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Check eligibility →BA (Hons) Music Technology Bachelor's degree at De Montfort University
BA (Hons) Music Technology at De Montfort University. Over three years, you'll combine core theory with specialist options and an independent project, developing both technical proficiency and the research methods that distinguish professional practitioners.
About this course
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BA (Hons) Music Technology is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at De Montfort University. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Performing arts graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 20% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £22,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Music & Performing Arts, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Introduction to Studio Recording and ProductionCore
Module details
The module is divided into two sections; digital audio recording and production which includes an introduction to the practice and theory of digital audio recording, mixing and mastering, and digital audio sequencing which covers the study and development of ability in the handling of sequencing and MIDI control along with an introduction to basic audio signal processing.
Assessment: Practical: 74 hours, Consolidation: 40 hours, Reading: 44 hours, Self-Directed Study: 122 hours, Assessment: 20 hours
- Ideas in Music and TechnologyCore
Module details
This module is a seminar and lecture series introducing you to a diverse range of issues and perspectives related to recent and current cultures in music and the sonic arts. The focus will be on central historical and philosophical threads of the last century to contextualise contemporary sound- and music-making. Exploring individual artists and thinkers, broad aesthetic movements, and the development and impact of technologies on culture, music and sound. Listening will be a key activity: inqui
Assessment: Lecture: 48 hours, Workshop: 24 hours, Listening: 56 hours, Self-directed study: 144 hours, Assessment: 28 hours
- Sound Analysis and SynthesisCore
Module details
An understanding of how sound works is essential in developing an appreciation of, and an ability to work with, sound as a medium. This module first familiarises you with the physical/acoustical foundations of musical sounds. You will study sounds through both waveform and spectral representations and understand how temporal and spectral acoustical features relate to the primary perceptual parameters such as musical pitch, dynamics, and timbre.
Assessment: Lecture: 24 hours, Workshop: 12 hours, Practical: 36 hours, Reading: 40 hours, Reflection: 70 hours Self-directed study: 94 hours, Assessment: 24 hours
- Making and Performing Music 1: Tools and TechniquesCore
Module details
This module covers a wide range of creative applications for technology in music-making, both compositional and performative, focusing on the study of genres, styles, repertoire, and techniques. Lectures, practical work and self-directed study enable you to develop an understanding of the range of practices, contexts, paradigms and techniques that are associated with music and the sonic arts in the contemporary world.
Assessment: Workshop: 72 hours, Self-directed study: 188 hours, Assessment: 40 hours
Year 2 4 modules
- Creative and Professional Work: Presentation and PromotionCore
Module details
This is an open module designed for you to undertake a short intense project to allow the development of specialist creative, technical, professional and/or research-led skills, while simultaneously developing professional practice. Special thematic sub-projects, supported by lectures, workshops, and personal tutorials, are offered each year.
Assessment: Workshop: 44 hours, Tutorial: 12 hours, Reading: 40 hours, Reflection: 60 hours, Self-directed study: 104 hours, Assessment: 40 hours
- Sound for Film, Games and MediaCore
Module details
Covers the technical and aesthetic considerations of the creation original musical compositions and sound designs in a variety of audio-visual contexts. Content includes application of existing skills and the development of new skills in relation to designing sound and context-specific compositional strategies in a range of 'real-world' scenarios, focusing primarily on sound and moving image.
Assessment: Workshop: 21 hours, Tutorial: 28 hours, Self-directed study: 230 hours, Assessment: 20 hours
- Studio Recording and ProductionCore
Module details
Learn more advanced studio recording and production, including detailed knowledge of the nature and physics of acoustic and electronic instruments, microphones, and recording spaces such as studios. Covering a variety of structured recording, mixing, and production strategies and work practices to enhance efficiency and quality of work, as well as advanced techniques of applying effects and other processing in mixing.
Assessment: Practical: 74 hours, Consolidation: 40 hours, Reading: 44 hours, Self-Directed Study: 122 hours, Assessment: 20 hours
- Making and Performing Music 2: Topics and ProjectsCore
Module details
This module builds upon the foundation of skills acquired in year one, in particular those related to the module Making and Performing with Technology 1. You will look at the application and development of music technologies in the creation of original works of musical composition or sonic art, as well as exploring the potential for innovative performance paradigms while developing existing ones.
Assessment: Workshop: 72 hours, Self-directed study: 188 hours, Assessment: 40 hours
Year 3 4 modules
- Applied and Collaborative ProjectsCore
Module details
An opportunity for you to explore music technology in the wider context of multimedia and interdisciplinary practice, while presenting it via local community and public art outlets. You may undertake one or more short intense and thematic projects, supported by lectures, workshops, international links and personal tutorials.
Assessment: Workshops: 24 hours, Tutorial: 10 hours, Research: 86 hours, Reflection: 180 hours
- Advanced Production Skills and MasteringCore
Module details
Developing your technical and contextual knowledge within the framework of professional practice, testing the full breadth of skills needed to be successful in this area. You will experience the audio recording and production process through taught sessions using multichannel studios. By developing a portfolio of targeted practical projects you will demonstrate confidence with live recording practice, while also developing project management skills, including working in small teams.
Assessment: Lecture/Large Group: 24 hours, Studio: 48 hours, Workshop: 6 hours, Reading: 40 hours, Self-directed study: 142 hours, Assessment: 40 hours
- Making and Performing Music 3: Personal PortfolioCore
Module details
An opportunity to create a personal portfolio of original creative musical/sonic or multimedia work, plus a reflective writeup. The portfolio will demonstrate a sophisticated approach to the creative use of technology. It may consist of a single large-scale work or multiple smaller works.
Assessment: Workshop: 36 hours, Tutorial: 10 hours, Research: 18 hours, Reflection and Writing: 16 hours, Self-directed study: 180 hours, Assessment: 40 hours
- Final ProjectCore
Module details
An in-depth investigation of a music technology topic of your choice and design, supported by an individual tutor. The final research may take the form of a purely written document (a dissertation), or you can choose to deliver a practice-based investigation (a 'final project', or 'final performance project'), in which research is reflected both in written work and a portfolio of creative work that is informed by and/or helps investigate the topic.
Assessment: Lecture: 10 hours, Tutorial: 10 hours, Research: 100 hours, Reflection: 180 hours
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This BA (Hons) course in Music Technology combines performance, creative production and technical skills. You'll usually begin with foundational modules in musicianship, theory and ensemble work, then progress to more specialised study. A course like this normally moves from core areas, such as performance, composition and music technology, towards deeper focus in your later years. Typical specialisations include performance, composition, music production, musicology, music education and ensemble work. In your final year, you'll often undertake a major project or professional portfolio that draws together your technical and creative development, alongside modules in the business and sustainability of music careers.
Who it's for
You're someone drawn to the creative and technical sides of sound: equally comfortable learning music theory, signal processing, and mixing techniques as you are troubleshooting software or collaborating on projects. You'll thrive if you enjoy hands-on problem-solving, iterating designs, and understanding how sound shapes storytelling. This course suits you if you want to move beyond passive listening into the craft of creating and manipulating audio, whether for interactive media or traditional broadcast. Entry is typically at 96–111 UCAS tariff points; most students arrive with A-levels or equivalent.
Careers & job market
Across Music & Performing Arts courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after completing their degree. Starting salaries typically range from £20,000 to £28,000 annually. After five years, graduates earn between £19,975 and £28,200. Around 55% of working graduates progress into highly skilled roles or continue their education. De Montfort is a nationally recognised UK degree-awarding institution and is located in Leicester.
University & format
This course is studied full-time at De Montfort University, a public university located in Leicester, over 3 years. Teaching is delivered in English. De Montfort University is a nationally recognised UK degree-awarding body. The institution holds a Bronze award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 80% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
| an Access course | 5% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code W342). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at De Montfort University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
undergraduate students with household income £50,000 or less
Check eligibility →students with household income £50,000 or less
Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Music & Performing Arts graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £22,000 | £17,000 – £25,500 | 35 |
| 3 years after | £19,500 | £15,500 – £24,000 | 185 |
| 5 years after | £25,000 | £19,000 – £29,000 | 190 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in music & performing arts · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Music & Performing Arts nationally
National figures for Music & Performing Arts graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Music & Performing Arts courses at the same study level.
Compared with 527 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Skilled trades occupationsSOC 2020 5 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,241
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Sports and fitness occupationsSOC 2020 343 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £13,819
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 25; response rate: 50%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Music & Performing Arts graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Music & Performing Arts graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Orchestras & ensembles
- Schools & conservatoires
- Studios & venues
- Media & freelance
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Music & Performing Arts graduates.
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £22,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.8 out of 10: NSS 87.4% · in work or study 85% · continued 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
De Montfort University
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around De Montfort University
4,747 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Music & Performing Arts right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to De Montfort University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £17,300 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check De Montfort University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with De Montfort University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at De Montfort University
Music & Performing Arts at other universities
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated foundation year)Aberystwyth University
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated year in professional practice)Aberystwyth University
BA (Hons) Drama & Theatre StudiesAberystwyth University
BA (Hons) Creative Industries Futures (including Foundation Year)ACMCommon questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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