Entry requirementsThis course is for people who want to work in the creative field of sound design. You should already have experience, education or an interest in audio in areas such as • music • music technologies • media-related practice.
Academic titleMA/PgDip/PgCert Sound Design
Course descriptionIt equips you with the skills and knowledge to work in specialised areas of sound production and post-production, across various media applications including film, animation and gaming.
We emphasise developing innovative practice and encourage you to explore alternative audio and audiovisual experiences and environments.
You gain experience and problem solving skills through working on ’real world’ scenarios.
To further your experience and knowledge, you work across sound genres including
• film
• media production
• special effects
• computer games
• related multimedia
• sound art applications
The course promotes an appreciation and awareness of the broader applications of sound design and sound art by studying subjects such as surround sound and immersive experiences.
Your learning begins with tutor-led workshops to build your theoretical and practical knowledge and understanding. You progress to project based-learning where the focus is on developing production skills and experience.
Finally, to demonstrate your ability and combine all your new skills and knowledge, you complete a major production project.
We support and encourage you to seek external funding and distribution for your production project, and to work in partnership with outside agencies.
Associated careers
The skills and knowledge developed on this course, places graduates in an ideal position to gain employment in areas such as
• sound design for film, television, multi-media or computer games
• dubbing mixer for film or television
• post production sound, including dialogue editor, Foley artist or automatic dialogue replacement supervisor
• production sound mixer for film and television
• freelance employment in sound design
• sound design research
• consultancy
Your final project can be used to showcase your technical ability to potential employers.
Course content
Semester one
You begin by completing four modules which build your skills and develop your conceptual thinking. The modules are delivered by a series of tutor-led workshops that provide the theoretical and practical foundations for the course.
The topics include • post production • sound and space • production recording • research • project development.
Semester two
During semester two, you gain experience in a range of production settings. You study four modules based on the previous topics • post production • sound and space • production recording • research • project development, with an option in sound design for gaming.
These modules are taught by project-based delivery, developing your ability to work independently on practical production pieces.
Semester three
The final semester involves you completing a substantial research and production project. You produce a varied range of professional standard sound design works.
This work should demonstrate conceptually coherent and technically accomplished approaches to sonic or audiovisual work.
We support and encourage you to seek external funding and distribution for your production project, and to work in partnership with outside agencies.