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Digital Music

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 15/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site
Awarded by:
Solent University

Course summary

Our music courses ranked 15th out of 66 other UK institutions for student satisfaction (NSS 2019).

Passionate about digital music production? Want to learn from professional producers/composers and develop a solid foundation for success in the music industry? This innovative, industry-focused course enables you to develop your skills, musical creativity and confidence – providing you with a solid foundation for success within the music and creative industries.

Under the guidance of practising producers, composers, musicians and DJs you’ll study areas including music production/composition, audio engineering, live performance and entrepreneurship. The course caters for a wide variety of contemporary musical styles including various dance music genres, for example, Drum & Bass, House, Hip-Hop, Grime, EDM and Techno.

The course also encourages you to widen your skill-set, and supports you to expand upon the knowledge and proficiencies necessary to succeed within the competitive world of commercial music and sound, bridging the gap between the aspiring music producer and professional digital artist. You will also have the opportunity to study skills in Foley artistry, music/sound design for film, games and other creative mediums.

You will also be supported in establishing, branding, release/distributing and promoting your own original music through the three year course.

Throughout your studies you will have the chance to use a variety of contemporary, industry-standard software and plugins are used within teaching, including Logic Pro X, Ableton Live Suite, Pro Tools and Native Instruments’ Komplete. You will also access our professional recording studios, acoustically treated workstations, DJ equipment and facilities, music labs, instrumental practice rooms and dubbing suites.

Digital music students learn from experienced musicians, DJs and producers with a wealth of first-hand knowledge to share.

What does this course lead to?
BA (Hons) Digital Music students go on to enjoy a range of careers and professions. Thanks to the diversity of the course, graduates can apply for a variety of roles within the music and creative industries such as becoming a releasing artist/producer, studio-based third-party production, sound engineering, music/sound creation for film, games and online media, DJing and live performance.

Past graduates have gone on to become releasing producers in their own right, as well as mastering engineers, sound editors, label owners, composers for film and sound designers for games. You will also be well placed for other music-related roles, including post-production sound, sound/music editing, Foley artistry, sound design, ADR recording/editing, sound effects editing and film and TV composition.

Who is this course for?
This degree is ideally suited to students who have a genuine desire to progress and succeed within the music industry, as either a producer/composer, or digital creative within the wider creative sectors including film, games, TV, etc.

Modules

YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES
Digital Music Production and Composition 1
Digital Music Production and Composition 2
Studio Practice
Electronic Music in Context (Historical)
Artist Development 1 - The Music Industries
Digital Music Live 1 - Creation

YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES
Mixing
Artist Development 2: Branding and Self-Release
Digital Music Live 2: Performance
Electronic Music in Context (Contemporary)
Music and Sound for Film

YEAR 2 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year)
Digital DJing
Music and Sound for Games

YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES
Digital Music Final Major Project
Artist Development 3: Industry Portfolio
Artist Development 4: Networking and Promotion
Collaborative Project

YEAR 3 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year).
Advanced Mixing and Mastering
Surround Mixing

Assessment method

This largely practical degree course is mostly assessed through music-related projects with accompanying reports; though also incorporates presentations, live performances, essays and portfolios.

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
DM01
Institution code:
S30
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

International applicants

For information about applying to Solent as an International applicant, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/help-for-international-students

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 104 - 120 points

A level

104-120 from a minimum of 2 A Levels

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)

Access to HE Diploma

Pass in Access course with 60 credits overall including 45 Level 3 credits passed with a minimum of Merit, or 102-118 UCAS Tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit or Pass Grades

Scottish Higher

104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 4 Scottish Highers

AS

In combination with other qualifications

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D

D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) - DMM

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Certificate (QCF)

In combination with other qualifications

Scottish Advanced Higher

104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 2 Scottish Advanced Highers

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 28 - 31 points

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

Extended Project

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

HNC (BTEC) - P - D

HND (BTEC) - P - M

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DMM

DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma - D*D

D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)

OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma

In combination with other qualifications

OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

In combination with other qualifications

T Level - M

Merit (120 UCAS Tariff Points)

• Direct entry to years 2 (Level 5) or 3 (Level 6)

We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses.

• Level 5 (year 2) entry

To directly enter the second year of this course you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.

• Level 6 (year 3) entry

To directly enter the third year of this course you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject area.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6with 5.5 in each individual component.
TOEFL (iBT)80with a minimum of 20 in each individual compoenent.
Solent University can also accept the following English Language Test: Duolingo English Language Test 115 overall with a minimum of 95 in each component. All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office. We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at this PDF document which outlines both Solent University and Home Office requirements for a number of language tests.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We understand that each student is unique. At Solent we encourage individuality and have adopted a balanced approach to Admissions, by considering exam results alongside portfolios / interviews or auditions.

Our contextual offer scheme allows offers below our standard academic entry criteria to those who have faced challenges which has impacted their performance and predicted higher grades, by taking into account additional selection criteria such as a strong portfolio, interview or audition.

Learn more on the Southampton, Solent University website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Data from:
This course and 23 other design, and creative and performing arts courses
Date range:
2022-2024

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

88% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

75 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

85 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535Year 1
EU£17750Year 1
International£17750Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Sponsorship information

Solent University offers a number of bursaries, grants and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/finance/grants-bursaries-scholarships/bursaries

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