Audio and Music Production with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

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.<br/><br/><strong>Why study Audio and Music at BNU?</strong><br/><strong>Collaborative learning</strong><br/>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.<br/><br/><strong>Experience Real Projects</strong><br/>Our course is designed to be practical and immersive. Youll 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, youll be involved in every aspect of music production. This hands-on approach ensures you develop the technical skills and creative confidence needed to succeed.<br/><br/><strong>Industry connections</strong><br/>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. Youll have the chance to attend industry events, workshops, and networking sessions. <br/><br/><strong>What will I study?</strong><br/>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. Youll also learn relevant business skills to help you tackle the challenges freelance technicians can face, including finance and legal guidance.<br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/><strong>What facilities can I use?</strong><br/>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.