production (20 Credit Points)

You will explore digital, analogue, and hybrid studio technologies, developing recording and processing techniques to take on a variety of productions over the module: this could be using  traditional studio environments (on-site or external) or your own DIY production set ups.

You will collaborate with performers, artists, and other students to work on a wide base of genres, selecting a range of your productions for a portfolio that should be approaching commercial standards.

Mixing (20 Credit Points)

In this module, you’ll work to client supplied briefs as well as your own self sourced material, engaging in technical and creative post production and mixing processes to create a portfolio of work. You’ll critically compare your mixes with industry outputs from around the world and learn approaches to help you meet commercial benchmarks.

You’ll cover techniques with compression, effects and automation with additional production skills such as vocal editing and production, drum production and other genre specific approaches of additional production through a range of projects.

Audio For Games (20 Credit Points)

In this module you will develop your sound design and implementation skills, for games, using a range of industry-standard software and techniques. You will create in-game audio content for objects, such as weapons, vehicles, ambience, and user interfaces.

You will develop a personal showreel that will showcase your audio for games skills, which will support your employability in the industry.

Sound for Visual Content (20 Credit Points)

In this module you will undertake the full audio production for a piece of film from sound design, location and field recording, Foley, right through to editing, ADR and final mix.

You will be in charge of gathering all audio assets to complement the video and create an audio visual product you can use as your showreel for potential employment.

Acoustic Theory and Application (20 Credit Points)

In many aspects of sound and audio work, the perception of the professional and the end consumer is vital. Acoustics plays an important role in approaching and completing work to the desired standard. In this module you will experience acoustic theory and application, including the human perception of sound, room acoustics, and electro acoustics, to better inform your application.

Holding the knowledge and understanding of these areas, allows you to apply these areas to creating realistic gaming environments, film atmos, and appropriate reverberation and time-based effects on musical productions.

Industry Practice (20 Credit Points)

Industry Practice (20 Credit Points)

This is where the reality of being a freelance practitioner really comes into focus. During this module, you will source and manage appropriate self-directed projects of at least 20 hours in an area that aligns to your career aspiration, working individually and collaboratively, applying the research, knowledge, and skills learnt throughout the course in common real-world scenarios.

You will also be given a further 80 hours of relevant industry briefs over the year to complete and reflect on. The aim is to develop your overall professionalism and provide you with the knowledge and resources to begin a career in the creative industries which are increasingly defined by freelance and self-employed models of work.

Projects can cover a wide range of scenarios, and you must be able to adapt quickly, spinning a number of plates at once. You will need to work under pressure to strict deadlines and learn how to manage your time and resources effectively whilst looking after the wellbeing of yourself and your collaborators. You’ll explore relevant legal frameworks such as copyright and intellectual property and examine how money flows in your particular area of interest so you’re best placed to exploit your talents for financial sustainable gain.

Commercial Music Production (40 Credit Points)

In this module, you will propose and negotiate a commercial project(s) to produce from start to finish. You will go through the whole process of planning, managing, recording, mixing and mastering the delivery of musical projects such as a single, EP or album and examine creative decisions from your own production standpoint to find your ‘production voice’.

You’ll explore studio production and examine different styles of creative approaches and the benefits of working as part of a team. You will be able to explore roles in other peoples projects whether that’s as a mixer, vocal producer, additional production, engineer or assistant engineer but ultimately you’ll oversee your own final product, recorded, mixed and mastered by yourself.

Sound and Audio Research Project (40 Credit Points)

You will propose and undertake a sustained and substantial research project based on a relevant current or emerging area of sound and audio, that builds on your existing knowledge, experience, skills and interests.

You will be required to conduct secondary research of primary sources to support your proposal, which will then be negotiated and agreed upon with a subject supervisor. You will then continue your research project, generating your own material, and primary research to analyse and conclude your findings. You will have support from a subject supervisor, throughout your project.

The module is designed to provide you with the ability to devise and conduct an independent project that will benefit employment and/or further study.

Industry Brief (40 Credit Points)

This module is the exciting link to your next steps into an employable future. You’ll choose a live brief set by industry from a range of employers and scenarios and you’ll receive tailored session delivery to ensure you have the skills to meet exactly what the industry needs.

Briefs could include work set from the games, broadcast, technical, film, and TV industries. Alongside specialist sessions, you will also take part in classes to develop your broader employability skills, and additionally, you’ll be assigned an industry mentor related to your personalised journey to help you on your way.

Do It For Real

Industry Week

Studying at Confetti you’ll take part in Industry Week where you’ll be able to meet a range of professionals within your field of interest as well as other areas of the creative industries. 

Past guests include Susan Rogers, Sylvia Massy, Tony Visconti, Andrew Schepps, Steve Albini and Steve Lillywhite.

Student work

Our Talent Development team works closely with course leaders to link students with opportunities across the industry. Sound Engineering students have previously worked with leading companies, such as:

  • Ableton
  • Nottingham Panthers

As part of our course we also regularly give our students the chance to go on trips to events, such as expos, venues and studios.

Study a Sound Engineering degree with us and you’ll learn in our very own live music and events venue, Metronome. You’ll have access to:

  • Exigy and MPC ATC monitors
  • Specialist IT and production suites with software such as Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton
  • Industry-standard recording, mixing and mastering studios including SSL Duality, Neumann and Schoeps Studer equipment
  • Performance rehearsal rooms
  • 400 capacity live events venue
  • Post-production suites including Soundfield, 5.1, Foley Room, Binaural and VR technology
  • Synth Lab: a shrine to the synthesiser

Courses

Your time at Confetti doesn’t have to stop once you finish your undergraduate course. Choose to continue your studies on our postgraduate degrees that can help you further develop your skills and obtain the experience you need to get a head start in your career.

Career options

What roles do our graduates go on to?

  • Sound designer
  • Music producer
  • Recording
  • Mix and mastering engineer
  • Audio technician
  • Acoustician
  • Sound engineer

NTU Employability support

Our support doesn’t end when you graduate. As a Confetti and NTU student you will be entitled to dedicated graduate employability support for up to three years after you complete your studies. You’ll have access to exclusive events, initiatives and work experience opportunities to support you in the early stages of your graduate career.

NTU Employability support

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