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level: UG top_up: true international: true clearing: false full_time: true part_time: true start_month: September location: Development Hub (Waterside)

Music Production (Top-Up) BA (Hons)

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  3. Music Production (Top-Up) BA (Hons)

Key Facts

  • UCAS Code

    W376

  • Level

    UndergraduateUG BA (Hons)

  • Duration

    Full Time: 1 year
    Part Time: 2 years

  • Starting

    September

Updated 19/12/2024

Apply Now Open Days

Updated 19/12/2024

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

international@northampton.ac.uk
44 (0)1604 892134

Overview

Our BA Music Production Top-Up degree is intended to prepare you for a growing, and ever-evolving industry which contributed £4.5 billion to the economy in 2018. The course is specifically designed to ready you for a range of potential avenues of music creation, for example working in the video game industry or in the world of live music, or working as an educator. We aim to provide you with the broad range of transferrable skills required to be a self-producing Artist. You will develop a breadth of skills within the digital domain, the studio environment, and – perhaps most importantly – academically.

Our top up Music Production course is Industry Accredited by JAMES representing APRS, MPG and associate industry bodies. Accreditation of a course by relevant industry bodies provides assurance to students and employers of its potential and value.
JAMES accreditation logo

Highlights

  • Accredited by Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES)
  • Opportunities to work in real-world situations across Northampton
  • Extra-curricular masterclasses in music production
  • Interaction with partner degree in Popular Music
  • Industry expertise from published and researching music team
  • Contemporary specialisms in many areas of EDM
  • Cutting-edge software: Native Instruments, Ableton, Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, SoundToys, Mac OS X
  • Field Trips to events such as BBC Music Introducing Live, and visits to professional recording studios.
  • Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.
A student sits at a mixing console and computer in a recording studio, surrounded by audio equipment, a keyboard and two monitors displaying sound editing software.

Student sitting at a desk in a UON music studio in front of various pieces of music production equipment.

Close-up of a person's hand adjusting sliders on a mixing console with various knobs, buttons, and labels, while another hand rests on the desk. There are lights on some of the buttons.

A student uses the sound desk in the University of Northampton music suite.

A student sits in front of a mixing console and computer screen at a production desk in a recording studio. On the screen, there are colourful tracks displayed.

Photo shows a student seated at a production desk in a UON music studio

A student adjusts sound levels on a mixing desk in the music production suite. The student is blurred in the foreground, with the focus on the mixing desk with lots of buttons and dials.

A student adjusts controls on a rack of audio equipment in a UON music production suite.

Student adjusts a drum while holding a drumstick. They are wearing a dark sweater and a red lanyard with an ID badge. The camera is focussed on their hands and the drum.

A student adjusts a drum while holding a drumstick.

A student adjusts drum equipment in a professional recording studio. They are standing behind the drum kit, surrounded by microphones and cables.

A student adjusts drum equipment in a UON recording studio.

A seminar group held in a dimly lit audio production studio. The academic is leaning across a production desk, around which most students are seated.

Seminar group in a UON music studio

Student sits in a music studio with an acoustic guitar on his knee. He is wearing headphones and is sitting next to a microphone stand. Drums are visible in the background.

Student with an acoustic guitar in a UON music studio.

Entry Requirements

A typical offer would be:

  • A pass at HND level on a Music Production or equivalent course

Applications from applicants with no formal qualifications will be considered on merit (i.e. significant industry experience and a convincing academic ability – assessed during interview).

  • Applicants for this Music Production degree should be able to evidence:

    • Skills in musicianship in at least one instrument (including the voice) or via technology (i.e. beat mixing). These may be demonstrated through recordings provided or through performance as part of the interview process as well as the personal statement and reference parts of the application.
    • Commitment and motivation to develop themselves intellectually, creatively and professionally. This may be demonstrated through the personal statement and the interview process.

    University of Northampton admissions policies apply.

    Applicants are selected for offer or invited to interview on the basis of information provided in the application form, the personal statement and academic reference.

    The following criteria are taken into account:

    • Formal qualifications and experience
    • Evidence of written English
    • Predicted grades
    • Commitment and enthusiasm for engagement with music through live performance, production and recording and or composition.

    For more information on how to make an application for the top up Music Production BA degree, please visit our How to Apply page.

    If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  • The Admissions Policy for the Top-Up BA Music Production degree is in accordance with the University’s Admissions; and Equality and Diversity policies; and seeks to recruit to the programme students from diverse educational and social backgrounds who have the ability to benefit from and motivation to complete the programme. The programme welcomes applications from those with a wide variety of educational qualifications, and will consider on merit/experience applicants with no formal qualifications.

  • All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

    IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands for study at undergraduate level.

    For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

Course Content

  • While studying for your Music Production Top-Up degree at the University of Northampton, you’ll build on the fundamental principles you have acquired in your previous practice/ study so far (in areas including sequencing in the DAW, audio and MIDI, acoustics and psychoacoustics, studio engineering, hardware implementation, synthesis, critical listening skills, and reasoning, writing and debating).

    On this Music Production University degree, you will have the opportunity to specialise within the music production domain; choosing from a range of areas, including music production, composition, live sound and sound for media and gaming industry, sound design, and music education.

    Our modules are informed by staff actively researching, composing, performing and publishing in their specialist areas within the music industry. These modules introduce you to music principles and techniques which will help you develop the necessary analytical and creative skills, to aid you when evaluating and implementing real-life practice.

    Culture of Music

    Music’s role in culture is critically and philosophically examined throughout this course. Using musical examples, you will learn to engage with esoteric and difficult concepts around inter alia genre, gender, race, politics, capitalism, culture, power, evolution, and science.

    Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your Music Production Degree, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

    To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted for the top up degree in Music Production relate to study in the Academic Year 2025/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Full Time: £9,535*
  • UK Part Time: £1,585 per 20 credit module
  • International Full Time: £17,000

* The 2025/26 annual tuition fee for undergraduate courses has not yet been confirmed by the Department for Education but is expected to be £9,535 for year one. UON will adjust fees annually in line with government policy.

  • For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

    For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  • Fees quoted for the top up degree in Music Production relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £9,250
    • UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
    • International – Full Time: £16,500

Staff

Mark Thursby, Senior Lecturer - Music Production

Senior Lecturer - Music Production
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology

Mark Thursby
Stace Constantinou, Senior Lecturer in Popular Music

Senior Lecturer in Popular Music
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology

Stace Constantinou
Tony Platt, Associate Lecturer (Music)

Associate Lecturer (Music)
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology

Tony Platt

Facilities

Specialist facilities for the top up degree in Music Production include:

  • Three fully kitted specialised soundproofed rehearsal booths plus break-out space.
  • Small group sessions for most practical sessions.
  • Live PA equipment and technician support for assessed gigs.
  • Two recording studios: running Pro Tools and Audient 8024 mixing console, Neve 1073LB preamps, SSL VHD preamps, Apollo 8P, Apollo Satellite Octo, Rupert Neve Designs 5043, SoundToys bundle, Arturia V studio, Universal Audio Ultimate, Spitfire Audio Hybrid, Steven Slate Drums.
  • Two Mac Suites: running Logic Pro X, Ableton 10, Native Instruments Komplete 12, Pro Tools, iZotope, FabFilter.
  • Microphones: U87 condensers, AKG414s, Telefunken FET M60s, AKG 451s, Radial DI boxes, Radial SGI and re-amp boxes, and a full range of other industry mics.
  • Hardware synthesisers: Arturia DrumBrute, Novation Circuits, Roland TB303, Behringer Deepmind 12, Roland Juno DS, Novation Bass Stations, Ableton controllers – Launchkey 49s, Launcontrol XLs, Launchpad Mark 1 and Mark 2.
  • Live performance hardware: Vox amps, Marshall MG 4×12 amps, Orange Crush Pro amps, Peavey Amps, Ampeg PF500 Bass amplifiers, Yamaha Stage Custom kits, Gretsch Drum Kit, Studio AAX, full PA, three rehearsal rooms.
  • Two grand pianos: Steinway Studio B, Bechstein Boudoir Grand; two Yamaha upright pianos.

Is this course for you?

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