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BA/BSc (Hons) Audio Production Degree

Study a 2 year Audio Production degree to develop and support your creativity across music production, live sound, film, games, audio drama, animation, immersive audio and programming. Work in dedicated high-quality recording and post-production suites, and use the latest software including Pro Tools, Ableton, FMOD and Unreal/Unity.

Start in September
Campuses
Glasgow, Liverpool, London
Fees
BA/BSc (Hons) Audio Production Degree
Domestic Fees
London

£11,100 per year

The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.

For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.

Glasgow

£9,000 per year

Partial funding is available for eligible home fee applicants who are residents of Scotland via the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.

Liverpool

£11,100 per year

The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.

For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.

Leamington Spa

£11,100 per year

The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.

For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.

BA/BSc (Hons) Audio Production Degree
International Fees
London

For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £15,000 per year



For EU/EEA/Swiss students*
: £ 11,100 per year

*Student visa required

For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.

Glasgow

For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £13,000 per year



For EU/EEA/Swiss students*
: £ 9,000 per year

*Student visa required

For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.

Liverpool

For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £15,000 per year



For EU/EEA/Swiss students*
: £ 11,100 per year

*Student visa required

For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.

Leamington Spa

For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £15,000 per year



For EU/EEA/Swiss students*
: £ 11,100 per year

*Student visa required

For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.

Duration(s)
2 years full-time
BA/BSc (Hons) Audio Production Degree
Course Durations
2 years full-time
Start Date(s)
September
BA/BSc (Hons) Audio Production Degree
Start Dates
Glasgow
  • September

Liverpool
  • September

London
  • September

Entry Requirements
BA/BSc (Hons) Audio Production Degree
Domestic Entry Requirements
Domestic students must meet one of the following criteria:
Degree entry Offers will be made to applicants who are expected to meet, or exceed the entry requirements below, in addition to supplying a personal statement:
72 UCAS points
GCSE level A* - C in English AND Mathematics 9 - 4 (or equivalent). For students studying in Scotland this is equivalent to National 5, C grade
Personal statement
Non-standard entry routes SAE Institute will accept non-standard entry applications, which do not meet the 72 UCAS points or equivalent, and/or maths/English at level 2 or equivalent as required:
Portfolio of related work - This could include recordings, films, sketch books, a blog or any suitable medium that gives you the best opportunity to show us your creative potential.
Successful pass mark achieved via the SAE UK Maths test
Academic Essay
Further Domestic Entry Information
For more information, please look at our Domestic Entry page
Domestic Entry Requirements
BA/BSc (Hons) Audio Production Degree
International Entry Requirements
English language requirements Students whose first language is not English will need a qualification that demonstrates competence in English, equivalent to UK GCSE (Level 2) grade 4 (c) or above. Equivalent qualifications can be accepted, where these qualifications have been verified by ENIC and are adopted widely within the UK Higher Education sector, including:
IELTS (UKVI or Academic) (minimum 5.5 in all components and an overall score of 6.0)
www.ielts.org
Pearson Test of English (minimum 59 in all subscores)
www.pearsonpte.com
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (minimum grade C)
www.cambridgeenglish.org
Cambridge English: Level 1 Certificate in ESOL International (B2 First) – minimum grade C
TOEFL (IBT or IBT Home Edition online) 72 overall with the following component scores:
  • Listening – 17
  • Writing – 17
  • Speaking – 20
  • Reading – 18
www.ets.org/toefl
LanguageCert ESOL examinations:
  • International ESOL C1 Expert – pass in all four components
  • International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) – minimum 33 in all components
  • ESOL Integrated Skills in English II – pass in all components
www.languagecert.org
• IELTS Indicator* (online) – minimum 5.5 in all components and an overall score of 6.0
*Accepted on exceptional basis for the applicants whose local test centres are affected by closures due to Covid-19
IELTS
Further International Entry Information
For more information, please look at our International Entry page
International Entry Requirements

YOUR CAREER IN AUDIO BEGINS NOW

Student at DJ desk SAE
Learn in industry relevant studio environments Neve, SSL, Audient consoles and Pro Tools, Logic Pro
Practical, immersive training Practical skills are vital. Our learning approach is a blend of vocational and academic from day one.
Creative collaboration Work on projects with songwriters, designers, game developers, filmmakers and animators.
Expand your career Graduate with a portfolio, work experience, employability and entrepreneurial skills and a network of fellow creatives.

Tools & Software

Audio Production course covers:

Recording Studio Techniques Collaborating with Artists Mixing and Mastering Electronic Music Production Live Sound Audio Post-Production Game Audio Programming Environments

Audio Production degree Course Structure

The Bachelor of Audio is broken up into three distinct stages, each designed to develop different skills.

Start dates available in January and September.
Trimester 1
Develop the essential technical audio skills and the knowledge required to collaborate with other creative media students and professionals.
During the Principles of Audio module of this pioneering audio production degree, you’ll be introduced to the concept of sound as a physical phenomenon, as you learn to predict its behaviour in different situations. Using Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) for recording and editing, you’ll also explore the fundamental concepts of audio production, as you develop a core understanding of key maths and physics concepts to support your learning.

A highly practical course, you’ll familiarise yourself with the concepts of signal routing and the basic applications of microphones and loudspeakers, including the set-up of sound reinforcement systems.

Topics include:

  • Sound Theory
  • Decibels
  • Acoustics
  • Introduction to DAWs and sequencing environments
  • Equalisation (EQ), effects and dynamic range processors
  • Basic audio signal routing and wiring
  • Electronics
  • Microphones and loudspeakers
In the Desktop Music Production module of this music production degree course, you’ll learn to design sounds with synthesis and sampling techniques within a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Across your classes, you’ll develop a good understanding of music theory from a practical perspective, compiling and arranging your own music productions. You’ll also apply EQ and dynamics processing to creative production, work with effects ‘in the box’, apply DAW-based mixing techniques to your projects and present your work to the class.

Topics include:

  • Digital Audio Workstations
  • Synthesis and sampling
  • Sequencing
  • MIDI
  • Basic sound design
  • Effects processing
  • Dynamics processing
  • Mixing
  • Intro to music theory
  • Presentation techniques
  • Intellectual property and copyright
Trimester 2
Throughout the second teaching term, you will broaden your scope to work on more complex multidisciplinary projects in accordance with industry-standard practises.
In Recording Techniques, you’ll be introduced to a studio-based recording environment by getting hands on in SAE’s in-house recording studios. You’ll build the theoretical knowledge and practical skills you need to operate a modern professional studio environment by arranging and engineering recording sessions.

Topics include:

  • Signal flow principles
  • Signal flow diagrams
  • Signal flow applications
  • Recording procedures and techniques
  • Mixing procedures and techniques
  • Digital Audio Workstations
  • Audio editing
  • Principles of signal processing equalisation, dynamics, and effects
  • Time and pitch correction
Across the Audio Production Industries module of this audio accelerated degree, you’ll focus on common production workflows and techniques used in various audio fields, such as music and multimedia. You’ll also examine these industries and explore roles within them. As you enhance your skillset in audio editing by investigating sound restoration, pitch and time correction and multitrack drum editing, you’ll also look at mixing techniques within a studio environment for both multimedia and music applications. Finally, you’ll research and write about a chosen area of interest in the audio production industries.

Topics include:

  • Console types and differences
  • Components of consoles
  • Workflows: analogue, digital, hybrid
  • Integrating hardware and DAWs
  • Care and maintenance
  • Production planning
  • The recording process
  • The mixing process
  • Audio editing techniques
  • Finalising
  • Sound restoration
  • Aesthetics and musical context
Trimester 3
Trimester 3 introduces you to a professional working environment where you will undertake a number of project briefs using a project based ‘creative studio’ approach. Creative Studios provide a practically focussed approach to your education, through the engagement with authentic assessment activities that reflect industry practises.
During Creative Studio 1, you’ll develop your professional practice and focus on the supportive role audio practitioners play across other media disciplines, including film, TV, games and animation. Studying sound design and post-production techniques across a range of media, you’ll complete practical sound-to-media projects in these areas. You’ll also work on individual projects within a variety of audio fields, such as the live sound, events, music and electronic music industries, and audio applications and programming.

Topics could cover:

  • Sound for media (film/TV, games, animation, podcast/radio)
  • Sound design and editing
  • Foley recording
  • Music and electronic music composition
  • Immersive audio
  • Object-based programming
Trimester 4
The second Creative Studio term focuses on collaborative audio and music production. You will take on production roles and plan artist productions from pre-production through to final mixing, mastering and distribution.
The Creative Studio 2 module is all about collaborative music production. As a course cohort, you’ll divide up production roles to create your own artist productions. Operating large-format consoles and conducting complex recording sessions, you’ll learn more advanced microphone and multi-microphone techniques for sources such as drums. You’ll also conduct complex live or location-based recording sessions, with or without a live audience.

As you progress your project, you’ll learn production techniques including effects, pitch correction and advanced editing. Expanding on skills gained in earlier units, you’ll increase your knowledge of mixing techniques to incorporate hybrid and analogue console and outboard equipment workflows. You’ll also explore mastering in the context of the final delivery format of your project.

Via your project, you’ll discover fundamental business, marketing and finance concepts, as you discuss different audio and music productions and freelance work. You’ll also gain an insight into health and safety, the legal side of the music industry – copyright, ownership and contracts – as well as the roles played by bodies such as the Performing Right Society (PRS for Music) and Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL).

Across the module, you’ll be encouraged to collaborate with students from other SAE disciplines outside of your audio production course to create additional media for your project, including graphic design, artwork, music videos and websites.

Topics could cover:

  • Advanced music production tools and techniques
  • Large format consoles
  • Advanced recording techniques
  • Location music recording
  • Live sound
  • Mixing on a large format console
  • Hybrid workflows
  • Mastering
  • Business, legal issues, marketing and finance
Trimester 5
As you enter your penultimate study period, you will begin to specialise your skills within your chosen area of the audio industries. You can attend either Creative Studio 3 or Advanced Specialised Production and Research and Professional Development in Creative Media modules.
Across this module, you’ll build a thorough understanding of professional practice as you align your professional development with your future career plans.

Exploring an audio-specific area of interest, you can choose to pursue a research project in your field of specialisation or undertake a structured industry-based live project designed in collaboration with your Experts and the wider industry. Using your mastery in creative media practice in combination with evidence-based decision making, you’ll develop a proposal for your final Major Project (Trimester 6). Study areas could include programming environments, electroacoustic music, electronic composition, game audio, film sound and immersive audio… or something else entirely.
Across the Advanced Specialised Production module, you’ll build on your previous skills and knowledge to create professional-standard work in your chosen field. This can either be through live projects with peers from other SAE disciplines or during work placements, by working on simulated briefs, or by developing your own project. This module is a great opportunity to refine any skills required for your final Major Project, as you develop connections with industry professionals and create a body of work that showcases your knowledge and skills to date.

Topics could cover:

  • Programming environments

  • Electroacoustic music

  • Electronic composition

  • Game audio

  • Film sound

  • Innovation and entrepreneurship

  • Live sound and events

  • Immersive audio
In this module, you’ll create the proposal for your final Major Project with guidance from our Experts. You’ll also develop a variety of academic and professional skills as you prepare to progress to postgraduate studies or embark on your career journey.
Trimester 6
This final module enables students pursuing the Audio Production award to demonstrate their skills in a large scale, advanced level project.
During your final trimester, you’ll implement the Major Project you designed, scoped and planned across Trimester 5. This industry-focused venture lets you concentrate on a specialism of your choosing, advancing your knowledge and skills in this area. Depending on your topic, you can use it as a springboard into industry, an opportunity to establish your own business or as a way to make connections with industry professionals that may lead to future employment.
UCAS Course Codes
BA Audio Production W616
University of Hertfordshire
Level 6 This program was developed and is delivered and assessed by SAE Institute, awarded by and quality assured by University of Hertfordshire.
Student at Mixing Desk SAE

What jobs will this degree lead me into?

Studio Engineer
Music Producer
Game Audio Specialist
Sound Editor
Staging Crew
Audio/Visual Technician
Sound Designer
Live Sound Engineer/Operator
Radio Broadcasting

Student Spotlight

Niv Adiri
Oscar winning Audio alumni, Niv Adiri, sat down to talk to use about his experience working on the critically acclaimed film, Belfast.
Read More
Daniel Kinde
Daniel Kinde, CEO of Big Limbo Ltd and one of our audio alumni, reached out to SAE to offer our current students a chance of using his studio.
Read More
Marie Wahrn
One of our audio alumni and new SAE campus support technician, Marie Wahrn, released a new song - Fly Away! She sat down to talk to us about the process of releasing a song.
Read More
Claus Köpplin Orrán
Claus had the amazing opportunity of working for Dubai Expo 2020! He very kindly agreed to sit down with us to answer a few questions about his experiences working over in Dubai.
Read More

Course FAQs

Yes, there is an SAE Student Store with discounts available to students who have fully enrolled.

No, this is not required. Students have access to our campus computer labs for assessment work.

You will only be required to submit a portfolio if you have not met our Level 3 entry requirements for the course, 72 UCAS points or above. One of the National Course Advising team would be happy guide you on how to produce a portfolio if needed.

Audio students get the chance to collaborate with other disciplines, there are many opportunities and requirements to collaborate with students from other degrees throughout the course.

Read more

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