BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production with Foundation Year Bachelor's degree at Leeds Conservatoire
BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production with Foundation Year at Leeds Conservatoire. You'll develop technical fluency in digital audio workstations, synthesis, and signal processing whilst engaging with music theory, research methods, and professional practice.
About this course
BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production Skip to main content Play video Pause video View video in fullscreen BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production Applications Still Open for 2026 Apply Now Order a Prospectus Study BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production at Leeds Conservatoire Our BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production degr From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production with Foundation Year is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Leeds Conservatoire. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Music graduates from this provider, 89% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 62% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (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: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 89% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 87% (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.
Foundation Year (L3) 8 modules
- Contextual Studies Foundation20 credits
Module details
You'll build core academic and musical skills to support your creative development. Through research, analysis, and contextual listening, you'll explore relevant repertoire and understand its social and historical background. This module prepares you for further study by introducing key musicological and analytical tools while encouraging reflective and informed creative practice.
Assessment: Assessment includes composition and reflective commentary.
- DAW Foundations20 credits
Module details
You'll gain practical experience using industry-standard Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) to explore core compositional techniques. This module helps you create your first digital portfolio, integrating your growing knowledge of music theory and production. It sets the groundwork for further DAW-based learning and supports your development as an electronic music producer.
Assessment: Assessment includes technical assessment and music production portfolio.
- DAW Principles20 credits
Module details
Building on DAW Foundations, you'll further explore compositional tools and production techniques using industry-standard software. You'll refine your skills through creative portfolio work and apply your growing technical knowledge in musical contexts. This module deepens your ability to produce and arrange tracks confidently in a digital environment.
Assessment: Assessment includes a music production portfolio.
- DJ Foundations20 credits
Module details
You'll get hands-on experience with DJ hardware and software, building essential practical skills in mixing and performance. Alongside this, you'll develop interpersonal and planning abilities needed to complete a DJ-based project. This module introduces the DJ environment and prepares you for more advanced live performance and production work.
Assessment: Assessment includes a technical assessment and DJ mix portfolio.
- DJ Principles20 credits
Module details
You'll expand your foundational DJ skills by engaging more deeply with hardware and software principles. This module enhances your ability to deliver structured performances and complete a project with confidence. You'll also refine your communication and planning skills while preparing for Level 4 DJ and production practice.
Assessment: Assessment includes a DJ mix portfolio.
- Music Theory Skills for Producers20 credits
Module details
You'll develop a solid grounding in music theory and aural awareness tailored to electronic music. This module strengthens your understanding of melody, harmony, rhythm, and structure, helping you apply theoretical concepts to your production and composition work. It builds your fluency in the musical language of producers.
Assessment: Assessment includes a music composition and a portfolio of theory skills.
- Studio Foundations20 credits
Module details
You'll be introduced to the fundamentals of studio operation, from hardware and signal flow to communication and project planning. This module equips you with the foundational technical and interpersonal skills needed in a recording environment. You'll develop a clear understanding of how to prepare and manage a studio project.
Assessment: Assessment includes a technical assessment and studio portfolio.
- Studio Principles20 credits
Module details
You'll build on your studio knowledge by exploring more advanced workflows and operational techniques. This module strengthens your understanding of studio procedures and introduces new equipment, project planning skills, and team coordination. It prepares you for professional production settings and Level 4 studio-based learning.
Assessment: Assessment includes a studio portfolio.
Year 1 (L4) 6 modules
- DAW & DJ Fundamentals20 credits
Module details
You'll explore industry-standard software and hardware used in electronic music production and live performance. This module helps you develop essential DAW and DJ skills, preparing you for work in creative industries. You'll apply these skills across composition and performance contexts, laying a foundation for advanced production.
Assessment: Assessment includes a technical assessment and production portfolio.
- DAW & DJ Techniques20 credits
Module details
You'll build on your foundational DAW and DJ experience to refine your technical skillset. This module enhances your production workflow and introduces techniques for more complex DAW and DJ integration. It prepares you for advanced work in arrangement and live performance through hands-on, creative tasks.
Assessment: Assessment includes a production portfolio.
- Electronic Music Arrangement20 credits
Module details
You'll explore techniques used to structure and develop electronic music tracks across genres. This module helps you evaluate a wide range of arrangement approaches and apply them to your own productions. By experimenting with form, variation, and flow, you'll strengthen your ability to shape dynamic musical experiences.
Assessment: Assessment includes an arrangement portfolio.
- Electronic Music Composition20 credits
Module details
You'll dive into the creative process behind a wide range of electronic music genres, from grime and techno to house, trap, and EDM. Through DAW-based production, you'll develop genre-specific techniques and start to define your own sonic identity. This module encourages you to contextualise your work within real-world practices.
Assessment: Assessment includes a composition portfolio.
- Music Production in Context20 credits
Module details
You'll study the evolving role of the music producer through research into influential figures and seminal recordings. This module helps you understand how producers shape sound, genre, and industry trends. You'll analyse work across styles and time periods to gain insight into your own creative and professional development.
Assessment: Assessment includes an evaluation production work and a composition and production portfolio.
- Production Analysis20 credits
Module details
You'll develop a deeper understanding of what makes a successful music production by deconstructing tracks across genres. Using analytical frameworks, you'll explore how different elements, structure, sound design, mix, come together in a final product. This module sharpens your listening and production awareness for use in your own work.
Assessment: Assessment includes an in-depth analysis of a commercially released track.
Year 2 (L5) 3 modules
- DAW & DJ Production20 credits
Module details
You'll refine your DAW and DJ abilities to create high-quality assets for live performance and professional production. This module deepens your command of software, hardware, and workflow while encouraging creative experimentation. You'll develop polished material for live sets and strengthen your technical and artistic identity.
Assessment: Assessment includes a production portfolio.
- Electronic Music Production Project20 credits
Module details
You'll showcase your evolving production voice through a focused, high-quality project. Building on your sampling, synthesis, and mixing knowledge, you'll plan and deliver a genre-specific production that highlights your individuality. This module lays the foundation for your Level 6 project and helps refine your creative direction.
Assessment: Assessment includes a portfolio audio submission.
- Live Set Production20 credits
Module details
You'll bring your production skills into the performance space by developing and refining a professional live set. This module combines technical rigour with creative flair, guiding you through real-world applications of DAW and DJ performance. You'll build the confidence and ability to deliver live music in a professional context.
Assessment: Assessment includes a production portfolio.
Year 3 (L6) 5 modules
- Collaborative Project20 credits
Module details
You'll work with artists from across the creative industries, like filmmakers, designers, or musicians, to plan and deliver a professional production project. This module develops your collaboration, leadership, and production skills while simulating real-world creative scenarios and workflows. You'll bring your technical knowledge into dynamic, cross-disciplinary practice.
Assessment: Assessment includes a submission of audio and video evidence of your final product.
- Individual Project40 credits
Module details
You'll design and deliver a major production project aligned with your artistic and professional goals. Working independently, you'll apply the full range of your skills to produce high-quality work in your chosen genre or specialism. This module supports self-direction, industry readiness, and career planning.
Assessment: Assessment includes a production portfolio.
- Live Production Environments20 credits
Module details
You'll explore the practical and technical aspects of live sound, from setting up systems to operating equipment at events. This module promotes teamwork and real-time decision-making, helping you understand roles and workflows in live production. You'll gain confidence working in high-pressure, collaborative environments.
Assessment: Assessment includes a live sound production portfolio.
- Sonic Arts & Sound Design20 credits
Module details
You'll explore sound as a creative and cultural medium, engaging with experimental techniques and artistic production. This module encourages exploration through critical listening, unconventional tools, and advanced sound design. You'll broaden your practice and push the boundaries of how sound can be used and understood.
Assessment: Assessment includes a composition portfolio.
- Vocal Production for Producers20 credits
Module details
You'll develop advanced vocal production skills, including psychological insight into performer-producer collaboration. This module explores vocal recording, processing, and editing in depth, helping you bring out the best in vocalists and refine your approach to one of the most crucial elements of modern production.
Assessment: Assessment includes a vocal production project.
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 course combines electronic music production with foundational music study. You'll begin with principal-study lessons, ensemble work and performance classes alongside musicianship, theory and aural skills. Early modules also cover music history and context from early music to the present day. In year two, you'll move into composition and music technology, studio craft and notation, alongside continued performance and pedagogy. From year three onwards, a course like this normally offers specialist pathways such as performance, composition, music production and musicology, alongside professional development modules on the business of music, funding and portfolio careers. You'll complete a final recital, project or dissertation.
Who it's for
You're drawn to electronic music and want hands-on experience designing and producing digital sound. You're interested in how technology shapes music creation, from composition to mixing and mastering. You may be considering whether electronic production could become a career, or you might study it as your primary passion. Studying here means working in a dedicated conservatoire environment with access to professional studios and equipment, alongside peers equally committed to the field. The foundation year supports you if your background in music or audio is still developing.
Careers & job market
Across Music & Performing Arts courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Starting salaries typically range from £20,000 to £28,000 at that point; after five years, graduates' earnings span £19,975 to £28,200. Around 55% of working graduates work in highly skilled roles or undertake further study. Earnings and labour-market figures are based on national Graduate Outcomes and LEO data and should not be assumed as individual guarantees.
University & format
Leeds Conservatoire, a university in Leeds, offers this BA (Hons) course as full-time study over 4 years (including the foundation year). Teaching is in English. The degree is awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body, making it nationally recognised. Leeds Conservatoire holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework 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.
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 | 86% |
| another higher-education qualification | 10% |
| a previous degree | 1% |
| a Baccalaureate | 1% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 1% |
| Other | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
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. 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
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Leeds Conservatoire →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
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
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 | £24,000 | £20,000 – £26,000 | 40 |
| 3 years after | £18,000 | £12,500 – £21,500 | 230 |
| 5 years after | £23,500 | £19,500 – £29,000 | 220 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
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: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. 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.
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 40% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 16% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
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: 355; response rate: 53%. 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.
Music Tech Beta Liaison & Support SpecialistinMusic Brands, Inc.Music QTSColmore Education Recruitment LtdMusic Teachers in HuddersfieldAcademicsMusic Rights Operations & Data Services LeadPPLMusic Engagement Officer - Alternative Provision · Coventry MusicMusiceducationukMusic Audio & Tech Support Desk SpecialistMandarin RecruitmentIs 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
89% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. 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 8.4 out of 10: NSS 77% · in work or study 89% · continued 87%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Leeds Conservatoire
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 Leeds Conservatoire
4,668 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 Leeds Conservatoire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Leeds Conservatoire; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 Leeds Conservatoire’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 Leeds Conservatoire and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Leeds Conservatoire
Music & Performing Arts at other universities
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated foundation year)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated year in professional practice)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (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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