BA (Hons)
Undergraduate - Level 4,5 & 6

Music & Sound for Film & TV

Online
Subject to validation
Recoding Strings

Explore the exciting and ever-changing world of television, film and new media with our BA (Hons) Music & Sound for Film & TV degree. With this degree, you’ll learn the skills and gain the industry experience to become a composer for film and TV or a creative sound artist, honing in on ADR, sound design, Foley and a range of other post-production specialisms.

Key Information
  • Where can I study?
    Bristol
  • Start Date
    September 2024
  • Study Modes
    Full-Time
  • Course Length
    3 Years
  • UK/Home Fees (Per Year)
    £9,250
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Key Information
Key Information
Music & Sound for Film & TV

Course Overview

This BA (Hons) Music & Sound for Film & TV degree will immerse you in the world of music and sound production for film, helping you to develop a wide range of skills and techniques that are in high demand in the industry.

Over the 3 years you’ll learn how to compose, design, and manipulate sound for tv, film and media. You’ll master the fundamentals of composition and sound design using digital audio workstations, and delve into the creative techniques used to sculpt your own sounds. You'll also gain practical experience in professional recording studios and learn about object-based audio, surround sound, and Dolby Atmos, a rapidly expanding area within the world of film and TV. With a heavy focus on the industry and plenty of real-world opportunities, you will also explore the process of orchestration and post-production including location recording, ADR, mixing, and more.

But it's not all about the technical side - you'll also study the aesthetics and history of film music and sound, and develop your research, writing, and communication skills. By the end of the course, you'll be equipped with a professional portfolio that showcases your creative and technical abilities, and you'll be ready to take on exciting opportunities in the music and sound industry.

This course is taught by the dBs Institute and awarded by Access Creative College

If you’re based in or hoping to study in London, this course is available to study with Access Creative London.

This course is taught by the dBs Institute and awarded by Falmouth University

Course Details

You will study a total of 18 modules, including a final major project. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes.

Students record a string section in a music hall with a remote recording rig.

Year Overview

Year 1

Module Breakdown

In year 1 of your Music & Sound for Film & TV degree, you will develop your technical and creative skills by exploring key principles of music/sound composition and production for film and TV. You'll hone your skills with DAWs, like Logic Pro, ProTools and Ableton Live, build experience working in a studio environment and gain a deeper understanding of the history and aesthetics of film.

You will also investigate current issues surrounding revenue streams and employment opportunities for music/sound for screen professionals.

Year 2

In year 2, you will be introduced to more advanced techniques that will build upon the skills learnt in your first year of study. You will continue your exploration of the creative processes that go into creating the sound world for screen; from recording techniques to orchestration within a DAW, while delving into new areas such as immersive audio and post-production. You’ll also conduct research into a key topic of interest that will form the basis of your final year research project.

Year 3

In Year 3 of your degree, you will have the opportunity to channel everything you’ve learned in the first two years into a series of larger projects that are directly linked to your particular expertise within music/sound for screen. You’ll be given the freedom to identify, research and realise a project that resonates with your passions and specialisms, alongside a more experimental and innovative approach to music/sound creation. You will also produce an extended research project, which can take the form of either a full written dissertation or a practical research project.

How You'll Learn

You will be creating original music, Foley and sound effects for a variety of film and television projects, with the opportunity to specialise. From day one, you’ll be working on real briefs, collaborating with your classmates and student filmmakers from other institutes. Building your knowledge and technical skills in composition, recording, mixing and mastering, you will also become adept with using various softwares, including Logic Pro X and Pro Tools. Alongside practice-based workshops, you will learn to evaluate and improve your work through both group and individual tutorials. Regular learning will come from lectures, seminars and our Virtual Learning Environment. In addition your learning will be supported by:

  • Lectures and practical workshops
  • Masterclasses and guest lectures
  • Group and 1-2-1 tutorials
  • Access to extensive studio facilities and bookable equipment
  • Use of library resources and study spaces
  • Access to our Virtual Learning Environment
  • Access to supporting online resources including videos, reading and interactive activities

Assessments are 100% coursework, submitted in an electronic format to our virtual learning environment, and designed to reflect professional practice.

On average you should allow for between 40 - 50 hours per week for your studies of which approximately 25% will be taught (c.10 hours) and 75% will be self-study.

Why Choose dBs

Here at dBs Institute, we pride ourselves on creating a learning environment that reflects the industry that you want to work in. Our state-of-the-art facilities ensure that you are working on professional-grade equipment; our course leaders have years of industry experience to draw from and we foster a community of students and staff that inspires and encourages collaboration. Throughout your studies and beyond, we will also provide you with career support and guidance to reach your future goals.

Facilities

Our 8.1 Spatial Audio Lab
Bristol
Our 8.1 Spatial Audio Lab
Inside our Dolby Atmos suite
Bristol
Inside our Dolby Atmos suite
Our Solid State Logic Duality Delta mixing desk
Bristol
Our Solid State Logic Duality Delta mixing desk
Mic'ing up drums in the Studio 6 live room
Bristol
Mic'ing up drums in the Studio 6 live room
A hardware synth performance in Studio 3
Bristol
A hardware synth performance in Studio 3
Students making music in the production suite
Bristol
Students making music in the production suite
Our API 1608 mixing console
Bristol
Our API 1608 mixing console
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    Why Choose a Online
    Degree at dBs

    Our online master's degrees offers a high-quality, immersive, and community-driven learning experience, led by industry experts who are passionate about their craft. With 24/7 access to course materials and resources, you can learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. Plus, our hands-on projects will equip you with practical skills necessary for a successful career in the music industry.
    A female student works on her laptop

    Flexible study

    Enjoy the freedom to fit your learning around you. For online students, course content – other than one-to-one sessions – will be available to access whenever suits you. Video materials that have been created for online students will also be made available to students that select to study on-site.

    dBs Online tutor kris burton sits in front of our API desk at dBs

    Learn from the pros

    You will learn from tutors whose expertise extends across production, composition, sound design, sound engineering, label management, marketing and promotion.

    You’ll also have access to our extensive guest lecture programme, giving you the chance to meet leading industry professionals – ranging from respected producers and performers to specialist technical staff from world-class audio companies.

    Student working on a project at dBs Pro

    Industry Connections

    As a student of this course, you will be encouraged to apply for placements and opportunities with dBs Pro, our in-house creative audio company.
    This will allow you to further your experience and apply the skills you have been honing, as well as showcase your skills to clients and develop your creative own links in the industry.

    What our students say

    Who better to tell you about our course than students already doing the course? In this video, some of our latest cohort talk about their experience of the dBs online masters degrees.

    What our students say

    Learn what makes dBs Institute so special from the people who matter most - our students!

    Opportunities

    Engaging with our industry

    In our 20+ year history, we’ve built a strong network of contacts across the creative industries, that include AMS Neve, Solid State Logic, Avid and many more.

    Career support

    We strive to equip our students with the skills and opportunities to secure roles across the creative industries, and this goal underpins the student experience at dBs Institute.

    dBs Pro

    dBs Pro is a creative audio company with a difference - it’s dedicated to providing our students with real-world experience alongside their studies.

    Your Future Prospects

    Thanks to this programme's emphasis on learning by doing, students will have amassed a huge list of credits on a variety of shorts, feature films and shows over the course of three years; equipping them with everything they need to progress from education into the industry. Becoming a composer for film or a sound designer are two of the more obvious pathways students can explore, but the fundamental knowledge of composition, recording, mixing and mastering will give students the skills to work in a multitude of audio-based roles.

    Here are some of the career paths you can take:

    How to Apply

    Applying for this course is easy! Simply click the "Apply" button below to submit your application directly through our website.
    A member of our Admissions Team will then be in touch to discuss your suitability for the course, your interests and to arrange an interview.

    Applications for undergraduate degrees are made through the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). You can apply online through the UCAS website.

    Please note that the UCAS 'on-time' application deadline for equal consideration is 31st January 2024.

    UCAS Codes
    Campus
    Course Code
    Campus Code
    Institution Code
    Bristol
    W358
    D
    F33

    If you would like to make an application for this course, fill in your details below and a member of our admissions team will be in touch to advise you through the application process.

    For detailed information on how to apply please take a look at our guide to making an application.

    Further Study

    Register your interest

    If you’d like to find out more about our postgraduate courses, please fill in the form below. Once submitted, a member of our admissions team will be in touch to discuss our postgraduate course offerings and the next steps of the application process.

    Please note, if you currently live outside of the UK and require a Tier 4 VISA to study in the United Kingdom, we are unable to accept your application for our on campus full-time or part-time postgraduate degree programmes. If this is the case, please apply for one of our online postgraduate courses instead.

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