Music and Sound Production BA Honours

Code

ACI04

Start

September 2027

Fees

£10,050 (UK) | £18,300 (INT)

Duration

3 years full-time, 6 years part-time

Location

Hendon campus

Entry Requirements

80-112 UCAS points

Why study BA Music and Sound Production at Middlesex?

Develop the creative, technical and professional skills to shape the future of music and audio. Build a professional portfolio and gain the experience to launch your career in today's fast-moving music and sound industries.

Through hands-on learning, collaboration and industry engagement, you'll:

Develop professional skills in music production, recording, mixing, sound design and audio post-production.
Build valuable industry connections through placements, live projects and collaborations with creative partners in London, one of the world's leading music and media hubs.
Tailor your studies to your interests by exploring areas including music production, game audio, film sound, immersive audio and composition while creating a portfolio that showcases your talents.
Learn from experienced musicians, producers, composers and sound practitioners who bring current industry knowledge and professional practice into every stage of your learning.
Graduate with a professional portfolio, professional experience and skills sought by employers across the music and creative industries.

This course is subject to validation

A course marked as ‘subject to validation’ is in the final stages of approval and may therefore be subject to change. This approval process ensures that courses meet the highest academic standards to deliver you the best possible education. Once a course is approved, the webpage will be updated, the subject to validation statement removed, a full programme specification will be published and we will invite you to apply if you've registered interest with us.

If once validated the course is significantly amended, we will let you know if we have your details.

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Create a professional portfolio

Build a portfolio of original music, recordings and audio projects across music, film, games and immersive media, showcasing your skills.

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Highly ranked

We are proud to be ranked in the Top 10 universities in London for student satisfaction in Music (Complete University Guide, 2027).

workspaces

Specialist facilities

Study in our £80m creative hub, The Grove, building connections and collaborative skills valued across the music industry.

Student stories and experiences

Student life

MDX graduate wins Brit Award with jazz quintet Ezra Collective

Diversity at Middlesex University

Watch a video of our students saying which countries they're coming from.

About your course

You will explore the creative and technical processes behind music and sound production. You'll learn through studio sessions, production workshops, collaborative projects and industry-focused briefs, creating music, sound design and professional audio for artists, film, games and immersive media. As you progress, you'll explore specialist areas including recording, mixing, live sound, post-production and interactive audio, while developing your own creative approach and building a portfolio of work. By graduation, you'll have experience across different areas of music and sound production, ready to apply your skills in the wider creative industries.

Build a strong foundation in music and sound by exploring music theory, notation, aural skills and acoustics. You'll develop essential musicianship alongside an understanding of how sound is created, organised and perceived, preparing you for further study in music production, composition, performance and audio for media.

Develop the practical skills to record, edit and produce high-quality audio using industry-standard equipment and studio environments. Through hands-on projects, you'll build confidence in recording techniques, production workflows and studio practice while creating professional recordings across a range of musical and audio contexts.

Explore your creativity through performance, composition, songwriting and music production. You'll generate, develop and record original musical ideas while strengthening your musicianship, collaborative working methods and creative communication skills, building the confidence to realise[LS1.1] and present your own artistic work.

Gain an understanding of today's global music industry, from live performance and recording to streaming, publishing and music for film, television and games. You'll explore how the industry is evolving, including the impact of emerging technologies such as AI, while developing valuable professional and commercial awareness.

Discover how music and sound shape storytelling across film, television and digital media. You'll explore how audio enhances narrative, emotion and audience engagement while developing practical skills in creating soundtracks and audio content for contemporary screen-based productions.

Experiment with sound as a creative medium through recording, editing, synthesis and digital manipulation. Using industry-standard tools and studio techniques, you'll create original soundscapes and sonic experiences while developing practical and critical skills in sound design for music, media and immersive environments.

Develop practical skills in live sound production, audio system setup, live mixing and immersive audio technologies. You'll learn how to create engaging sound experiences for performances, installations and interactive environments while exploring the creative possibilities of spatial and real-time audio.

Work alongside students from across the creative arts on collaborative, project-based productions. You'll strengthen your communication, teamwork and project management skills while developing innovative creative solutions across music, media, performance and interdisciplinary artistic practice.

Apply your knowledge in a professional setting through a music industry placement. You'll gain valuable workplace experience, strengthen your employability and professional skills, and reflect on your practice while building industry connections that support your future career.

Create music and sound for interactive game environments using contemporary industry workflows and middleware tools. You'll explore adaptive composition, sound design and audio implementation techniques while developing the specialist skills needed to enhance gameplay, storytelling and player immersion.

Undertake a project via a particular and specific area of academic interest in music or vocational/professional practice. The module provides a platform for the development of placement-related employability skills, or the exploration of a specialised academic project that may provide the basis for further study.

You will develop your composition, editing, and production skills for library music and sync purposes. Creating theme-focused music across a range of styles and contexts, you will explore industry workflows, client expectations and publishing. You will build a portfolio suitable for music libraries, media, and broadcasting opportunities.

Develop the creative and technical skills to produce music and sound for film and animation. You'll explore scoring, sound design, synchronisation and post-production workflows while creating professional audio that enhances storytelling and prepares you for careers in screen media.

Master advanced audio post-production techniques for film, television and digital media. Using industry-standard software, you'll develop expertise in dialogue editing, sound restoration, mixing and audio enhancement, producing professional-quality soundtracks that meet technical and creative industry standards.

This course is subject to validation. We will publish a full programme specification here when it is validated.

Teaching

You'll study in a collaborative learning environment that reflects the realities of today's music industry, combining academic insight with professional practice. Teaching is delivered by experienced academics and industry practitioners who bring current knowledge and real-world expertise into the classroom.

Facilities

Based in The Grove, you will have access to world-class facilities:

Concert and recital rooms
15 soundproofed practice rooms
23 pianos (including a Steinway grand and a Bösendorfer grand)
Hybrid analogue-digital sound recording facilities
Recording and mixing studio
Digital media workshop with 15 workstations (Mac computer with specialist music software, two monitors and piano keyboard)

You will also have access to external venues and collaborative access to other creative areas of the University such as dance, theatre, film, television, animation and computer games.

Recording studio at Middlesex University

State-of-the-art hybrid recording facility with two dedicated recording spaces.

Piano in recording studio at Middlesex University

Recording studio equipped with a full backline and upright pianos.

Mic in isolation recording studio at Middlesex University

Isolation booths for independent and group rehearsals.

Performance Stage and lighting set up at Middlesex University

Performance space with stage and full lighting rig.

Music equipment including Piano, Mic and Drum Kit in recording studio

The Kit Hub allows students to borrow industry-standard gear to support their projects, and bring their creative ideas to life.

Careers

How can the BA Music and Sound Production support your career?

A degree in Music prepares you for a wide range of careers across the creative industries by combining practical musicianship with technical expertise, creative collaboration and an understanding of how the contemporary music sector operates.

Throughout the course, you'll build the knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers in live performance, composition, production, sound for screen and games, recording, music technology, and the wider music industry. You'll also gain experience of collaborative working, project delivery and professional practice, preparing you for employment across a variety of creative sectors.

Graduate career opportunities

You’ll be equipped for roles across the music and creative industries, including:

Audio or video producer
Composer
Music producer
Music arranger
Recording studio professional
Post-production specialist
Music licensing or copyright executive
Record label or music distribution professional
Sound designer
Mixing engineer
Film and TV sound professional
Music educator or instrumental tutor

Many graduates also build successful portfolio careers, combining creative practice with teaching, freelance projects, performance, production, or consultancy. This flexible approach reflects the way many professionals work across today's music and creative industries.

You'll have the opportunity to undertake an optional placement in your final year, applying your knowledge in a professional environment while gaining first-hand insight into industry practice. Placements enable you to broaden your experience, strengthen your professional skills and build connections across the sector.

Previous students have collaborated with external partners including media company Sitting Duck, while education-focused placements have been offered through the North London Conservatoire and other institutions across north London. These opportunities provide practical experience in professional settings, helping you build confidence, expand your network and enhance your career prospects.

Our employability service Careers and Futures will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course. It offers placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1,000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

As an alumni, we offer you lifetime career support so we can help you as your progress.

MDXcelerator student start-up support

Want to be your own boss?

If you want to start your own company, our MDXcelerator student start-up support offers the opportunity to pitch your idea, gain expert mentoring and win funding to launch your business.

Our MDX graduate competencies are the fundamental building blocks in preparing our students for their professional careers.

They were developed by our Careers and Futures service through extensive research and collaboration with global, national and local employers. There was also input from student groups across our campuses in London, Dubai and Mauritius.

The competencies are:

Leadership and influence
Curiosity and learning
Communication, empathy and inclusion
Collaborative innovation
Resilience and adaptability
Problem-solving and delivery
Technological agility
Entrepreneurial mindset.

Find out more about graduate competencies at Middlesex.

Students at Middlesex span 122 countries. You will be part of our thriving global network. After you graduate, you'll join our alumni network. You will get access to:

Lifetime careers support from the Careers and Futures employability service
A 20% discount on further postgraduate study, or 10% discount for alumni from our academic partners
Raise your personal profile as one of our featured alumni
Continued limited usage of the Sheppard Library
Exclusive MDX alumni networks to connect with your peers.

Entry requirements

At Middlesex, we're proud of how we recognise the potential of future students like you. We make fair and aspirational offers because we want you to aim high, and we’ll support you all the way.

Qualifications

UCAS Tariff Points: 80-112 UCAS tariff points
A Levels: BB-BBC
BTEC: MMP-DMM
Access requirements: Overall pass in a relevant subject: must include 45 credits at level 3, of which all 45 must be at Merit or higher
Combinations: A combination of A-Level, BTEC and other accepted qualifications

Qualifications

We’ll always be as flexible as possible and take into consideration any barriers you may have faced in your learning. And, if you don’t quite get the grades you hoped for, we’ll also look at more than your qualifications. Things like your work experience, other achievements and your personal statement.

If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.

Our entry requirements page outlines how we make offers.

Interviews, auditions and portfolios

Entry onto this course requires an interview and an audition. Also, as part of the application process, we'd love to receive your showreel of work. It’s your chance to show us what inspires you and how you think.

For more information please see the "Interview, auditions and portfolios" tab.

Transfer courses?

If you have a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND or have completed terms at another university, you may be able to join us in year two or three. Find out how to transfer courses.

Mature students (over 21)

You can apply at any age, even without formal qualifications, provided you can demonstrate relevant experience and ability.

We welcome students from the UK and all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:

Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
Work placements and networking with top London employers
Award-winning career support to get you where you want to go after university.

Qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications across a variety of subject areas. Find out more about the accepted qualifications on your country's support page.

If you are unsure of the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest international office.

English language

You will need to meet our English language requirements. Don’t worry if you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer a Pre-sessional English course.

Visas

To study with us in the UK, you might need a student visa. Please check to see if this applies to you.

Interviews and auditions

Entry onto this course requires an online or face-to-face interview.

The interview will start with a group welcome talk followed by one-to-one interviews. Details of your subject-specific interview will be emailed to you.

Your audition is a chance to show us what stage you're at in your musical development. You'll be asked to perform on your first-study instrument or voice. Choose a short (three minutes maximum) piece you've learned in advance and are comfortable performing.

You will be expected to be familiar with standard musical notation, and basic music theory and harmony. As a rough guide, you should aim to be at the Associated Board (ABRSM) Grade 5 level or similar.

We'll also invite you to talk briefly about a musical topic of your choice and ask about your musical interests and aspirations.

We have more tips and advice to help you prepare and do your best on the day.

If you are an international student, you can submit a showreel instead. A showreel is a collection of your creative work that introduces you as an artist.

Portfolio

We'll ask to see your portfolio so we can get to know your creative style, ideas and potential. A portfolio is a collection of your creative work that introduces you as an artist.

After you have applied, we will send you a link for you to submit your portfolio online via the applicant portal.

We welcome portfolios in any digital format. Please share your work in whatever way best represents your creativity and skills.

Music - Portfolio Guidance (PDF)

If you are having difficulty with the file format, please contact ACIPortfolios@mdx.ac.uk who can help you submit.

Please apply via UCAS.

Need help with your application? Check out our undergraduate application page.

Personal Statement

Find out how to write an effective personal statement.

Register your interest

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Fees

The fees below are for the 2027/28 academic year:

UK students¹

Full-time: £10,050*

International students²

Full-time: £18,300

Changes to tuition fees from the 2027-2028 academic year for UK undergraduate students

UK Government information on tuition fees for UK undergraduate students in the 2027/2028 academic year

If your course starts on or after 1 January 2027 and you're eligible, you may need to apply for funding through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). Applications open in September 2026. This funding will also be available for eligible modules.

More about the LLE

The changes below will apply from 1 August 2027. The government intends to lay regulations implementing these changes in early 2026 and will be subject to Parliamentary procedure. Further information can be found at GOV.UK's tuition fee changes webpage.

For the 2027/28 academic year, it is anticipated that the maximum annual tuition fee applicable to UK undergraduate students for approved providers will increase to:

£10,050 for standard full-time courses
£12,060 for full-time accelerated courses
£7,530 for part-time courses.

This means that if you start your studies in September 2026 on a standard full-time course, you will pay an annual tuition fee of £9,790 for your first year which will then rise to £10,050 for your second year of study starting in September 2027.

Subsequent tuition fee rises for UK undergraduate students

Depending on the duration of your study, your tuition fees for subsequent academic years beyond the 2027/28 academic year may therefore be subject to further inflationary increases by the UK government in due course. This means that the fee set out above is likely to be increased again for the 2028/29 academic year.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students directly in writing at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which the rise may apply.

The following study tools are included in your fees.

Free access to the resources, learning materials and software you need to succeed on your course
Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
Free printing for academic paperwork.

The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you will need to budget for these.

Desktop or laptop computer with a stable internet connection, plus a webcam, microphone and headset.

To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you. Find out more about undergraduate finance and all of our scholarships and bursaries.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Important information

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.