BA (Hons) Music Technology Bachelor's degree at West London
BA (Hons) Music Technology at West London integrates core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
About this course
BA (Hons) Music Technology is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at West London, based in Ealing / Brentford. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Music graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 60% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (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)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 55% (2021-23; 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.
Level 3 6 modules
- Study Skills for SuccessCompulsory
Module details
This module will enable you to read critically, present an argument and distinguish between the quality and suitability of materials. It will prepare you to use and evaluate a range of evidence sources throughout your degree.
- Personalised LearningCompulsory
Module details
The Personalised Learning module is intended to equip you with the study skills needed to successfully progress onto level 4, the first year of undergraduate study. Tutor group sessions are an integral part of the module, where you will consolidate your learning and frame it in the context of your subject area. The module will focus on various aspects of study skills, such as those skills related to reading and writing, learning approaches, problem-solving techniques, critical thinking, research
- Sound Production WorkshopCompulsory
Module details
This module will provide the fundamental skills required to be successful in analogue studio-based work, exploring technique through supported practice. The module will focus on the fundamental skills of signal routing between hardware devices typical in modern studios. You will gain an understanding of how equipment in recording studios is interconnected to develop a solid understanding of studio architecture that will provide the foundations of theoretical and practical knowledge to support fu
- Project StudioCompulsory
Module details
This module will move you towards the applied creative side of studio production work. You will explore a range of tools, techniques and instruments typically found in modern pop and electronic music styles. By doing so you will learn to operate and perform with these tools in an integrated analogue and digital small-studio environment. This module will introduce you to concepts and practice of: Sequencing MIDI Sampling Drum programming Synchronisation Compositional strategies
- Digital SkillsCompulsory
Module details
This module will give you the chance to: edit music video material use Photoshop to design cover art create a band web page using HTML develop your blogging skills in WordPress.
- Introduction to Contemporary Production StudiesCompulsory
Module details
This module aims to give you a core understanding of the fundamental principles of music making and production. You will examine the way key musical pioneers have approached their craft with emphasis on exploring musical structure, rhythm, melody, harmony, instrumentation, and the way in which one can utilise musical principles to construct and create a variety of musical styles. You will become familiar with some of the ways recording and digital signal processing can alter sounds and provide a
Level 4 6 modules
- Music ProductionCompulsory
Module details
This module offers you the opportunity to develop as a creative user of professional DAW systems. Through the module you will gain fluency in the use of: hardware and software synths samplers controllers You will also grasp the essential concepts required for next level music production.
- Audio PrinciplesCompulsory
Module details
This is a broad module introducing a variety of topics vital to the field of music technology. It also serves as a base for the more practical and technically orientated modules in the music technology degree courses at LCM/UWL. It is a key module designed to equip students with a grounding in the core knowledge and techniques germane to the disciplinary nature of the music technology courses. The module aims to provide the student with a solid grounding in the theory, techniques and terminology
- Portfolio DevelopmentCompulsory
Module details
This module focuses on the development of your portfolio career. Increasingly, the successful modern freelancer requires a diverse range of skill sets in: writing styles technique arrangement production the ability to expand your client base and income streams. Workflow demands will be examined in a time managed ethos to allow best practice. The module also explores creative outlets, future facing opportunities and residual income streams to allow you to pursue a career as a music professional w
- Studio RecordingCompulsory
Module details
This module will help you develop the required skills needed to operate studio recording technology to a high standard. The module will further the listening skills covered in Recording Theory and will increase your sensitivity to different recording and musical contexts. It covers a comprehensive overview of contemporary studio technology and the recording process. The module will also extend ear-training techniques and examine each component of studio technology in detail. In addition, it will
- Popular Music AnalysisCompulsory
Module details
If you understand how other people's music works, it will help you develop your own creative vision. Different music genres all have their own particular sonic signature and this module is where you learn how to identify and talk about the elements which have defined recorded music, from past to present allowing you to absorb the techniques and mix aesthetics to build them into your tracks.
- Live Sound ProductionCompulsory
Module details
This module is focused on employability and provides you with a deep understanding of the processes involved in musical theatre and play production. The module will focus on the techniques and roles involved within the sound department, from the sound designer through to the sound operators. In addition to this there will also be contextualisation through an introductory study of theatre practice.
Level 5 6 modules
- Applied Studio TechniquesCompulsory
Module details
This module develops the creative engineering skills gained from the Recording Practice module and to then adds session-planning skills, production/mixing skills, modern recording techniques and remixing. Students will be encouraged to take responsibility for complete productions in a professional-standard recording studio.
- Sounds, Grooves and GenresOptional
- Production and Release StrategiesCompulsory
Module details
Traditionally, a business led approach has been a key skill for any freelance music professional. Increasingly music industry professionals are also required to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. As the boundaries of digital technologies and media converge, the need to understand how new concepts are generated and practically applied looks set to be one of the key tools for future creative-content practitioners. This module will focus on digital pioneers who displayed creative enterprise in the
- Research Methods for Music TechnologyOptional
- Sound and Music for ScreenCompulsory
Module details
The module puts the student in the role of a 'Sound Designer' and 'Composer', an increasingly important role in the life of the audio post-production and music freelancer. It serves as a springboard for you to proactively engage in this field. By the end of the module, you will have created a body of sound and music to picture work, which can serve as an industry-standard tool to promote your work with other filmmakers and content producers to work to near professional workflow standards and cir
- LCM Music FactoryOptional
Module details
LCM Music Factory embraces the network and community available within London College of Music and the University to provide real-life scenarios for the production of original music with a contemporary stylistic focus through collaboration. The fundamental aim of this module is to offer the student an opportunity to experience both the pressure and challenges of producing recorded artefacts to a specific musical brief. There is also a significant research aspect to the module, with assessment bas
Level 6 3 modules
- ProjectCompulsory
Module details
In the final year of your degree course, you will create your own project with a high degree of independence. You will be allocated a supervisor and then given the freedom to create a piece of work, which you feel really represents you as a student. You will be guided and supported, but this is your vision and your chance to show the world what you have achieved while you've been at UWL.
- Creative Sound for GamesOptional
Module details
Gaming is a fast growing and lucrative area of the entertainment industry. By the end of the module you will have a solid appreciation of the power of audio for games, combined with the skills to develop audio assets and implement them in middleware. This in turn will form the basis of a show-reel which can be used for future promotion and collaboration within the gaming industry.
- Live Event ProductionOptional
Module details
Will focus on developing, and specialise on, live music mixing skills to an advanced level. The module provides a practice-based context for the application and acquisition of advanced mixing techniques for a variety of platforms and setting applications to allow the student to manage and troubleshoot technical issues and provide appropriate technical solutions; taking into account contemporary approaches to
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 practical music-making with technology and industry skills. You'll usually begin with foundational performance, music theory and aural training alongside studies of music history and repertoire. From Year 2, you'll develop specialist knowledge in areas such as performance, composition, music production, musicology, music education or ensembles, whilst also learning recording studio and notation craft. Year 3 typically introduces professional development, understanding music funding, promotion and portfolio careers, alongside a substantial final project or recital. The structure moves from broad musical and technical fundamentals towards your chosen specialism and a capstone work that demonstrates your artistic and professional readiness.
Who it's for
Most entrants hold A-levels or equivalent qualifications; 77% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent over recent years. The typical UCAS tariff among accepted students falls between 112 and 127 points. This course suits those with a genuine interest in music technology and the technical, creative, and professional skills it demands.
Careers & job market
Nationally, 90% of Music and Performing Arts graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Graduate earnings across the field vary: starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) typically range from £20,000 to £28,000; after three years, £15,725 to £22,200; and after five years, £19,975 to £28,200. These are national figures from Graduate Outcomes and LEO data, not university-specific guarantees. First-year retention stands at 85% across the institution.
University & format
The University of West London, a UK university located in Ealing and Brentford, offers this BA (Hons) degree as a full-time programme over 4 years, taught in English. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your degree is nationally recognised. The course holds Silver status 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.
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 | 77% |
| another higher-education qualification | 14% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 6% |
| an Access course | 2% |
| a Baccalaureate | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
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 W378). 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 West London →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 | £25,000 | £24,000 – £27,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £21,000 | £15,500 – £26,000 | 250 |
| 5 years after | £26,000 | £20,500 – £32,000 | 250 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. 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. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. 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 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Secretarial and related occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
- Other Educational ProfessionalsSOC 2020 232 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,130
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: 90; 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
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £25,000. 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 7.7 out of 10: NSS 86.7% · in work or study 90% · continued 55%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of West London
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 Ealing / Brentford
2,092 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 West London from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £16,250 / 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 West London’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 West London and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at West London
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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