You can study a wide range of modules, focus on a specific area of music, learn about the more traditional and historical side of music or about the technological side.
As a student on our Creative Music Technology degree, you work in music of many different styles and for many different purposes. On our programme you develop an understanding of what is needed in the concert hall and in the film, TV and computer games industries from both the artistic and technical viewpoints. To acquire these skills, you interact both with leading practitioners in the Department and creative specialists from the music industry.
You have the opportunity to choose your specialist topics from modules including film, dance, multimedia, rock and pop. Our degree programme is geared towards your creative practice and our modules are supported by a strong performance ethic within the School of Arts, so your works are played and recorded to a professional standard.
At Surrey, you join a thriving community of musicians actively involved, as performers and composers, in music across a broad range of historical periods and contemporary styles.
Your chosen degree should afford you the opportunity to study a wide range of topics within an academically strong yet creative environment. This programme offers you this in an area of music that is growing, vibrant and challenging.
You may shape parts of your study by choosing options that fit with your personal interests. Each of the three years offers you a variety of modules covering topics that will benefit you, whether you are a performer, composer, analyst or sound designer.
The Creative Music Technology programme is an innovative degree, carefully designed to meet the needs of music graduates going into the broad range of careers available in the contemporary and computer-based music industry.
During the programme, you work with creative artists and academics to acquire the skills and understanding needed for employment and/or further study. Your practical work will be strengthened through analysis, theory, history and repertoire study to help you create your own works and build a professional practice portfolio to bid for work when you leave.
Since the music industry is a difficult one to understand, you receive training from your first year in all aspects of business, from contracts to entrepreneurship, and will also develop personal skills in communication and professional practice.
In Year 1, you focus on the essentials of creativity, technique and industry skills, writing pieces that are immediately relevant and engaging. You acquire a good understanding of how to unlock creative processes and how music works emotionally and functionally, learn about sound design and are taught industry and professional skills.
Compulsory modules include:
Optional modules include:
During Year 2, you continue to develop core skills such as composition, sound synthesis and knowledge of the music industry. However, you can specialise in different musical genres, including film music, dance music, digital multimedia, jazz and pop song analysis, depending on your preferences.
Compulsory modules include:
Optional modules include:
At Year 3, you focus on building your professional portfolio, including writing and presentation skills, but you are still offered a wide range of options including commercial music, music for TV, adverts and computer games.
Compulsory modules include:
Optional modules include:
If you wish to keep up your high-level performing skills, instrumental lessons are included, and you have the opportunity to perform in choirs, orchestras, recitals and recording sessions. Many of our students form their own ensembles and rock/pop groups.
By the end of the degree programme, you will have a strong portfolio of works that will help you in your career, and also the skills necessary to create new works for a broad range of media.
Your Professional Training is integrated into the degree programme, rather than being a separate period of study or work placement. From the first week, we help you to achieve professional standards of creating and delivering projects, with modules including copyright, contracts, payment methods, entrepreneurship and skills required for running a small business. You also build a portfolio of works or a showreel using material from this practice-based programme.
You acquire your skills through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. Appropriate teaching materials are made available to you through the University’s online e-learning system, SurreyLearn. Practice rooms, audio labs and self-study areas are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Whether your classes are practical or theoretical, you will develop your skills through a combination of academic, theoretical and creative practice led by teaching staff who are qualified to approach topics from all points of view.
Studying by module allows you to be assessed on elements as the programme develops, and you can expect most of the assessments to be spread throughout the academic year. More than two thirds of the work you submit will be through coursework rather than examination.
Your degree classification does not take into account the marks for your first year and is weighted to take most account of the more detailed work in your third year. You will receive written confirmation of marks as you move through the programme so that you can monitor your own progress.
We have an enviable set of facilities for you to use, including performing spaces, professional recording studios, a good selection of practice rooms (exclusively for use by Department of Music and Sound Recording students), a Steinway concert grand piano and a collection of instruments, some of which may be loaned to students. You will have access to a well-stocked audiovisual room, with scores, CDs, DVDs, cassettes and LPs located in the nearby University Library.
Graduates of this programme have gone on to become successful film and TV sound designers and composers, have found employment in music education, business and marketing, and have also achieved higher degrees and qualifications.
Come to one of our Open Days, when you can tour the campus, speak to students and academic staff, see our student accommodation and ask as many questions as you like. In the meantime, order a personal prospectus – tailored to only include the subjects that interest you.
GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above (or equivalent).
A-level Music or Music Technology at grade A. Grade 5 theory (ABRSM) or equivalent proficiency. Applicants not taking A-level Music will normally also require grade 7 practical (ABRSM) or equivalent.
Offers are usually made in terms of grades. Suitable candidates will be invited for an interview where they will present a portfolio of their work. During the visit to the University, the candidate can find out more about the programme and meet staff and students. Applicants based overseas, who are unable to attend an interview, are assessed via telephone interview and by submitting a portfolio of work.
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill (or equivalent).
We offer intensive English language pre-sessional courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
| Award | Course Length | Professional Training | UCAS code | KIS code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMus (Hons) | 3 years | W3G5 | View KIS data set |
We offer a range of bursaries, scholarships and other financial support.
See course information for students applying to start in September 2013.
Phone: +44 (0)1483 681 681
