BA (Hons) Sound Design (with a foundation year) Bachelor's degree at Staffordshire
BA (Hons) Sound Design (with a foundation year) at Staffordshire. Sound Design is a subject rooted in both technical precision and creative choice. This course privileges hands-on studio work and real-world application from the start.
About this course
BA (Hons) Sound Design (with a foundation year) is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Staffordshire, based in Stoke on Trent Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Engineering and technology graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Engineering, 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 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 73% (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
- Creative Cultures: Making, Research & Reflectioncompulsory30 credits
Module details
This introductory contextual module enables you to explore diverse cultural identities and examine how they influence creative expression. You will choose a topic related to your discipline and undertake guided research that informs the development of a creative artefact or technical output using materials and processes of your choice. Through investigating and celebrating cultural identities, you will develop a stronger understanding of the relationship between culture and creative practice, su
- Developing Music And Sound Practicecompulsory30 credits
Module details
Refine your workflow. Elevate your sound. Produce like a pro. Take your production skills to the next level with advanced DAW techniques, professional recording practices, creative sound design, and industry-standard mixing and effects. Learn how top records are made while developing polished, professional projects ready for the real world.
- Establishing Music And Sound Practicescompulsory30 credits
Module details
Discover how professional music and audio are made as you learn the fundamentals of Digital Audio Workstations and studio practice. From microphones and recording techniques to MIDI, beat-making, and effects, this module gives you the essential skills to start producing with confidence.
- Sustainability, Society And Impactcompulsory30 credits
Module details
How can creative practice respond responsibly to the challenges facing society today? This module introduces you to key social issues and explores how culture and creative work can reflect, question, and respond to them. You may investigate topics such as sustainability and climate change, inequality, representation, migration, or social justice. Working in a small group, you will create a sustainable and ethical creative project informed by research and contextual understanding. Through reflect
Year 2 13 modules
- Collaborative Creative Industries Projectcompulsory30 credits
Module details
How do creative teams tackle real-world problems together? In this module, youll collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to explore themed, problem-based projects that respond to contemporary social and cultural challenges. Youll develop collaborative, reflective and creative thinking skills through teamwork, co-design and professional-style project processes. By engaging with diverse perspectives and working across creative disciplines, youll gain insight into your own strengths and contribution
- Exploring Music And Sound Production Practicescompulsory30 credits
Module details
Record with confidence. Mix with precision. Work like a professional.This module takes your studio skills to the next level, preparing you to work independently in modern recording environments. Youll master multi-track recording, advanced editing, and industry-standard mixing techniques using professional DAWs, analogue desks, and outboard gear. By combining hands-on studio practice with an understanding of the technology and history behind modern production, youll develop the technical control
- Sound Design Specialismscompulsory30 credits
- Art Trailoptional30 credits
Module details
This module will provide work-related experiences that enable students to acquire the skills and qualities that will enhance their career prospects, horizons, and personal success, preparing the student for the expectations of employers in the visual art sector. The module will facilitate close contact with a real-world context, to experience the planning and delivery of a public art project.
- Colour & Surface: Print, Texture & Material Explorationoptional30 credits
Module details
How can print, colour, and surface transform the way you communicate ideas? In this hands-on module, youll explore creative printmaking and surface techniques, including screen print, relief print, monoprint, colour mixing, and 3D materials processes such as surface and structural manipulation. Youll experiment with colour, texture, and form across flat and dimensional surfaces, developing confident material and visual thinking. Designed for students across art and design, this module supports y
- Creative Heritageoptional30 credits
Module details
Do you think about the ways that different arts and creative practices create our understanding of the past? What relevance do they have today and how do different audiences interpret our cultural history? What relevance does historical artefacts have today in creating our sense of place and identity? What are the issues facing creative practitioners when they represent the past? This module allows you to explore how historical stories have been represented within different creative practices an
- Digital Journeys: Ux & Ui Designoptional30 credits
Module details
Designing intuitive and engaging digital experiences is central to todays creative industries. Youll explore user experience (UX), user interface (UI) and digital design through industry-informed creative briefs. Youll investigate user behaviour, journeys and emotional responses, applying principles of psychology, flow and interaction design. Through hands-on prototyping and workshops, youll develop digital concepts across a range of contexts.
- Experimental Formatsoptional30 credits
Module details
Experimentation is crucial for creativity; it's the engine that drives innovation, helps you discover new possibilities, learn from failures, break norms, and develop a unique voice by testing ideas, exploring different methods, and refining your approach beyond initial assumptions. It transforms ideas into tangible progress, preventing stagnation and leading to fresh, groundbreaking work.Experiential formats take many forms and is so much more than traditional media. It's a multi-disciplinary a
- Experimental Music And Sound Artoptional30 credits
Module details
Break the rules. Explore sound. Find your voice.This module invites you to experiment beyond traditional music-making, exploring sound as art through creative technology, listening, collaboration, and bold ideas. Youll analyse influential experimental works, play with unconventional tools and techniques, and develop your own artistic practice while working with others in a supportive, creative environment. Perfect for students who want to push boundaries and discover new ways of thinking about m
- Hybrid Production Methodsoptional30 credits
Module details
Harness leading edge technologies to expand the scope, impact, reach and potential of your creative work. Professional agility and the transferability of your skills will be the critical flexibility you will need to offer as a creative navigating a rapidly changing and evolving employment and technological landscape. This module will help you build the knowledge and skills you need to thrive in this space.
- Still Life Through The Lensoptional30 credits
Module details
What stories can objects tell? Youll experiment with still-life approaches across photography and mixed media, exploring how composition, lighting, materials and symbolism work together to create visually compelling images. Through hands-on experimentation and contextual research, youll push your creative thinking and craft. These skills are valuable across visual communication, art direction, and broader creative industries workflows.
- Surround Sound And Multichannel Audiooptional30 credits
Module details
Step into the world of immersive sound with this module on Surround Sound and Multichannel Audio Production! You'll gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and techniques for creating powerful, dynamic soundscapes. Explore multichannel mixing, recording, and editing, while learning to design audio experiences that captivate audiences across music, film, and gaming. Perfect for anyone looking to push the boundaries of sound and bring their creative projects to life in stunning deta
- Visual Effects & Motion Graphicsoptional30 credits
Module details
The aim of this module is to enhance your understanding of visual effects and motion graphics and how it can be applied to a variety of different projects. This module will also help you develop an awareness of fundamental theories and practical skills necessary for incorporating these effects and graphics in your projects. Engaging with practical assignment work will enable you to explore visual effects and motion graphics as a creative tool to solve a range of production challenges.
Year 3 3 modules
- Contextual And Critical Investigationcompulsory30 credits
- Final Major Project Of Sound Designcompulsory60 credits
- Professional Practicecompulsory30 credits
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 sound design with engineering fundamentals. You'll study core engineering disciplines including mathematics, mechanics and materials, and practical design skills using CAD and workshop practice. In year 2, you'll progress to thermodynamics, circuits and systems relevant to audio, along with engineering analysis and computing for signal processing and audio simulation. You'll undertake a group design project to real specifications. By year 3, you'll specialise in areas such as audio systems, acoustics or electroacoustic design, whilst also covering professional engineering practice, safety, ethics and sustainability. Your studies culminate in an individual project, typically a substantial design or research investigation in sound engineering.
Who it's for
You are drawn to how sound communicates, in its technical properties, creative possibilities and cultural contexts. You may have a background in music, audio engineering, film or design, or simply a strong curiosity about acoustic environments and sonic storytelling. You work well in studios and with equipment, and you enjoy both the analytical side of frequency and signal flow and the imaginative side of composition and narrative. You're likely someone who notices sound in the world around you and wants to understand and shape it intentionally. This course will feel like a blend of craft learning, technical problem-solving and creative experimentation.
Careers & job market
Across Engineering courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of completing their degree. Of those working, 80% are employed in highly skilled roles or are continuing their education. National earnings data shows Sound Design graduates at the start of their careers (15 months post-graduation) typically earn between £29,000 and £35,000; after five years, earnings typically range from £33,150 to £46,800. Careers span audio post-production, broadcast and streaming media, games and interactive audio, live sound, architectural acoustics and freelance practice.
University & format
The University of Staffordshire, based in Stoke on Trent, offers this 4-year full-time Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree, taught in English. The course includes a foundation year, making it accessible to students without traditional engineering qualifications. Staffordshire is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and its teaching has been rated Silver by 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.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
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 | 90% |
| another higher-education qualification | 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 W371). 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 Staffordshire →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 Engineering 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 | £26,000 | £24,000 – £31,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £23,000 | £17,500 – £30,500 | 175 |
| 5 years after | £28,500 | £23,000 – £37,500 | 180 |
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 engineering · 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 Engineering nationally
National figures for Engineering 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 Engineering courses at the same study level.
Compared with 2,256 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.
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 35% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Skilled trades occupationsSOC 2020 5 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,241
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
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: 40; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Engineering 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 Engineering 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
- Engineering & manufacturing firms
- Automotive & aerospace
- Energy & utilities
- Defence & consultancies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Engineering graduates.
Engineering Surveyor (Machine Control)BAM UK & IrelandEngineering Operations Project ManagerFdo Consulting LimitedEngineering ManagerVerto PeopleEngineering ManagerRobert WaltersEngineering ManagerPremier Technical RecruitmentEngineering ManagerRedline Group LtdIs 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 £26,000. 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 8.0 out of 10: NSS 82.7% · in work or study 85% · continued 73%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Staffordshire
Engineering and technology across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Stoke on Trent Campus
1,636 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 Engineering right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Staffordshire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Staffordshire; 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 Staffordshire’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 Staffordshire and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Staffordshire
Common 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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