Creative Music Technology (BA)

Our Music Technology programme encourages creativity and innovation through the variety of modules explored.  We aim to develop artistic, technical and production skills to expert levels to prepare graduates for employment.  

The programme is designed for students with a creative flair and aims to develop competencies through working with music and technology in a wide range of contexts and settings.   

We pay particular attention to the development of listening skills which allows students to tune into their distinctive and unique sonic voice. 

What you’ll learn  

• Industry standard techniques and workflows.  
• Experience working in a variety of creative settings. 
• Develop knowledge of employment opportunities within the Digital Media and Creative Industries sectors. 
• How to deploy your work to a wide range of platforms.  

Year 1

Level 4 Modules 

• Contemporary Challenges: Making a Difference (20 credits; compulsory)
• Creative Sound Manipulation (20 credits; compulsory)
• Learning in the Digital Era (20 credits; compulsory)
• The Studio Composer (20 credits; compulsory)
• The Studio Engineer (20 credits; compulsory)
• Ways of Perceiving (10 credits; compulsory)
• Ways of Thinking (10 credits; compulsory)

Year 2

Level 5 Modules

• Changemakers: Building your Personal Brand for Sustainable Employment (20 credits; compulsory)
• Changemakers: Creativity and Value Creation (20 credits; compulsory)
• Research in Context/Ymchwil Creadigol (10 credits; compulsory)
• Research in Practice/Arferion Ymchwil (10 credits; compulsory)
• Sound Design for Screen (20 credits; compulsory)
• Location Recording (10 credits; compulsory)
• Studio Project (20 credits; compulsory)
• The Sustainable Studio (10 credits; compulsory)

Year 3

Level 6 Modules

• Final Portfolio and Showreel (40 credits; compulsory)
• Independent Project (40 credits; compulsory)
• Music Video Production (20 credits; compulsory)
• Mastering and Production (20 credits; compulsory)

Students on the programme are assessed predominantly by portfolio and creative output assignments, compositions, recordings, productions, creative projects, etc. Written analysis and critique are also integral to the assessment, as well as presentations and vivas.

Through all the projects undertaken, students develop both practical skills and an understanding of theoretical principles.

The course assesses the students’ command of the many roles of technology in the creation of music, taking a multi-skilled approach, whilst allowing students to specialise in areas in which they would like to take their careers later on in the course.

This Framework aims to develop your professional skills and competence alongside your academic subject knowledge. You’ll study up to 40 credits per level throughout your programme from the Graduate Attributes Framework.

The Graduate Attribute modules are designed to enable you to develop, and evidence, a range of career-focused skills related to your subject area. These skills include digital competency, research and project management, as well as such personal competencies as communication, creativity, self-reflection, resilience and problem-solving. 

• Find out more about the Graduate Attributes Framework

• Adam Howell
• Michael Johnson
• Simon Kilshaw
• Dr David Bird

We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to art and/or design, and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course, we arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your portfolio of work.

Our standard offer for a degree course is 120 UCAS tariff points. We expect applicants to have a grade C or above in English Language (or Welsh) at GCSE level, together with passes in another four subjects. Plus we accept a range of Level 3 qualifications including:

• Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, plus one GCE A-Level in a relevant academic subject
• UAL L3 Extended Diploma in Music Performance and Production.
• UAL L3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology
• Three GCE A-Levels or equivalent
• BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject
• International Baccalaureate score of 32
• Other relevant qualifications can be considered on an individual basis

Qualifications are important. However, our offers are not solely based on academic results. If you don’t have the required UCAS points, please contact the courses admissions tutor or email artanddesign@uwtsd.ac.uk as we can consider offers to applicants based on individual merit, exceptional work/or practical experience.

See our Interview Guide for more information.

Graduates from the programme are well prepared for all aspects of this massive subject, and as a result, are highly employable across the Digital Media and Creative Industries sector. The department is lucky to have the Swansea Laptop Orchestra in residence at the studios.

The entertainment industry and, in particular, recorded and broadcast media has grown dramatically in recent years. The industry employs a large number of people distributed across a range of different activities.

Currently, there are approximately three hundred recording companies active in the UK, ranging from small, specialist labels to large multi-national companies. Several thousand recording studios exist, along with thousands more live performance venues, sound equipment hire companies and musical equipment manufacturers. Added to this are television and radio production companies, computer games designers, internet content providers, to name but a few, all of whom require music technology skills.

In the last few years, the explosion in the sales of multimedia home computers and surround sound cinema systems has also resulted in opportunities in the areas involving surround sound systems and related audio technology.

Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources, which in most cases are sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.

However, art and design students will likely incur additional costs to extend their investigation of their personal practice. For example, purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining optional study trips, and printing. 

Students are expected to bring their own personal art and design equipment when they commence the course.  We can advise on the correct equipment needed for your studies and signpost appropriate suppliers if you wish to purchase essential items before or during your studies.  

A basic art and design kit will cost approximately £100, but you may well already have much of the equipment required, so check with us first.  Although we have extensive dedicated digital design studios (PC and MAC) for you to undertake your coursework, you may wish to bring your own digital devices; again, check with us first before making a purchase. 

Depending on distance and duration, optional study visits can vary in cost from approximately £10 to visit local galleries and exhibitions to £200+ for overseas visits. These costs cover things like transport, entry to venues and accommodation and are normally at reduced rates for our students.

• Art & Design Foundation

Jake Bourton Audio Producer

“The course, along with support from the lecturing team, broadened my mind musically, artistically and in technological respects. A particularly exciting aspect of the course was being given the freedom, confidence and belief in my own ability to pursue interests in film and television sound. To aid this, I undertook work placements in the industry, which would not have been available without the course. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to get into industries working with sound.” Jake has worked on a number of productions, including Sunshade Films – Driscoll Manor, Long Coats and Crisp Packets, Feature Film, Tornado Studios – The Rebels

Josh Hughes (guitarist/ sound artist)

“It's been a great course, and I've definitely learned a lot! All our year group agreed that the staff are truly inspirational. I can't believe how fast it's gone!!“

Gareth Lumb (Game Audio Designer)

“My time at Swansea furnished me with a lot of the skills I needed to run my own business.  I was introduced to a wide range of interests within my field, and both my horizons and my mind were broadened. The staff instilled in me a huge amount of confidence in my own ability to follow my career path, but also with the humility to know that I can always learn and develop further.“

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries section.

Study Abroad 

Students can also take up the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in Europe, the USA or Canada.

In addition to our University Accommodation at Llys Glas, Swansea also benefits from a number of private student halls, all within a short walk, including:

• The Oldway Centre
• Coppergate
• St Davids

Map View