Program Overview

MSc Audio and Music Technology

The MSc Audio and Music Technology program is designed to blend science, technology, and creativity to develop innovative solutions to audio problems. This one-year full-time course, starting in September 2026, is offered by the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology.

Overview

The program provides a thorough grounding in scientific theory and creative engineering techniques in audio technology, audio analysis, and audio programming. It prepares students for further research or employment in the audio technology and digital creative industries.

Course Content

• Modules: The course includes a number of modules designed to help students get to grips with essential topics in audio and music technology, as well as undertaking a research project.
  • Core modules:
    • Audio Signals and Psychoacoustics
    • Audio Application Development and Marketing
    • Project Development
    • Sound Interactions in the Metaverse
    • Immersive and Interactive Audio
    • Modelling and Analysing Sound and Music Signals
• Research Project: Alongside practical work, students undertake a dissertation as part of their Research Project. For this project, students produce a novel study on an aspect of the course, ranging from the development of a technical audio component or solution through to perception of sound within specific audio technologies.

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course include:

• Subject Knowledge: Conduct research into digital audio signal processing, audio software programming, or acoustic analysis, advancing the state of knowledge by applying specialist engineering techniques and research methodology.
• Engineering Analysis: Extract and critically evaluate literature and other data about complex audio, acoustic, and music technology systems through analytical and computational methods and modelling.
• Engineering Design: Design innovative industry-relevant engineering solutions for research-based problems in audio software and/or hardware, music technology, and acoustics.
• Practical Skills: Apply professional skills in engineering, audio analysis, programming, critical listening, acoustic modelling, construction, and measurement, to independently solve technically challenging research-based problems.
• Technical Communication: Communicate, debate, and contextualise information in a succinct, professional, and technically accurate manner to key stakeholders.
• Management & Personal Development: Proficiently manage themselves, teams, and complex projects in preparation for future careers in the field of audio and music technology as an individual practitioner or in industry.

Fees and Funding

• Annual Tuition Fees for 2026/27:
  • UK (home): £13,900
  • International and EU: £32,900
• Additional Costs: All course textbooks and materials are available in the Library or via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Depending on how students work, they may wish to pay for printing of notes and other material.
• Funding Information: Discover funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs. The university confirms more funding opportunities for students joining in 2026/27 throughout the year.

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching Format: Students are introduced to topics through lectures and then take part in practical lab sessions to develop their skills.
• Facilities: Students have access to up-to-date technologies, including several fully-equipped recording studios, a bespoke 50-channel loudspeaker array, a fully anechoic chamber, and a newly updated Mac and iOS computer suite.
• Assessment and Feedback: Students are assessed through coursework rather than exams. Assignments are given to produce a piece of software or audio material, which are then assessed on competency and technical accuracy.

Careers and Skills

This course equips students for a career in various fields within the audio industry. Students develop strong skills in acoustic analysis and design using industry-standard tools and practices. Career opportunities include:

• Audio app developer
• Audio DSP engineer
• Acoustic consultant
• Acoustic test engineer
• Audio programmers
• Automotive audio systems designer

Entry Requirements

• Qualification: 2:2 or equivalent in Music or Music Technology, or a relevant technology, mathematics, science, engineering, or computing degree where candidates can demonstrate music performance or music production skills.
• English Language: If English isn't the first language, students may need to provide evidence of their English language ability, with minimum requirements specified for various English language qualifications.