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Qualification type
BA (Hons)

Music and Technology

UCAS code W370

Entry requirements
International Baccalaureate: 26 or 544
HKDSE: 4,3,3
India Standard XII: 60%
View full requirements
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
3 years
Start date and application deadlines
Start date
How to apply

Although the UCAS equal consideration date has now passed, many of our courses are still accepting applications from UK students for 2025 entry through UCAS.

The deadline for international students was 30 June 2025.

Combine this subject

With a combined degree, you can study two subjects as part of the same degree programme.

  • Choose from 30 subjects and over 300 combinations
  • Choose joint or major minor subjects
  • Adjust the weight of your subjects at the end of your first year
  • Same number of credits as single honours students
  • Same classes as single honours students
  • Appeal to a wide range of employers

Explore combined degrees for Music courses

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About this course

Our 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. You'll have access to recently refurbished, industry-standard facilities, including several recording and production studios.


Introduction

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

Alongside your technology-focused modules, you will be able to choose from a wide range of popular and classical music modules. This means you can also study classical or popular music performance, classical or popular music composition, or the music industry; or more specialist topics such as music psychology and music for film, TV and games.

Your first year will comprise of three compulsory modules which will introduce you to the foundations of sound technology, sound recording, production, and electronic music. In your second and final years, you will have the opportunity to focus on the areas that interest you most, and to undertake an independent project in creative music technology.

Year in industry

Undergraduate students in the Department of Music have the opportunity to spend a year in industry, either in their third year, or by adding a ‘follow-on year’ at the end of their academic studies. These are paid placements within an organisation in industry, broadly defined, and you will receive support from the Department and the School of the Arts to source and apply for opportunities. Find out more about the difference between these options, including how to apply.


What you'll learn

  • Advanced understanding of sound and music technology theory
  • Practical and vocational skills in sound recording and production
  • Academic research skills
  • Critical and cultural awareness
  • The ability to devise and sustain complex arguments
  • Written and oral communication and presentation
  • Creativity
  • Time management and organisations skills
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We’re proud to announce we’ve been awarded a Gold rating for educational excellence.


Course content

Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.

Year one
Year two

Your second year will comprise entirely of optional modules.

There may be some restrictions on which modules can be taken in conjunction with others, which will be explained during module registration.

Students wishing to spend their third year in industry must take SOTA260 (Professional and Career Development).

Modules

Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.

Final year
Combined degree

Choosing this subject as a combined degree

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

Teaching and assessment

How you'll learn

We employ a range of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, master classes, 1-2-1 instrumental lessons, ensemble coaching, and online tasks and projects. The emphasis is on student participation and interaction. We fit the most appropriate mode of teaching to the particular subject, conscious that the learning process needs to be enjoyable, enabling you to acquire useful and marketable skills and knowledge.

How you're assessed

Each module has an individually determined system of assessment (by coursework, written paper, test, recital, composition or technology portfolio, presentation or podcast, examination, and combinations of these), and we select the method that best suits the nature of the module.

Liverpool Hallmarks

We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.

The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:

  • Digital fluency
  • Confidence
  • Global citizenship

Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:

  • Research-connected teaching
  • Active learning
  • Authentic assessment

All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.

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Entry requirements

The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.

Qualification Details
International Baccalaureate

26 points overall with no score less than 4 including 5 in HL Music, or Pass the IB Diploma plus 5,4,4 in 3 HL subjects including 5 in HL Music. Plus a minimum of 5 in SL Maths or 4 in HL Maths and 5 in SL/HL English A or 7 in SL English B or 6 in HL English B

HKDSE

433 from 2 electives (including 4 in Music) plus one core subject (excluding Citizenship and Social Development) and a minimum grade 3 in core Mathematics. Grade 4 (with no component less than 4) in HKDSE English Language

India Standard XII

Overall average of 60% from four core subjects including 75% in Music, a minimum of 75% in English dependent on exam board (not including Hindi, Regional Language, Environmental Education and PE) and a minimum of 50% for Standard X Maths

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Course options

Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.

Global opportunities

University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide. Choose to spend a year at XJTLU in China or a year or semester at an institution of your choice.

Year in China

Immerse yourself in Chinese culture on an optional additional year at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in stunning Suzhou.

  • Learn Chinese
  • Study in a bustling world heritage city
  • Improve employment prospects
  • Study Chinese culture
  • 30 minutes from Shanghai
  • Learn new skills

Read more about Year at XJTLU, China

Year abroad

Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.

  • Choose from up-to 26 countries
  • Experience another way of life
  • Inspire your future career or studies
  • Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
  • More likely to earn higher salary
  • More likely to be employed after graduating

Where can I spend a year abroad on this course?

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Hong Kong
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • USA

More about taking a year abroad

Semester abroad

Take a semester of your second year of study at one of our worldwide partner institutions.

  • Inspire your future career or studies
  • Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
  • More likely to earn higher salary
  • More likely to be employed after graduating

More about taking a semester abroad

Summer abroad

Spend a summer abroad on a study placement or research project at one of our worldwide partner institutions.

  • Spend a summer abroad in addition to your degree programme
  • Study abroad without adding an extra year
  • Choose any summer between your first and final year of study
  • Get the chance to study subjects outside your discipline

Where can I spend a summer abroad on this course?

  • Hong Kong
  • Japan
  • South Korea

More about taking a summer abroad

Year in industry

Year in industry placements give you an in-depth workplace experience where you can develop your skills and apply your learning.

  • Develop key employability skills that graduate employers are looking for
  • Experience and understand workplace culture and discipline
  • Understand the relationship between academic theory and real world application
  • Begin your professional network
  • Gain industry insight and insight into potential career options.

You don't need to decide now - you can choose to add a year in industry after you've begun your degree.

Learn more about year in industry

To spend a year in industry, you'll need to secure a placement with an organisation. If you're unable to find a placement, you'll continue with the standard version of the course without a year in industry.

Language study

Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree. You can choose:

  • A dedicated languages degree
  • A language as a joint or major/minor degree
  • Language modules (selected degrees)
  • Language classes alongside your studies

Read more about studying a language

Combine this subject

With a combined degree, you can study two subjects as part of the same degree programme.

  • Choose from 30 subjects and over 300 combinations
  • Choose joint or major minor subjects
  • Adjust the weight of your subjects at the end of your first year
  • Same number of credits as single honours students
  • Same classes as single honours students
  • Appeal to a wide range of employers

Explore combined degrees for Music courses

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Your experience

Much of your teaching will take place in the Department of Music. Our recently renovated facilities include studios, teaching spaces and industry standard equipment, and we recently opened the Tung Auditorium: a 400-seat state of the art performance venue, which has been developed to support our requirements and to function as a public-facing space for concerts outside of teaching time.

Explore where you'll study

SSL Studio
SSL Studio
SSL Live Room
SSL Live Room
Music Hub
Music Hub
Yoko Ono Lennon Centre
Yoko Ono Lennon Centre
The Tung Auditorium
The Tung Auditorium
Performing in a city venue
Performing in a city venue
Watch on Panopto: Studying Music at Liverpool

Studying Music at Liverpool

Virtual tour

Supporting your learning

From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:

Why study Music at Liverpool?

  • We pride ourselves on being an innovative department that embraces the full spectrum of music, from the great works of the past to emerging trends such as sound for computer games
  • Our staff and students come from a variety of performance and non-performance backgrounds and share interests that span classical, popular, world and film music
  • Long established as a classical music department, in 1988 we created the Institute of Popular Music – the world’s first specialist centre for the study of Popular Music
  • Music placed in the top quartile for impact classified as outstanding (4*) (REF 2021)
  • Our recently refurbished facilities boast brand new studios, teaching spaces, and industry standard equipment. These include recording and production studios, an SSL studio, practice rooms with Yamaha pianos, a multipurpose rehearsal and performance space, iMac suites and a games research lab
  • In March 2022 we opened the Tung Auditorium, a new state-of-the-art performance venue seating up to 400 people, with space for a 70-piece orchestra.
Image of Music student Megan Rowlands

The Music department at the University of Liverpool is friendly and welcoming and I felt that I could really fit in to that environment. I have felt so at home within this department that I have chosen to continue my studies in this department right through from undergraduate to PhD.

Megan Rowlands, BA (Hons) Music, MMus Music
Two students chatting while walking through campus.

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Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.

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Careers and employability

Studying music opens up many career opportunities. As well as jobs in music (from performance, composition, and production, through to teaching, music therapy and community arts), employers in many sectors are increasingly seeking arts and humanities graduates for their transferable skills.

As a music student you will achieve creative flair and imagination, confidence in expressing yourself, an openness to new ideas, a capacity for hard work and an ability to analyse data. You will learn the value of working with others towards a shared, finished product and a whole range of flexible, professional skills.

As a student in the School of the Arts, you will be supported to maximise your employability from day one.

The School has its own placements and employability officer, and you will have the opportunity to undertake the following work experience opportunities:

  • Work placement or a year in industry as part of your programme
  • Work in our student-run record label to gain practical experience of all aspects of the music industry – from contract negotiation and project planning, through to promotion and distribution.

80% of music students will go on to work and/or further study 15 months after graduation.

(Discover Uni, 2018-19.)


Meet our alumni

Hear what graduates say about their career progression and life after university.

Photo of Jake Dorfman

Jake Dorfman, BA (Hons) Music for Special Needs 2014

Jake graduated in 2014, and is currently studying for a masters degree in Composition and Conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, whilst working as a composer, music director and jazz musician. In the two years between graduating and beginning my MMus, I worked as a Composer and Music Director, specialising in music […]

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Fees and funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.

Tuition fees

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)

Full-time place, per year - £9,535
Year in industry fee - £1,905
Year abroad fee - £1,430 (applies to year in China)

International fees

Full-time place, per year - £24,100
Year in industry fee - £1,905
Year abroad fee - £12,050 (applies to year in China)

The tuition fees shown are correct for 2025/26 entry. Please note that the year abroad fee also applies to the year in China.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. Learn more about paying for your studies.


Additional costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.


Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.

Undergraduate Global Advancement Scholarship

If you’re a high-achieving international student starting an undergraduate degree with us from September 2024, you could be eligible to receive a fee discount of up to £5,000. You’ll need to achieve grades equivalent to AAA in A levels. Most of our undergraduate degrees are eligible, with the exception of clinical programmes in Medicine and Dental Surgery.

Kaplan Digital Pathways Excellence Scholarship

Completed a Kaplan Digital Pathways Foundation Certificate? We’re offering a £5,000 fee discount off the first year of undergraduate study for a maximum of two high achieving students joining one of our non-clinical degrees from an online Kaplan Foundation Certificate.

Sport Liverpool Performance Programme

Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.

University of Liverpool International College Excellence Scholarship

Completed a Foundation Certificate at University of Liverpool International College (UoLIC)? We’re offering a £5,000 fee discount off the first year of undergraduate study to some of the highest achieving students joining one of our non-clinical degrees from UoLIC.

University of Liverpool International College First Class Scholarship

We’re offering a £1,000 fee discount for years 2 and 3 of undergraduate study to eligible students progressing from University of Liverpool International College. You’ll need to be studying a non-clinical subject and get an average of 70% or above in year 1 of your degree.

University of Liverpool International College Impact Progression Scholarships

If you’re a University of Liverpool International College student awarded a Kaplan Impact Scholarship, we’ll also consider you for an Impact Progression Scholarship. If selected, you’ll receive a £3,000 fee discount off the first year of your undergraduate degree.

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Last updated 17 June 2025 / / Programme terms and conditions

Changes to Music and Technology BA (Hons)

See what updates we've made to this course since it was published. We document changes to information such as course content, entry requirements and how you'll be taught.

28 March 2025: BA Music and Technology

Updated module information.

14 January 2025: Music and Technology BA – Duolingo English test requirements

Duolingo English test requirements: 125 overall, with speaking, reading and writing not less than 105, and listening not below 100

7 June 2022: New course pages

New course pages launched.