This course is specifically designed for people who want to become professional musicians and work within the music industry. This programme is practical, and you will spend the majority of your time creating industry focussed projects.
The music industry is constantly looking for multi-skilled performers, sound designers, producers and others. Explore current trends in the industry such as genre fluidity, physical publishing formats, spatial audio, and AI technologies.
Find your career path in an industry which has grown continuously over the past 13 years, and contributed £6.7 billion to the UK economy during 2022. The music industry employs 210,000 with many more working in the industry as freelancers (This is Music 2023).
TYPICAL OFFER
Level 3: 48 UCAS tariff points from two A-levels (or equivalent qualifications).
IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.
International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria
Mature applicants: University Centre Leeds welcomes applications from mature* applicants who may not have met the academic criteria, but who can demonstrate a wealth of experience in their chosen field. Candidates in this category and otherwise are likely to be interviewed to assess their suitability for the course and may be asked to provide a portfolio of evidence to support their application.
*21 years and over at the start of the course
RPL claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL)
This course will give you the skills to succeed in the contemporary music industry. This will ensure that what is learnt will provide the necessary foundations for graduates to progress into a music career, be that performing in a band or as a solo artist, DJing, producing for film, TV, and computer games, or collaborating with other creative media professionals across a range of industries.
Alongside these foundation skills you will develop the technical skills needed for industry such as sound design and sampling, and the entrepreneurial skills required to become a professional musician, such as building your brand, producing content for social media, the legalities of the music industry, working with independently and with labels, and self-promotion.
This course is subject to validation by Luminate Education Group
If you would like to apply for to study full time, please do so via UCAS.
The institution code for University Centre Leeds is L21.
The application fee for applying through UCAS is £28.50, unless you are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM)
How to Apply:
To access your account again and complete your application, use the second link provided in your verification email.
Apply Now: Direct Application Form
Need Help? For further information, please email admissions@ucleeds.ac.uk
Please note, if you apply directly, we are required to submit a Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA) application to UCAS on your behalf if your application is successful and you enrol.
If you are a student currently studying at Leeds City College, Keighley College or Harrogate College and if all of the following applies:
you can make an application directly to us for this course.
Creating an applicant account
To make your application, use the below link and register for an application account via the Create a New User facility. You will then be sent an email to the email address you provided when registering for an account, on which you will need to click the link to verify your email address.
Once you have created an account, you will then be able to start and save your application, should you not be able to complete it all in one go. Please note that your username is the email address you provided when registering for an account.
To access your account again should you need to complete and submit your application form, simply use the second link provided in your verification email.
To register for an application account please use the following link and use the Create a New User facility:
Internal Students - Direct Application Form
For further information in regards to this please email admissions@ucleeds.ac.uk
Modules may include:
Studio Recording Techniques - 20 Credits
This module will give you the ability to go into a studio with the confidence to record a full band through an industry standard (Audient ASP 8024) mixing desk. You will work with fellow musicians and spend time playing and recording in the studio, using a variety of microphones, microphone techniques, and instruments. You will also study mixing and mastering techniques to create a record that is ready to be commercially published.
Creative Professional - 20 Credits
This module is an introduction to what it is to be a creative professional, the skills you need and to the breadth of roles and career opportunities in the music industry.
Introduction to Content Creation - 20 Credits
An introduction to a variety of software and media production tools to produce creative work beyond music You will learn how to create audiovisual content ready for publication on all social media platforms and other consumer channels, a valuable skillset for any self-promotion in music and in a variety of industries.
Studio Management & Sound Engineering - 20 Credits
An extension of the Studio Recording Techniques module, you will study the technical workings of the mixing desk and general studio etiquette as well as what to expect in those roles that lie outside of the production scope – artist management, sound processing, etc. This module will provide you with the understanding of a range of studio techniques such as understanding outboard hardware, and more.
Controller Techniques - 20 Credits
You will primarily use an Ableton Push with the Ableton Live software to learn both live production and performance techniques, as well as controller mappings, sampling techniques, and how to customise MIDI for a variety of practical applications.
Commercial Practice - 20 Credits
Throughout the module you will develop a commercially viable outlet for your work within the music industry. The work that you produce will reflect your personal practice and career aspirations.
Sound Design - 20 Credits
This module covers all aspects of sound design. You will be taught a variety of field recording techniques and various sound processing methods to recreate the sound for a particular scene of a film or game of your choice. This will also cover the creation of cinematic stings for radio and commercial uses.
Collaboration - 20 Credits
It’s important to be comfortable working with artists from other disciplines, the Collaboration module will see you work with students who are on other creative courses in the college – film, dance, hair/media/makeup and more, to create a piece of work that combines both of your skillsets.
Publishing, Distribution, & Label Management - 20 Credits
You will learn every step of releasing and promoting your own music and running your own record label. At the end of the module, you will have the ability to release your music on all major platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music etc. As well as physical releases to shops on the high street.
You will also learn how to manage income generated and keep financial records, as well as the legalities involved in releasing music and intellectual property and copyright law.
AI & Interactive Audio - 20 Credits
This module looks at topics such as using the computer as an instrument, audio-visual relationships, softwares used in the industry, processing techniques, and applications in sound art.
Live Sound - 20 Credits
Stage management and how to set up for live gigs up to the size of small festivals will be learned in this module. Speaker types and placements, monitoring, lighting, live recording, and setting up stage boxes and mixing desks are topics that will be covered.
Electronic Press Kit - 20 Credits
The aim of this module is to provide you with all the tools necessary to promote yourself as a brand/artist. You will have a full Electronic Press Kit (EPK) once this module is complete, ready to send to promoters and venues to get bookings.
Contemporary Music Industry - 20 Credits
This module looks at aspects of today's music industry, teaching you importance of ethics, representation, sustainability, and more.
Portfolio Review - 20 Credits
You will work with your tutors to add to and update your portfolio from year two.
Major Project - 80 Credits
After discussions and brainstorming ideas with your peers you will present what you plan to do for your major project, and how you will go about reaching your goals.
This could take the form of a full EP with publishing plans, an audio-visual installation, putting on and managing an event, or designing and implementing the sound for a film, game or app, or something entirely different.
This main module runs for the full year and can be a project of your choosing, which you would then implement.
This course provides you the specific skills required to work as a professional musician in all aspects of the industry.
A particular feature of this programme is the focus on developing your professional and entrepreneurial skills alongside your music specialism. This degree will teach you a wide range of transferrable practical skills relevant to the industry to enable you to work in many areas of the music industry, such as performing live, film, tv, and games, music production, sound recording and design.
You will be assessed in a variety of modes. This will vary depending on the style of module, The majority of assessments will be practical such as producing a single, EP, performance, sound recordings, videos, photographs or a portfolio.
Alongside these you will be expected to undertake work in the form of blogs, presentations, interviews, digital assets that are relevant to the music industry to support you in your future careers. The assessments have been designed in consultation with the music industry to ensure that they are relevant to your future career as a musician.
The course is predominantly delivered at Quarry Hill Campus. Students will have access to industry standard music production suites with Audient mixing desks, as well as rehearsal studios. We use Apple Mac computers in our MacLabs.
There is a wide range of equipment available to use such as guitars, percussion, microphones, and midi controllers/synthesizers, which can be booked out to be used independently. Some work will also be done at industry standard studios off campus.
TYPICAL OFFER
Level 3: 48 UCAS tariff points from two A-levels (or equivalent qualifications).
IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.
International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria
Mature applicants: University Centre Leeds welcomes applications from mature* applicants who may not have met the academic criteria, but who can demonstrate a wealth of experience in their chosen field. Candidates in this category and otherwise are likely to be interviewed to assess their suitability for the course and may be asked to provide a portfolio of evidence to support their application.
*21 years and over at the start of the course
RPL claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPCL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL)
On successful completion of this programme students can continue onto employment or self employment in the music industry or into further study.
Job opportunities may include:
Professional Musician/Performer/DJ
Sound Designer
Game Audio Designer
Sound Recordist
Content Creator
Stage Manager
Applications are open for 2025 entry.
To apply directly to study at University Centre Leeds as an international applicant, please see the direct apply link further up this page or visit our 'How to apply' page and complete the steps.
You can also apply through UCAS.
For more information please visit our 'How to apply' page.
Course fees for Undergraduates are £14,000 (GBP)
Scholarship available £3,000 (GBP) all courses.
For more information about fees and scholarships, please click here.
Please see our entry requirements page for additional requirements as an international student
International students will study 5 additional hours on top of the regular timetable.
For more information about visa and immigration, please click here.
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