Music Technology BA (Hons)

Combine studio and performance skills with the possibilities offered by new technology to create original music and explore innovative forms of music-making.

Entry Criteria
Structure and assessment
Facilities and features
Opportunities and careers
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Overview

Lecturer Susanne gives us a tour of some of the music spaces available to students at DMU.

This course is subject to validation

DMU’s Music Technology BA is a distinctive, dynamic and market-leading course that challenges conventions in music composition and performance and explores the extraordinary musical possibilities offered by new technologies. It is ideal for forward-thinking and imaginative individuals whose passion is to create exceptional music and forge a unique voice within the arts and creative industries.

You will explore an extensive range of approaches to creating and performing, such as multi-track recording, production and composition, new technologies for musical performance, music and sound for moving image, sound synthesis theory and practice, site-specific and installation work, computer coding for the creative artist, and advanced surround sound.

You will study digital and post-digital history and aesthetics to inspire your creative vision and link your music meaningfully to the world. Based on your goals, you will choose specific compositional, technical and theoretical topics to research more deeply, particularly as you enter our flexible third year of study.

The course is taught by internationally recognised, experienced musicians who are active performers, composers and researchers.

Our professional, broad-minded and flexible graduates are well positioned to succeed in the thriving and rapidly changing contemporary digital media and music industries, and have a very strong track record at gaining employment as composers, sound designers, performing and recording artists, session musicians, recording engineers, producers and audio technicians in music management, theatre, TV and radio content and production.

Our superb facilities allow you to explore areas such as spatialisation, musical computing, sound recording and video. We also have an extremely lively musical community with frequent concerts, events, music profession visitors and student exchanges.

Key features

Much of this programme is based in DMU's Creative Technology Studios, where you will benefit from access to audio recording studios, broadcast-standard radio production studios and management systems. You will also benefit from access to our Performing Arts Centre for Excellence (PACE), which features performance and rehearsal spaces, including our specialist 33-channel loudspeaker system.
Join a dynamic musical community which hosts concerts and workshops and has a number of musical groups such as the Dirty Electronics ensemble. The university also has many active student musical societies, including the Music Society, Recording Society, Sound Design Society, and DJ Society.
Have opportunities to present your work at some of Leicester's most important cultural institutions, including the CURVE Theatre, the Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre, and creative hub LCB Depot.
Gain valuable, industry-relevant experience by contributing to the award-winning Demon Media group, which includes the Demon FM radio station and Demon TV.
Through our Music, Technology and Innovation Institute for Sonic Creativity you can take part in events, undertake creative research, work with professional artists, lead workshops and contribute to international research projects.
Benefit from guest lectures from music industry specialists. Previous guest speakers include Merzbow, Mira Calix, Tim Exile, DJ Sniff, Scanner, Pauline Oliveros, Brian Duffy, GRM, Leafcutter John, Chris Carter (Throbbing Gristle), Keith Rowe and Evan Parker.

News stories

Music students get a taste for the Easy Life at DMU

A world first performance presented as part of Art AI festival

Student success

Check out Jukebox - home to an excellent range of creative work produced by students on our Music programmes.

Rising star of UK rap scene with over 4 million plays on Spotify says studying at DMU helped shape his career

More courses like this

Music Production BSc (Hons)

Music Performance Foundation Degree FdA
Music Technology Foundation Degree FdSc

UK
EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: W342

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out about additional costs and optional extras.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: W342

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £16,250

Find out more about available funding for international students.

Find out about additional costs and optional extras.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

Five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and Maths or equivalent, plus one of the following:
Normally 104 UCAS points from at least two A-levels or equivalent, with Music or Music Technology at grade C or above or
Music or Music Technology BTEC National Diploma/ Extended Diploma at DMM or
Pass in the QAA accredited Access to HE Music or Music Technology course with at least 15 credits in Music or Music Technology at merit. English and Maths GCSE required as a separate qualification as equivalency is not accepted within the Access qualification. We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course or
International Baccalaureate: 28+ points with Music or Music Technology at higher level grade 5

Portfolio Required: No

Interview Required: No

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

English language

If English is not your first language then an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent) is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Structure and assessment

Year one modules

Introduction to Studio Techniques
Acoustics and digital processing
Ideas in Music and Sonic Art
Making and Performing with Tech 1

Year two modules

Studio Recording and Production
Performance and Promotion
Sound and Image
Making and Performing with Tech 2

Year three modules

Advanced Studio Production and Mastering
Research Project
Music, Media and Community Arts
Making and Performing with Tech 3

View detailed module information.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching is carried out through lectures, seminars, practical workshops and rehearsals and you will have extensive individual contact. Assessment is primarily through musical, practical and written coursework.

Your precise timetable will depend on the optional modules you choose to take, however, you will normally attend around 8-12 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 32 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.

Facilities and features

Facilities

Creative Technology Studios

Our multi-million pound creative technology studios feature a range of high-specification equipment. You will benefit from our multichannel composition studios and a suite of recording studios, as well as industry-standard software for recording, creating and manipulating sound.

Technical Instructor Tim gives us a tour of some of the music spaces available to students at DMU.

We have purpose-built audio recording and production facilities, and a multichannel performance space with loudspeaker orchestra and broadcast-standard radio station. You will also be able to borrow from a substantial resource of audio and audio-visual equipment. This includes mixers, audio interfaces, DI boxes, stereo multichannel field recording kits, and studio and stage microphones.

Music, Technology and Innovation Research Lab (MTIRL)

The MTIRL is the key research facility of the MTI Research Centre, for use by postgraduate students and research staff. It includes a large-scale diffusion/composition studio, a dedicated 5.1 surround studio, and a Sound Art Lab. More details are available on the MTI Institute for Sonic Creativity website.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Graduate careers

Students learn a range of skills in on-location, live, AV and studio production, allowing you to pursue a career in music production, audio engineering, sound design, remixing and mastering, radio, TV or games.

Graduates are also well positioned to continue their academic careers by embarking on postgraduate study, in either research or taught areas, which offers the opportunity for further specialisation.

DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons, helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK-based activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Students on our audio and music courses have explored sonic arts in Berlin, translated art into music in Stockholm and toured the home of hip hop in New York. Planning is also under way for a trip to Tokyo, where students can experience contemporary Japanese art, youth culture, and music and audio technology.

While overseas DMU Global opportunities are not currently possible, DMU will continue to review government advice and if travel is permitted, we hope to offer a small number of extra-curricular opportunities in the summer of 2021.

Placements

During this course you will have the option to complete a work-based placement, an invaluable opportunity to put the skills developed during your degree into practice. This insight into the professional world will build on your knowledge in a real-world setting, preparing you to progress onto your chosen career.

Work-based placements are one of the best ways to boost your skills and experience and can often lead to your first graduate role.

They are the perfect means of discovering how your studies relate to the real world and provide an opportunity to improve your confidence and make contacts to help you get ahead in the job market.

DMU’s dedicated Placements Teams can help you by providing access to hundreds of opportunities, giving one-to-one CV advice and interview preparation, and offering training sessions and support from a dedicated tutor.