Music and Technology BA (Hons) Add to your prospectus

Key information

  • Course length: 3 years
  • UCAS code: W370
  • Year of entry: 2019
  • Typical offer: A-level : ABB / IB : 33, with no score less than 4 / BTEC : Applications considered
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The Music and Technology programme allows you to specialise in the vocational areas of recording and production, electronic music, sound design and composition for film and video gaming.

Study as part of joint-honours at 100:0 Choosing this subject as a Single Honours

At the same time as focusing on music technology, you will also select half of your modules from our degrees in Music and/or Popular Music. This means you can also study classical or popular music performance, classical or popular music composition, the music industry, or select from a wide range of historical and theoretical options.

Programme in detail

The programme not only focuses on technical areas such as sound recording and music production, but also allows you to explore the creative applications of music technology. You will underpin your technology practice with specialist theoretical, historical and contextual modules, and will have the option to develop your performance skills in either popular or classical music.

In Years Two and Three, in addition to core modules, you will focus in detail on the areas that interest you most.

Study as part of joint-honours at 75:25 Choosing this subject as a Major

The programme not only focuses on technical areas, such as sound recording and music production, but also allows you to explore the creative applications of music technology.

In Year One core modules look at the foundations of creative music technology, sound, and production. Other options include performance, classical and popular history and theory, audio-visual music, world music, and music industry. In Years Two and Three you develop your skills in areas such as electronic composition, MAX/MSP, AV composition and sound recording.

Study as part of joint-honours at 50:50 Choosing this subject as a Joint

In Year One core modules look at the foundations of creative music technology, sound, and production.

In Years Two and Three you develop your skills in areas such as electronic composition, MAX/MSP, AV composition, or sound recording.

Study as part of joint-honours at 25:75Choosing this subject as a Minor

This subject pathway allows you to specialise in a particular area, such as sound recording and production, electronic music, sound design, and composition for film and gaming.

Department Key Facts

Number of first year students

78 Year One undergraduates in 2017

UK league tables

We created the Institute of Popular Music in 1988, becoming the first Department of Music in the UK to introduce dedicated, specialist popular music studies and research

Graduate prospects

88% of our graduates are employed or in further study within six months of graduating (DLHE 2015/16)

Research performance

Ranked 10th in the UK for 4* and 3* research in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 (THE 2014)

Why this subject?

Enhance your learning with technology and audio-visual media

We offer a distinctive provision in the study of music in audio-visual media, including film and videogame music. This can be practical, oriented towards composition and technology, with dedicated AV composition resources; or theoretical, focusing on the critical study and analysis of music in different types of AV media.

Take advantage of composition and song-writing opportunities

Traditional, electro-acoustic, and audio-visual composition, as well as popular composition/ song-writing, are all represented in the Department.

Develop your confidence through performance

Although not compulsory, if you wish to pursue performance then we offer tution, workshops and support to enhance your development as a performer. Among the many ensembles, there is a symphony orchestra, a university choir, and a chamber choir, while the University’s Music Society runs a wind orchestra, a brass band and a jazz band. We run a weekly professional lunchtime concert series, and our partnership with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra affords opportunities for participating in composition and performance workshops with professional players. We are also home to numerous pop and rock groups, covering many styles, and many of our students perform at local venues and open-mic nights. 

Benefit from studying in a well-established Department

The Institute of Popular Music (IPM) is a research centre within the Department of Music, and one of the very first places to offer university-level provision in popular music. Founded in 1988, it remains at the forefront of popular music studies internationally. With the establishment of our innovative new Interdisciplinary Centre for Composition and Technology (ICCat) we are a Department at the cutting edge of the 21st century, exploring new possibilities for technology-enhanced composition.

Learn from music analysis and psychology experts

We offer a critical approach that encourages you to develop your own unique ways of analysing music from a broad range of repertoires and invites you to explore many new possibilities for appreciating the sonic experience of music.

Benefit from access to excellent facilities and learning resources

The Department has expanded recently to provide additional studios, practice rooms and a large rehearsal space. Students enjoy excellent library facilities, which include books, online services and learning spaces.