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Creative Music Production BA(Hons)

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Start Dates

21 September 2026

Duration

3 years full-time 4 years inc. placement year

UCAS Tariff

120-104

Recent Awards For Excellence

Ofsted outstanding provider logo Performing Arts - QS 2025
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About this course

Overview

Why choose Huddersfield for this course?

  • Full access to professional-standard studios and equipment outside teaching hours
  • Develop your creative identity through hands-on production, electronic music, sound design and interdisciplinary projects.
  • Collaborate across the Performing Arts suite and learn from expert staff and visiting industry professionals

Creative Music Production at Huddersfield is for students who want to develop as imaginative producers, creators and studio artists, capable of shaping the sound of contemporary music. Whether you're interested in studio production, electronic music, songwriting, sound design, live electronics or hybrid creative practice, this course supports you in building a distinctive artistic and professional identity.

You’ll be studying in a School recognised for excellence and innovation, Huddersfield is ranked 37th in the world for Performing Arts (QS World University Subject Rankings 2025), reflecting the creative breadth and global reputation of our performing arts community.

At the core of the course is access to our exceptional production facilities. You’ll work in industry-standard recording studios, mixing and mastering suites, electronic music labs, live rooms and specialist rehearsal spaces. Crucially, you’ll enjoy generous open access outside of teaching, giving you the freedom to experiment, collaborate and produce work on your own terms. Expert technical teams are available to support you with equipment, software, studio workflows and experimental practice.

The course encourages you to explore the full landscape of production — from traditional techniques to cutting-edge digital practice. You’ll gain experience in recording, editing, mixing, sound manipulation, synthesis, sampling, creative processing and acoustic/electroacoustic composition. This technical grounding is combined with a strong emphasis on creative exploration, helping you develop your own sonic language, aesthetic interests and artistic approach.

As part of Huddersfield’s dynamic artistic environment, you’ll experience some of the most exciting new music in the world. You can engage with the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (HCMF), collaborate with visiting artists and composers, and explore experimental sound and performance at the Electric Spring Festival. Opportunities to participate in ensembles, improvisation groups, electronic performance settings and student-led projects further enrich your creative experiences.

Beyond production skills, the course helps you build professional confidence. You’ll learn how to manage creative projects, work with performers, respond to briefs, build your portfolio and prepare for freelance or employment pathways. The supportive environment ensures every student is known, heard and encouraged to develop their ideas with curiosity and ambition.

A Creative Music Production degree can lead to careers in music production, studio engineering, electronic music creation, sound design, live sound, audio post-production, media composition, artist development, creative direction or freelance production work. Many graduates also progress onto advanced study in music production, composition, sonic arts or related fields.

Career opportunities after the course *

Music Teacher

Minister of Music

Musician

Head of Music

*Lightcast

Who can apply?

Entry Requirements

BBB-BCC at A Level.
120-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.
Merit at T Level.
DDM-DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.
Merit in UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma.
Merit in RSL Level 3 Extended Diploma.
Practical and theory music grades 6-8 will be accepted in the total points.
Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.
120-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

Entry is also possible for applicants who don't hold standard UK qualifications.

International and mature applicants who don't hold standard UK qualifications can provide a portfolio to demonstrate skills relevant to the course. You can do this by sending us links to any production and/or recording work you have created or collaborated in.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Music and Performing Arts Foundation Pathway Degree.

What will you learn?

Course Details

This module will introduce you to a range of approaches to studying music and music technology. You will develop research, source-handling, evaluation, and critical-thinking skills and apply these to repertoires, cultures, and issues appropriate to your degree course. Linked lectures and seminars will increase your knowledge of key themes and concerns in music studies, give you opportunities to debate your ideas with others, and develop your confidence as an increasingly independent researcher.

This module will introduce you to relevant techniques and technologies for computer-based music production, including sequencing, sampling, arrangement, and a variety of other sound processing techniques. A range of practical work - both technical and creative - will develop your critical listening and production skills, and seminars will support you in applying these techniques to your own creative work.

You will be introduced to the core concepts, theory and practical principles involved in producing, engineering and mixing popular music. You will gain practical experience in an analogue/digital recording studio, developing your ability to record and overdub a variety of sources. For the mix stage of the production process, you will then review the fundamental approaches and techniques involved in effectively processing these signals.

This module equips you with the skills needed for success as a contemporary songwriter. You will learn about lyric and melody writing, chord progressions and song structure. Using different arrangements, and a variety of compositional and vocal techniques, you will explore a range of songwriting styles and genres, helping you to develop your own individual creative voice.

You will gain hands-on experience of a variety of key musical skills: improvisation; aural awareness; ensemble performance; and evaluating your own and others' performances. A wide range of styles and genres will be explored, and you will work with musicians relevant to your specialism as a pop, classical, or jazz performer.

This module aims to provide you with an overview of the technologies found in a modern audio recording environment. The module will introduce you to audio principles such as signals, acoustics, hearing and digital audio. These principles will be used to develop an understanding of audio technologies found in music production, such as studio spaces, microphones, mixing desks, amplifiers, audio processors and speaker systems.

You will be introduced to advanced concepts, theory and practical use of a broad range of equipment used for recording, editing and mixing sound. You will gain practical experience of sound recording in analogue/digital recording studios, in a concert hall and on location. Your ability to edit multitrack audio using advanced post production techniques will be developed, as will the skills required to capture accurate stereo and multichannel recordings in a concert hall environment.

Building on the skills and knowledge acquired in Desktop Music Production 1 or AFM1208 Technology for Music, this module will provide further study of the techniques of computer-based music production. Techniques examined in-depth will include synthesis, sequencing, sampling, editing, processing and mixing techniques, as well as their creative application. Issues of pre/post production and arrangement will also be explored. You will also continue to study musical arrangement within a computer-based production context. You will explore these topics through practical technical and creative work that will improve your techno-fluency and abilities in detailed critical listening. Seminars will support the application of production techniques and ideas.

Inside the Music Business will introduce you to a range of issues relevant to the current music industry, from copyright, contracts and economics through to the role of the media in marketing, reviewing, and representing music. You will explore the production, distribution and revenue models of the global music business and develop the critical and analytical skills to understand these working practices and the ways they relate to your own practice as a musician. On completion of the module, you will have created the assets to represent yourself to industry as a musician and have a digital portfolio of activity related to your chosen aspect of the music industry.

This module will develop your production analysis and critical listening skills. You will explore ways in which to analyse music productions, investigate differences in sound quality between common studio processors and refine your critical listening and appreciation of music production sonic signatures. The module will explore the affordances of production techniques and equipment and investigate how they helped shaped the music production process.

Choose two from a list which may include:

You will choose one practical option from an array of ensembles, bands, and approaches to performance. Options typically range from conducting, music theatre, and improvisation through to groups like orchestra, big band, brass band, classical and pop choirs, and a huge variety of pop, rock, soul, funk, and folk bands. Specialist performance tutors will coach you towards assessed performances that are open to the public.

The module is intended to enhance and develop songwriting skills and to raise questions regarding the notions of identity and authenticity in the contemporary songwriting world. Through the exploration of a range of more advanced compositional and vocal techniques, you will acquire greater knowledge and understanding of an array of vocal styles both historical and contemporary. The importance of accompaniment (including backing vocals) will be discussed in greater detail and students will acquire stronger skills in effective lyric and melodic writing. You will also learn about and explore the role of collaboration when creating songs, culminating in a final collaborative project with student colleagues.

Building on the technical skills and knowledge acquired in Desktop Music Production 1, this module will develop your ability to work creatively with sound, as well as your knowledge of electronic musical practices and thinking. You will be introduced to a broad range of new electronic music and models for thinking about sound as a creative medium. You will listen to, and practically explore, electronic music from a range of contexts, including electronica, EDM, IDM, acousmatic music and sound installation work. Drawing on ideas and music explored in class you will create your own original electronic compositions, showing an awareness of contemporary and historical thinking and techniques.

In this module you will be introduced to the art of creating music for the moving image. This will develop your practical and critical understanding of the ways in which visual and aural images form meaning and are used to structure the audiovisual work as a whole. It also serves as a preparation for the higher-level modules of composing music for film and sound for image. Throughout the year you will build a portfolio or ‘showreel’ of your work that can serve also as a basis in the future for professional work and to boost your employability as a composer of music for moving image.

This module will provide you with understanding and practical experience of Live Sound, in terms of system design, setup and operation. You will work with industry-relevant equipment on a variety of systems from different manufacturers. Key principles of routing and mixing (both front-of-house and monitors) will be covered in lectures, with regular practical workshops supporting theoretical content. You will learn to handle all aspects of the production of full-band events.

For more information on when and how we update our modules please see the ‘Legal Information’ section below.

The placement year is your chance to gain hands-on experience and build on the skills you’ve developed in your first two years of study. You’ll spend up to 48 weeks (minimum 36 weeks) in a graduate-level role, sharpening your professional skills, exploring career options, and boosting your future job prospects. During your placement, you'll reflect on your performance, develop real-world skills, and learn to approach your role with a critical eye. Your placement will be monitored, and you’ll be assessed on your achievements, setting you up for success in your final year and beyond.

You will work individually, or in small groups (of normally no more than six), devising, managing, delivering and evaluating your project. You will be assigned an individual tutor, to whom the project proposal is submitted for approval and who is responsible for supporting your independent work through the module, and overseeing the assessment of your project outcomes.

You will build on the experience you have gained previously in composition, production, and/or songwriting modules to produce a sophisticated piece (or small set of pieces) of music based on a set of staff-led options relevant to your compositional practice. Examples might include multichannel audio composition, instrumental composition, songwriting, music production, and audiovisual composition. Tutorial support for this creative work will be provided. You will be introduced to relevant techniques such as spatialisation, the use of complex orchestration/arrangements, advanced studio production, video, interactive or mixed media work. You will develop your ability to work with such techniques creatively.

After an initial lecture and seminar programme covering aspects of professional practice, you will complete a work-related project. Typical work-related projects include: documented placement work (for example, as a classroom assistant in a school; membership, administration or promotion of a non-university music ensemble; assisting in concert management; work as a music copyist and/or editor; music journalism; studio management etc.); researching and building a professional work-related website; releasing music commercially with associated promotion or an industry showcase event . Although there is no requirement for the work-related project to be music-specific, it should provide the student with sufficient opportunity to develop graduate and transferable skills for the workplace and must be agreed with the module leader prior to commencing assessment work.

You will also choose 2 optional modules in this year. The current optional modules are:

You will choose one practical option from an array of ensembles, bands, and approaches to performance. Options typically range from conducting, music theatre, and improvisation through to groups like orchestra, big band, brass band, classical and pop choirs, and a huge variety of pop, rock, soul, funk, and folk bands. Specialist performance tutors will coach you towards assessed performances that are open to the public.

You will learn the skills needed to produce and design sound for film, television, video games, and mobile devices, working towards a coursework portfolio of practical work accompanied by professional technical documentation. The module provides practical training in location recording, dealing with equipment, making sound effects, sound design, preparing layers of audio for post-production, and the skills needed for soundtrack compilation.

This module permits students to select an additional project option to broaden their study alongside the Composition Project module. Please view that description for further details.

As an advanced and increasingly independent musical researcher and creative practitioner, you will undertake an in-depth exploration of a particular area of music by choosing one specialist topic from a range on offer. Using research to underpin and inspire both scholarly and artistic activity, you will engage with current debates within musicology, discover new repertoire and methodologies, and investigate music as a cultural text.

As an advanced and increasingly independent musical researcher and creative practitioner, you will undertake an in-depth exploration of a particular area of music by choosing one specialist topic from a range on offer. Using research to underpin and inspire both scholarly and artistic activity, you will engage with current debates within musicology, discover new repertoire and methodologies, and investigate music as a cultural text.

As well as focusing on mastering for peak normalised and loudness normalised environments, you will study advanced concepts, theory and practice of record production. Whilst considering these processes from a historical context, you will review approaches and techniques at the forefront of modern music production including Spatial Audio, nurturing individual styles at the same time as emphasising professional sonic standards.

For more information on when and how we update our modules please see the ‘Legal Information’ section below.

Teaching and Assessment

Discover what to expect from your tutor contact time, assessment methods, and feedback process.

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Global Professional Award

At Huddersfield, you’ll study the award-winning Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* — so you’re ready for the career you want, whatever subject you choose.

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Interested in a placement?

Placements

This course offers you the opportunity to take an optional one-year (48 week) work placement after your second year, in the UK or abroad. This provides an opportunity for you to relate theory to practice and to develop skills in a real work environment. Our teaching staff have developed excellent links with local employers and will help you to find a suitable placement if necessary. Previous placement providers have included Warner Music, Pinewood Studios (Avid), WigWam, Angel Studios, Shoot Productions, the Institute for Music/Acoustic Research and Co-ordination (IRCAM) in Paris, as well as schools, audio electronics companies, radio stations and various media and production houses.

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I enrolled on the course because of its year-long placement opportunity. I decided to spend my year working as a freelance sound engineer which was vital in getting me ready for the real world enviroment.

- Joel Davis
Music Technology BMus(Hons)

Where could this lead you?

Your Career

Previous graduates have gone on to work in a range of careers including studio managers, post-production, freelance engineers, programmers, sound design and professional audio sales. A selection of companies that have employed Huddersfield graduates in recent years include Abbey Road Studios, Calrec Audio, ITV, BBC, Kiss FM, British Grove Studios and Metrophonic.** There is support available after you graduate from our 3M Buckley Innovation Centre where you can get advice on starting your own business. The university also supports students to progress to postgraduate and research study.
**Source: LinkedIn

90%
Percent of graduates from this course were in work or further study 15 months after graduation

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 22/23, UK Domiciled

Thanks to the course and the staff who built my confidence and pushed me to think beyond conventional production techniques, I have significantly evolved as an artist. I have embraced the high level of creative freedom I was given, which has broadened my horizons as a producer.

- Katie Cranmer Gordon
Creative Music Production graduate

How much will it cost?

Fees and Finance

£9,790 per year

This information is for Home students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

From January 2027 the UK government is launching a new student funding system for people starting university education. Read more about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/study/fees/

£17,600 per year

This information is for international students applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2026/27.

Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. 

For detailed information please visit https://www.hud.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/

Home

The tuition fee for a placement year is £1000. If you go on work experience or work placement, you will need to fund your own travel and/or accommodation costs to and from the placement.  Please be aware that if your placement is outside of the UK, you will still be responsible for your travel and living expenses and may need to consider issues like health care and insurance costs.

International

The tuition fee for a placement year is £3,300. If you go on work experience or work placement, you will need to fund your own travel and/or accommodation costs to and from the placement.  Please be aware that if your placement is outside of the UK, you will still be responsible for your travel and living expenses and may need to consider issues like health care and insurance costs.

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International

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What’s included in your fee?

We want you to understand exactly what your fees will cover and what additional costs you may need to budget for when you decide to become a student with us.

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If you have any questions about Fees and Finance, please email the Student Finance Team.

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Green Room Studio

Recording Studio

552249

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Music facilities

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Visiting Artists

Previous visiting artists include: Oscar/BAFTA-winning sound editor and alumnus John Warhurst; opera singer and G4 member Matt Stiff; producer/composer Nitin Sawhney; electronic artist Rachel K. Collier; guitarist Chantel McGregor; and prog drummer Craig Blundell.

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Why Hud

Explore the unique opportunities and resources that make our institution a top choice for students seeking a well-rounded and future-focused education.

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Explore Huddersfield

Make Huddersfield your home. A Yorkshire town, surrounded by beautiful countryside, with easy access to neighbouring cities; Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. You’ll find plenty of places to eat, drink, shop and socialise, there’s ambitious plans for future development. Our campus is situated next to the town centre - making your commute a breeze.

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Your Student Experience

Get involved in great opportunities helping you to make friends from all across the world and create lifelong memories. Join one of over 100 societies with the Students’ Union, experience new cultures through global events, earn whilst you learn and build your skills via our Global Professional Award.

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Budget Friendly

Huddersfield is not only one of the friendliest towns, it also offers you a lower cost of living than most big cities. This means you could have more money to spend, making your uni experience even better. On campus you’ll also find plenty of facilities and services to help you budget and make your money go further.

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Sustainability Matters

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Committed to Your Future

Since 2015, we’ve invested £198 million to create spaces where you can learn, collaborate and thrive. We’re continuously investing in our campus with your wellbeing in mind—adding features that make our buildings healthier, more supportive and better places for you to succeed.

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We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

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Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you’ll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you’ll soon discover that you’re never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey.

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Great teaching is engaging and inspiring — it helps you reach your full potential and prepares you for the future. We don’t just teach well — we excel — and we have the awards and recognition to prove it.

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Inspiring Academics

Our researchers carry out world-leading work that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Staff within the Department of Media, Humanities and the Arts may teach you on this course.

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Research Excellence

You’ll be taught by staff who want to support your learning and share the latest knowledge and research.

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Accommodation

Looking for student accommodation? Huddersfield has you covered. HudLets has a variety of accommodation types to choose from, no matter what your preference. HudLets is the University’s approved accommodation service, run by Huddersfield Students’ Union.

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Further Study

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Legal information

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and if you are unhappy with the change we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff being unable to teach due to illness, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to pandemics, other disasters (such as fire, flood or war) or changes made by the government.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will consult with affected groups of students and any changes would only be made in accordance with our regulations. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you let us know before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for any additional tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so and you may be eligible for an exit award depending on how far through your course you are.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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