BSc in Music Technology

Want to be an established music technician? Study our BSc (Hons) Music Technology degree at Birmingham City University. This course is aimed at the technical music producer and will train you to use technology to create, record and distribute music. We will provide you with industry connections, live projects and a wide, in-depth knowledge of the field.

You’ll leave with a valuable blend of creative ability and practical skills in music production, alongside solid business awareness and a strong understanding of technology.

What's covered in this course?

Our BSc (Hons) Music Technology course was set up to meet the growing demand for people within the music and audio industries who are able to use technology to assist in the creation, performance and distribution of music.

We will train you to become the next generation of musically-informed engineers, with a strong understanding of underlying technical principles in order to make informed decisions about appropriate technologies.

You will analyse and critically evaluate live musical events and sound recordings, as well as music technology products, systems, processes and designs. You’ll also have the opportunity to study in our world-class facilities at our Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Exploring a wealth of creative ideas and techniques, we will encourage you to think innovatively and respond to the needs of the industry. Employability is a key factor incorporated within the course, and we are dedicated to providing you with the skills and knowledge to jump right into a creative role.

Professional placement year

This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).

Why choose us?

1. Brand new facilities at STEAMhouse - This state-of-the-art building will become the new home for its School of Computing and Digital Technology from the start of the 2022 academic year. Based at our expanding City Centre Campus, this unique centre will give you access to outstanding facilities and teaching spaces, as well as opportunities to collaborate with people and businesses across multiple sectors and work on real industry-based projects.
2. Excellent preparation for the industry - Learn skills for a range of technology-focused career paths in the highly dynamic music technology environment. Our students have gone on to work at Focusrite, Universal, BBC, Audient and The Music Group.
3. Range of opportunities - Our graduates have successfully entered the music and audio industry in production, sound design and audio through to technical development, acoustic consultancy and education.
4. Unique position in UK higher education - The BSc (Hons) Music Technology degree holds a unique position, drawing on the dual strengths of a cutting-edge technology institution and a premier Conservatoire.
5. Undertake a sandwich year - You can choose to take a one-year work placement between your second and final year, providing you with valuable work experience.
6. State-of-the-art campus and facilities - You’ll be taught across our three City Centre Campuses that include; Millennium Point, which has recently had a £6.5 million investment in facilities; the £57 million Royal Birmingham Conservatoire; and £62 million Parkside Campus.

Year One

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):

• Acoustic Fundamentals
• Sound Recording
• Digital Audio Fundamentals
• Music Studies
• Sequencing and Synthesis
• Audio Electronics

Year Two

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):

• Sampling, Editing and Production
• Recording, Production and Delivery
• Digital Signal Processing
• Music and Critical Studies
• Music and Audio Industries
• Acoustic Applications

Professional Placement Year (Optional)

In order to qualify for the award of BSc (Hons) Music Technology with Professional Placement Year a student must successfully complete the following module.

• Professional Placement Year

Year Three

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):

• Individual Honours Project
• Multi-Channel Sound Production
• Production and Mastering
• Digital Audio Effects OR New Interfaces for Musical Expression
• Game Audio

Enhancing Employability

Your experience at Birmingham City University will ensure you’ll graduate as a creative problem solver, with significant experience in professional industry-standard hardware, software and systems. You will leave with a global outlook, well-primed to engage with the technical and aesthetic issues that will challenge the music and audio industries in the globalised and technologically mediated world ahead.

The Module Industrial Mentors scheme supports the enhancement of graduate employability through ongoing engagement with industry specialists throughout the course. This initiative is based on facilitating interactions between students and individuals working across the music technology and audio sector via module-based forums. This innovative approach allows you to explore specific subject areas with experienced professionals working in the field.

Placements

The Music Technology course offers you the chance to take a ‘sandwich’ year, in which you can undertake an industrial placement. This industrial placement year will help you to build relationships with employers and further your industry knowledge. This takes place after the second year of study and extends the course duration to four years.

There is a wide range of potential placements that you may pursue such as working in recording studios, record companies, professional audio and theatres. There are also various opportunities to pick up valuable work experience in areas such as live sound.