Five reasons to study Creative Music Technology at Surrey

Music and Media’s Performing Arts Technology Studios (PATS) underwent a £1.7m refurbishment and expansion in 2023. A wide range of facilities and equipment are available for students to use, including edit studios, creative music technology workshop/performance room with multi-system speaker and listening space, a self-study computer room, new mac lab, practice rooms and a multichannel synth studio.  

The Synth Lab is a world-class facility containing a unique selection of synthesisers including a vintage Moog modular System 55 and EMS Synthi VCS3, plus brand-new Arp 2600 FS and Expressive E Osmose. The lab was completely refurbished in 2023 and is used predominantly by our Creative Music Technology BA (Hons) students.  You will also have access to specialist microphones and mobile recording devices for location recording. 

You’ll work in our audio-visual room, with digital and online listening resources, plus an extensive archive collection of scores, LPs and CDs located in the Library.

You’ll be taught by creative music technology experts and creative practitioners on a degree which spans both practical music-making and composition (much of the coursework centres around composition portfolios).  

We not only focus on traditional and experimental and electronic music technology, but our students customise their degree with modules from across the department, including sharing music modules which foster and reinforce traditional music skills, creating well-rounded musicians. 

Surrey has strong industry links with outside organisations including Ableton, Adam Audio, Guildford-based gaming companies and numerous freelance sound designers, artists and composers. From September 2025, the CMT course will follow suit with our other degrees and offer an optional professional placement in industry for the third year of study.  

We have a vibrant creative community full of an enormous range of inspiring musical opportunities and activities that you'll be able to join. Music and Media runs a symphony orchestra, choir and chamber choir, which are supported by many more student ensembles. We hold weekly recitals and regular performances from students and visiting artists, including termly concerts held in Guildford Cathedral and local churches. 

We celebrate our students' creativity with prize-givings, awards and showcases, proving the creative talents of our students to our industry partners and beyond.