Total Course Fees: £9950
SAE staff and alumni discount
SAE alumni and staff receive a 25% discount on fees.
Government Master’s loans are available in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Total Course Fees: [TO FILL IN]*
SAE staff and alumni discount
SAE alumni and staff receive a 25% discount on fees.
September 2026
For option A:
• A 500 word proposal that outlines what you want to do for your Master's Major Project and why.
For option B:
• A portfolio of work that demonstrates your creative work experience. This must include all media files (not links) and a written document summarising your involvement in the project(s) submitted.
•A CV demonstrating industry experience.
• A 500 word proposal that outlines what you want to do for your Master's Major Project and why.
For option C:
• A 500 proposal that outlines what you want to do for your Master's Major Project and why.
If English is not your first language, please refer to the International Entry Requirements below.
If your qualification does not meet these requirements, we’ll ask for one of the following:
- IELTS (UKVI or Academic) – minimum 5.5 in all components and an overall band score of 5.5
- IELTS One Skill Retake – minimum score of 5.5 in skill retake
- IELTS Online – minimum 5.5 in all components and an overall band score of 5.5
- Pearson Test of English – 59 or above overall with a minimum of 59 in each component
- PSI Skills for English B2 SELT – Pass
- Trinity College London SELT– Pass with Merit
- Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) – 169 overall with no less than 160 in each component minimum grade C
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) – 169 overall with no less than 160 in each component minimum grade B
- TOEFL (IBT or IBT Home Edition online) – 72 overall with no less than Listening – 17 Writing – 17 Speaking – 20 Reading – 18
- LanguageCert Academic – 60 pass with minimum score of 60 in each skill
- LanguageCert International ESOL C1 Expert – pass in all four components
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) – Pass with a minimum 33 in all components
- LanguageCert ESOL Integrated Skills in English II – pass in all components
- Duolingo English Test – Overall score of 100 with no less than 95 in Speaking, Writing and Listening. Minimum 100 in Reading.
SAE accepts various high school level English Qualification, please contact our Admissions team at ukenquiries@sae.edu to discuss this.
English language tests are valid for a maximum of two years.
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
- Strike the right balance between advanced technical and scientific engineering knowledge and hands-on creative practice in sound and music
- Get immediate access to high-spec recording studios and specialist tech suites from day one, working with professional-grade tools in real-world audio environments
- Learn from tutors who are active industry practitioners, including audio engineers, producers, immersive audio specialists and research practitioners
- Work with industry-standard platforms including Pro Tools and professional DAWs, building workflows that reflect how the industry actually operates
- Suited to both recent graduates and experienced professionals, with flexible full-time and part-time study options to fit your career stage and commitments
- Develop a portfolio that demonstrates both engineering precision and creative thinking, built through collaboration on complex technical and production challenges
- Benefit from a unique cross-institutional partnership with ICMP, giving you access to a wider talent pool of producers, songwriters and musicians
- Choose your own focus for your final Integrated Studio Production Project, pursuing a technical, scientific or creative specialism that aligns with your ambitions
- Graduate equipped for careers across studio production, immersive audio, spatial sound design, and hardware and software development
- Join a postgraduate community that reflects the interconnected reality of the modern music industry, where technical expertise and creative collaboration go hand in hand
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- How to measure, analyse and optimise professional studio environments using industry-standard tools and acoustic methodologies
- Advanced signal flow, systems architecture and the integration of analogue and digital production workflows
- Professional recording, editing, mixing and session design techniques across a range of contemporary studio contexts
- Immersive and spatial audio production, including multi-channel and object-based formats for music, media and interactive applications
- The perceptual and psychoacoustic principles that underpin critical listening and informed technical decision-making
- How to design and implement immersive audio workflows in response to evolving industry formats and standards
- Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies applied to audio engineering and music technology practice
- How to critically evaluate academic, technical and industry sources to inform practice-based and research-led enquiry
- The skills to plan, execute and critically evaluate a substantial self-directed studio production or applied audio engineering project
YOUR MASTER'S JOURNEY STARTS TODAY
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM OUR MASTERS IN AUDIO ENGINEERING & MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
If you’re looking to expand your technical and scientific understanding of systems engineering, while continuing to engage with sound and music on a creative level, SAE’s Audio Engineering and Music Technology Master of Science programme is built to deliver that balance.
From the outset of this one-year full-time or two-year part-time postgraduate programme, you’ll have hands-on access to high-spec recording studios and specialist tech suites, measuring, analysing, calibrating and optimising real-world audio environments using professional-grade tools. You’ll be taught by tutors who are practising audio engineers, producers, immersive audio specialists and research practitioners, bringing direct industry experience into every session.
Throughout this sound engineering MSc, you’ll integrate innovative music technology practice, advanced audio engineering and critical research skills to build specialist expertise across recording, production systems and emerging audio technologies. Working with industry-standard platforms including Pro Tools alongside widely used professional DAWs, you’ll explore signal flow, monitoring calibration and hybrid analogue–digital workflows, developing a thorough understanding of how professional audio environments are designed and operated.
Open to recent graduates and seasoned industry professionals alike, this masters in audio engineering will help you refine your critical listening abilities, sharpen data-driven problem-solving skills and gain the confidence to design and execute technically rigorous audio projects.
You’ll work alongside fellow postgraduate and undergraduate students on complex technical and production challenges, assembling a portfolio that demonstrates both engineering precision and creative thinking. The programme culminates in a masters-level Integrated Studio Production Project, through which you’ll investigate a technical, scientific or creative area of your own choosing.
This MSc is delivered in partnership with our sister institution, ICMP (the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance), giving you a genuinely unique collaborative advantage. As a student at SAE, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from a wider community of producers, songwriters and musicians across both ICMP and SAE, bringing together a diverse and enviable range of creative and technical perspectives. This cross-institutional relationship enriches every aspect of the programme, from day-to-day studio collaboration to your final project, ensuring your experience reflects the interconnected reality of the modern music industry and wider creative arts.
Whether your ambitions lie in studio production, immersive audio, hardware and software development or spatial sound design, you’ll leave equipped for a rewarding career in music technology and ready to shape what comes next.
Start your Master’s journey today!
Course FAQS
What is this course?
This MSc Audio Engineering and Music Technology is a postgraduate degree designed to develop advanced technical, scientific and creative expertise in professional audio. You will explore studio engineering, music technology and emerging audio practices, combining hands-on production with critical research to build specialist knowledge and real-world capability.
Who is it for?
This course is suited to both recent graduates and experienced practitioners who want to deepen their expertise in audio engineering and music technology. Whether you are looking to specialise, advance your career or transition into more technical or research-led roles, the course is designed to support a range of professional backgrounds.
How long does it take?
1 year full-time, or 2 years part-time.
How is it delivered?
The course is delivered through a combination of practical studio sessions, technical workshops, lectures and independent study. You will learn in professional studio environments using industry-standard equipment and software, supported by tutors who are active industry practitioners.
How is it structured?
The programme is structured around advanced audio engineering, music technology and research-led practice. You will develop skills in recording, production systems, immersive audio and critical enquiry, culminating in a substantial Integrated Studio Production Project where you specialise in a technical, scientific or creative area of your choice.
When can I start?
Intake is available in September.
What support will I get?
You will be supported by experienced tutors who are active in the industry, alongside access to high-spec studios, specialist facilities and technical resources. Additional support includes academic guidance, research supervision, careers advice and student services to support your progression throughout the course.
What careers can this lead to?
Graduates can progress into roles such as audio engineer, music producer, mixing or mastering engineer, immersive audio specialist, sound designer, or technical roles in audio hardware and software development. The course also supports progression into more advanced or specialist positions within the creative industries.
Can this help me move into teaching or academia?
Yes. The MSc develops research, critical analysis and academic skills that can support progression into teaching, lecturing or further study at doctoral level, depending on your career goals.
Will I graduate with a portfolio?
Yes. Throughout the course you will build a portfolio of advanced audio and production work, including your final Integrated Studio Production Project, demonstrating both technical precision and creative capability.
What do I need to apply?
Applicants will normally hold a good honours degree (upper second class or first class) in audio engineering, music, or a related discipline. You should also demonstrate strong technical, practical and conceptual skills in audio or music technology.
Can I apply without a degree?
Yes. Applications are welcomed from experienced practitioners who can demonstrate advanced practical or professional experience in audio or music technology. You may be asked to provide additional evidence of your work and are encouraged to contact the Admissions team before applying.
Do I need to be working in the creative industries now?
No. You do not need to be currently working in the industry, but you should have relevant experience or a strong interest in developing your skills in audio engineering and music technology.
How much does it cost?
The tuition fee for this course is £9,950 for UK students. International fees may vary.
Are discounts available?
Discounts and scholarships may be available depending on eligibility. Please enquire to find out more about current offers.
Is funding available?
UK students may be eligible for postgraduate funding, such as a Master’s Loan. Additional funding options may be available depending on your circumstances.
How do I apply?
Apply online: https://www.sae.edu/gbr/apply-now/
You’ll need a personal statement, academic transcripts or evidence of experience, and a project proposal if available.
Can I speak to someone first?
Yes. You can book a call with an SAE advisor to discuss your options and get help with your application.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our courses or if you’d like more information on how to apply for our Masters in Creative Arts at SAE, please contact our Enquiries Team on 03330 112 315 or email ukadmissions@sae.edu.
