Audio and Music Production with Foundation Year

Sound isn’t just background noise; it’s the heartbeat of any story. Think of the hush before a horror jump-scare, or the rolling bass that carries you through a game’s final level. Our BA (Hons) Audio and Music Production course puts sound design front and centre, giving you the chance to create everything from detailed Foley for film to wild, experimental sound art. You’ll be working in Dolby Atmos-certified studios, guided by lecturers who actually do this work for a living. It’s hands-on, it’s creative, and it’s all about learning the skills you’ll actually use.

Why study Audio and Music at BNU?
Collaborative learning
We’ve designed this to be the most wide-ranging audio course at BNU, one that balances specialist sound design training with the flexibility to explore music production and audio theory. You won’t just be sitting in a studio on your own, either. You’ll be swapping ideas with animators, game designers, and advertising students, tackling projects that feel a lot like real client briefs. It’s collaborative, occasionally chaotic, and exactly the kind of environment that gets you ready for the industry. By the end, you’ll have a portfolio that doesn’t just show what you can do, it shows how you work.

Experience Real Projects
Our course is designed to be practical and immersive. You'll get plenty of opportunities to work on real-life briefs and projects, helping you build a strong portfolio and gain valuable experience. From recording sessions to live sound setups, you'll be involved in every aspect of music production. This hands-on approach ensures you develop the technical skills and creative confidence needed to succeed.

Industry connections
BNU has a huge amount of industry connections, thanks to over 25 years of delivering music courses. Our network of guest speakers and alumni can provide you with insights and opportunities in the music business. You'll have the chance to attend industry events, workshops, and networking sessions.

What will I study?
To reflect the real world, you’ll work as part of a production crew both on and off campus. You’ll collaborate with students from other courses, including Film & TV and Performing Arts on projects ranging from the screen to the stage. You'll also learn relevant business skills to help you tackle the challenges freelance technicians can face, including finance and legal guidance.

At its core, our Audio and Music Production programme aims to produce creative graduates with the necessary technical, theoretical and professional skills for employment within the creative industries. You’ll gain comprehensive training in key elements of music and audio production: studio production, location sound and post-production, music performance and composition, immersive audio techniques, critical listening and analysis, sound design, recording and mixing techniques and live audio production techniques.

This course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.

What facilities can I use?
You’ll spend a lot of time in spaces that feel like actual professional production studios because, simply put, they are. Our Dolby Atmos rooms are built for immersive sound, whether you’re mixing for a feature film or an interactive VR experience. We’ve got Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Max/MSP, and a massive collection of plugins and sound libraries at your fingertips. Need to record footsteps on gravel or the snap of a twig? Head to the dedicated Foley space. And because we know the best ideas often come from talking to people outside your own field, you’ll also have access to shared spaces where you can bump into game devs, animators, or film students and spark new collaborations.

Course Modules

Modules will vary depending on the specialism you choose.
Foundation Year
Live Performance
Introduction to Popular Music
Introduction to Composition
Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Professional Skills
Final Project

Year One
Core
Audio Production Technologies (20 credits);
Live Audio (20 credits);
Sound Design for Moving Image (20 credits);
Recording & Mixing Techniques (20 credits);
Entertainment Industry Framework (20 credits).

Year Two
Core
Live Production Technology (20 credits);
Creative Audio Production (20 credits);
Research Methods (20 credits)

Optional
Choose modules to the total of 40 credits:
Location Sound & Post-production (20 credits);
Sound Design for Non-linear media (20 credits);
Electronic Production Techniques (20 credits);
Music Publishing (20 credits);
Music Publishing (Placement) (20 credits).

Year Three
Core
Creative Audio Project (20 credits);
Professional Production Project (20 credits);
Dissertation/Independent Work (40 credits)

Optional
Choose modules to the total of 40 credits:
Immersive Audio Techniques (20 credits);
Creative Performance Technology (20 credits);
Sound Design & Sonic Installation (20 credits);
Performance Application or Strategy (20 credits);
A&R (20 credits)

Our teaching staff have a wealth of professional and academic experience, with many still actively working in the music industry. You’ll also engage with our dynamic programme of visiting lectures and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and plenty of networking opportunities.

Previous live-industry briefs have seen students work at Glastonbury, Dolby and Pinewood Studios. You'll also get the chance to work with up and coming music artists. Previous artists have included the Ting Tings, Jake Bugg, and Florence and the Machine.

You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only will you be able to make friends for life, you’ll also make important connections that could last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in the working-world.

A variety of assessment methods will be used as appropriate to the modules you take, including essays, reports, portfolios of creative audio content, written evaluations, presentations, and some continuous assessment on practical tasks. Assessments will be appropriate to the task, achievable, motivating and vocationally focussed, forming a constructive part of your learning process.