Program Overview

Music and Sound for Screen BA(Hons)

The Music and Sound for Screen BA(Hons) course at the University of Huddersfield is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in the audiovisual media industry. This professionally accredited course offers training in film and game music composition, sound design, Foley sound effects, orchestration for live and virtual instruments, sample library creation, and sound editing.

Course Overview

On this course, students will learn to write music and create sound effects for film, TV, and games. They will also study composition, orchestration, sound design, recording, and performance. As students progress through the course, they will select from options that develop their skills to a professional level in composition and sound design.

Why Study Music and Sound for Screen BA(Hons)

This course will set students up for a career within audiovisual media, helping them develop their composition and sound design skills to a professional level. The course offers training in various aspects of music and sound for screen, including film and game music composition, sound design, and sound editing.

Course Structure

The course is structured over three years, with the option to take a placement year. The first year focuses on core modules, including Music for the Moving Image, Desktop Music Production 1, Composition 1, Music, Culture and Society, Performance Skills 1, and Studio Engineering and Mixing Essentials.

• Core modules:
  • Music for the Moving Image
  • Desktop Music Production 1
  • Composition 1
  • Music, Culture and Society
  • Performance Skills 1
  • Studio Engineering and Mixing Essentials

In the second year, students will build on their skills and knowledge, studying modules such as Sound Design for Image, Games Audio, Composing Music for Film and Videogames A, and Inside the Music Business.

• Core modules:
  • Sound Design for Image
  • Games Audio
  • Composing Music for Film and Videogames A
  • Inside the Music Business
• Option modules:
  • Orchestration
  • Composition 2
  • Projects in Musical Cultures
  • Sonic Arts and Electronica
  • Arts and Humanities Placement

In the final year, students will focus on advanced modules, including Composition Project, Final Year Project, and Music Industry and Professional Skills.

• Core modules:
  • Composition Project
  • Final Year Project
  • Music Industry and Professional Skills
• Option modules:
  • Sound for Film
  • Composition Project (Extended)
  • Advanced Projects in Musical Cultures
  • Advanced Projects in Musical Cultures (Extended)

Placements

This course offers students the opportunity to take an optional one-year work placement after their second year, in the UK or abroad. Previous placement providers have included Warner Music, Pinewood Studios, and the Institute for Music/Acoustic Research and Co-ordination (IRCAM) in Paris.

Facilities

The University of Huddersfield has excellent facilities, including recording studios, lighting rigs, and an electronics lab. Students will have access to state-of-the-art professional standard facilities, including dedicated audiovisual composition and editing software.

Research Excellence

The University of Huddersfield has a strong research profile, with 89% of music research judged to be internationally excellent. The research environment for music received the maximum 4* rating, and the impact of Huddersfield's music research received a top-ten ranking.

Fees and Finance

The maximum fees for UK-based students on undergraduate courses in 2025/26 will be £9,535 per year for full-time students. Tuition fees will cover the cost of study at the University, as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, and examinations.

Career Support

The University of Huddersfield offers a range of career support services, including industry-supported workshops, careers fairs, and one-to-one guidance sessions. The Careers and Employability Service provides professional help, support, and guidance to help students achieve their career ambitions.

Accreditations and Professional Links

The course is professionally accredited, and the University has strong links with the music and audiovisual media industry. Visiting artists and industry professionals provide insight into post-university opportunities, and students have the chance to work with staff who are active film composers working in the UK, Europe, and Los Angeles.