BA (Hons) Audio Production - Part-Time (2 year Degree Top-Up)

Course overview

Our part-time degree top courses are a first for Scotland, allowing you to gain a BA (Hons) Degree by studying for one day a week over 2 years.  Our degree programmes in Music, Audio Production and Music Business are validated by Kingston University London, meaning they take one year less than the typical Scottish honours degree routes.

Course Structure

The focus of our degree courses is on enabling our students to approach their studies according to their own requirements and trajectories. There are two 30-credit modules in year one focussing on current and relevant industry knowledge and practice, and in year 2, an entirely student-designed and led 60-credit professional project module forming 50% of the curriculum:

Year 1:

• Commercial Music Production (30 Credits). This module is led by Mark Forshaw
• Interactive and reactive audio (30 Credits). This module is led by Andy Stentiford.

Year 2:

• Professional Projects Capstone Module (60 credits). This module is led by Allan Glen

As the taught element of the course is delivered for only one day per week, is based around individual pathways and project based, it allows for a lot of flexibility in relation to your time and how you might align your course project with your own professional/artistic work outside of college – using external projects as evidence to gain your degree (if you choose to do so).

Does a part-time degree top-up suit you?

The part-time degree options may also be a better choice if you have completed an HND elsewhere, or have relevant professional experience and just want to level up your qualifications or re/upskill around your current job or commitments. This could be to move into a new role, progress onto post-graduate qualifications, for professional recognition and CPD, or purely to continue to raise your knowledge and skills.

Flexible Entrance based on academic or professional experience

Entrance to part-time degree programmes is also flexible. In addition to accessing the course with an HND or equivalent level qualification, we can also accept applications from applicants with a suitable level of professional experience using an ‘accredited prior learning’ (APL) route. APL will allow us to map your current or previous experience against entrance requirements, and this may mean you can access the programme without the typical HND level qualification *.

Funding

The course is eligible for the SAAS Part-Time Fee Grant (PTFG), which may entitle you to have your tuition fees paid.  You may also be entitled to a student loan based on your circumstances.  A means-assessed discretionary fund is also available to all of our HE students for support with course materials. If you require any more information about funding, please contact our applications team.

*APL is assessed on a case-by-case basis and will be coordinated by a member of our degree team, subject to approval by Kingston University

*Part-time SAAS funding based on a number of requirements, which are explained here: Part-time Funding Guide - SAAS

Through a range of lectures, seminars, and individual supervision, you will be able to explore and specialise in a range of audio production areas (commercial music production, audio for gaming and interactive media, sound design, sample-pack creation, electronic music production, post-production, sound for live and broadcast settings)

You will have a lot of opportunities to share, release and exhibit your work, including live electronic, a/v nights and installations at some of the best venues in the city, presenting work at seminars led by some of the leading music technology organisations, taking part in music and sound exhibitions, events and festivals, releasing and collaborating on productions for our multiple in-house staff and student-led labels, events, projects and productions

As one of the largest music and sound productions schools in Scotland, you will benefit from our world-class facilities across two campuses’ including two 125+ seat auditoriums, over 10 SSL AWS 900 and TOFT studios (all with a suite of outboard and industry-standard software), over 100 fully equipped brand-new Mac workstations, and a suite of rehearsals rooms, all bookable by our degree students. You will also be able to loan a range of equipment from high-quality microphones, recording devices, and instruments (including vintage synths and samplers). In addition, you will be able to draw on our 600+ music, sound and music business students and our wider faculty of over 4000 students from broadcast media, computing, and art & design to achieve ambitious creative projects and build your creative network

Employability and the transferable skills required to succeed in a rapidly changing industry are at the core of the programme. Drawing on a wide range of industry partners and stakeholders, we know the industry requires agile, confident and innovative graduates who collaborate, understand the global context of the audio production industries, emerging business streams, and the skills and knowledge associated with roles across the creative industries. This course will prepare you with these skills and knowledge

• We continue to work with partners and organisations across the UK to provide placement and work experience opportunities for our students.  

How the course is assessed

• Project-based coursework (60%)
• Written assessment (20%)
• Practice-based assessment (20%) 

Number of days per week

• 1 day per week (day may change between year 1 and 2)

Entry requirements

• HND or equivalent level qualification with a Merit (grade B)
• Entrance may be granted on the basis of suitable professional experience, through an accreditation or prior learning process (APL).  This may allow for entrance without having completed an HND (or similar). If you require more information about this, please mention it in your application, and a member of the team will contact you.

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

• You will be invited for an interview.

English Proficiency Requirements

Progression and Articulation Routes

• Although no formal articulation agreements currently exist for postgraduate Audio Production courses, our graduates have pursued master’s degrees in sound and related subjects at the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University.

Career options

You can go into a wide range of roles within the Audio Production and Music Industries, including

• Sound designer for video games/film
• Studio recording engineer/producer
• Live sound/broadcast engineer
• Electronic music performer
• Media Composer
• In addition, you will have the skills and knowledge to apply for roles in large and independent music and music technology organisations around the world.