Audio and Music Technology (with Placement year)

Discover how sound works and how technology can help you master it with our JAMES-accredited Audio & Music Technology degree.

Use our BSc (Hons) Audio & Music Technology degree as a launchpad for a range of employment opportunities where audio expertise is needed. This applied course provides a firm scientific foundation that empowers you to master technology and produce the best creative outcomes.

Guided by expert academics and industry-active practitioners, you’ll build a compelling portfolio for a future-oriented career in the creative industries, including studio engineering, live sound, film, video games, broadcast, and acoustics.

Our Audio & Music Technology course is accredited by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support). Their trained assessors and accreditation panel members are working professionals with extensive knowledge and experience of today’s music and audio industry – so you can be sure our course will give you all the relevant skills you need for a successful career.

Join our community of graduates who engineer in studios, tour the world as live-sound production managers, or become successful entrepreneurs.

Work in industry-standard recording studios and audio/video production facilities supported by our technical team.

Learn from expert academics and industry-active practitioners.

Take an optional work placement year, or internships with our industry partners and practitioners.

Make the most of Cambridge’s diverse music scene with our links to local venues and groups.

Collaborate with students from other music courses to develop all-important skills for your professional life.

Careers

Our Audio & Music Technology course equips you with a balanced, blended skillset, preparing you for many different career destinations.

As a JAMES-accredited graduate, you can join the JAMES Graduate Database after graduating to promote your skills and portfolio to potential employers.

You can develop your skills further by getting involved in the vibrant collaborative community across Cambridge School of Creative Industries, such as our cross-disciplinary CSCI Podcast team or in-house recording label.

Our graduates enjoy successful careers in the music industry and beyond: from recording and mixing engineers, front-of-house engineers for live events, audio specialists and acoustic consultants through to educators and technicians, the choice is yours.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our renowned MA Music Therapy. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Joseph Simpson was named winner of ARU’s Alumni Contribution to Culture Award 2023 after touring the world with internationally acclaimed artists as a tour / production manager and providing sound experiences for prestigious venues and events like the Mercury Awards and Glastonbury Festival.

Teaching

You’ll jump straight into learning fundamental concepts of audio signals in analogue and digital systems. We'll cover topics like constructing and exploring audio effects, designing acoustical treatments, and using current AI audio tools.

In Year 2 you’ll cover the full breadth of studio engineering, learning to record sound using advanced stereophonic microphone techniques then shape and mix the material further.

Finally, you'll work toward becoming an independent audio expert, tackling an individual research- informed project, producing a compelling portfolio, and applying your audio expertise to a collaborative project with other graduating students.

=optional.
Year 1: Core Skills for Audio; Studio Techniques; Acoustics; Live Sound; Into ARU.
Year 2: Advanced Audio Technology; Ruskin Module; Audio for Film; Audio for Games*; Electronics for Music*; Audio Programming*; Live Event Production*; Music Business*.
Year 3: Placement.
Year 4: Collaborative Project; Final Project; Portfolio.
Modules are subject to change and availability.

You’ll show your progress through a variety of methods that will best prepare you for your future career. These include portfolios of recorded works, essays, reports, log books, posters and presentations.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• The Joint Audio Media Education Services