Sound for the Moving Image

The programme consists of two years at the Glasgow School of Art (Year 3 and Year 4 of a BDes (Hons) degree), after two years in a Further Education college or international equivalent. The programme recruits directly into Stage 3 with articulation from HND programmes or from mature students with relevant experience. The programme will encourage students to make highly creative, concept-driven audiovisual work, using innovative recording, production and post-production technologies.

In addition to making original practical works in Studio courses, students will gradually build critical reading, analysis, academic writing and presentation skills in Critical Studies courses in Year 3, which prepare students for a large-scale, self -directed Research Project in Year 4 (comprised of a substantial piece of academic writing and a practical project). The critical studies and research courses encourage solid contextualisation and reflection within the studio projects too, which will equip graduates to succeed as industry professionals whilst also making their practice selfsustaining and continually encouraging those graduates re-invent the industrial systems to become more inclusive, accessible and for themselves to be responsible as creative citizens to address societal, cultural and sustainability issues in our future. Students will learn to make sound/audiovisual work that is meaningful and accessible to our society and work that diversifies representation both behind and in-front of the camera.

The programme structure fosters interdisciplinarity and collaboration across the School of Innovation, with an elective course in Year 3 where the student can share a classroom with like- minded students from BDes Product Design and BSc Immersive Systems who chose the same thematic study option. From Year 3 to Year 4 there is a progression from scaffolded studio projects with tutor specified mediums and deliverables, to self-directed and tutor supported projects where the student chooses their medium (e.g. sound alone, film or interactive platform/experience). This interdisciplinarity and choice within the programme allows students to tailor their learning experience and build a creative portfolio for their chosen industry.

This undergraduate course has been written in response to the increased recognition of the importance of sound and moving image as part of the Scottish creative, cultural and commercial landscapes.

The programme will also tap into the worldwide increase in media production for an increasingly diverse and divergent audience through multiple digital distribution platforms. Students will develop detailed theoretical, practical and technical knowledge in sound production for visual media, where they can execute industry standard workflows, and incorporate meticulous ethical processes. Throughout the programme, project briefs are set to support students in creating:

• original soundscapes
• documentaries
• original short films
• spatial and immersive audio (including audio for games);
• voice for audiobooks, advertisement, radio jingles
• music for animation
• and an extended self-directed research project

The programme prepares students for a career in the field of sound production and postproduction for the moving image. The programme will also provide a grounding in the professional practice of sound production for visual environments, such as film, animation, television, online, interactive media and games, theatre and art installations. Graduates have found employment as audio professionals and practitioners in key creative industries and progressed to a range of careers in audio-visual arts, game development and film and television.

Founded in 1845, the Glasgow School of Art is one of the few remaining independent art schools in the UK. With a proven history of producing some of the world’s most influential and successful artists, designers and architects, the GSA’s studio-based specialist, practice-led education draws talented individuals with a shared passion and concern for visual culture from all over the world. The GSA has produced nine Turner Prize winners and world-renowned alumni, including Jasleen Kaur, Jenny Saville, Douglas Gordon and Alberta Whittle.

In 2026, the GSA was ranked 3rd in the UK and 8th in the world in the QS World University Subject Rankings.