Creative Music Technology

Creative music technology is the discipline at the boundary between musical artistry and technical innovation. It encompasses music production, sound design, audio engineering, composition using digital tools, and the creative and critical thinking needed to work at the frontier of contemporary sound-making. The field has grown dramatically with the democratisation of music production software, the rise of streaming, and the integration of technology into live performance, film, games, advertising and interactive media.

At Portsmouth, this three-year programme combines practical music-making with a thorough understanding of the technologies that underpin it. You will develop skills in digital audio workstations, synthesis, sampling, mixing and mastering, and you will explore composition across a range of genres and contexts, from electronic music to music for screen. The programme also covers the theoretical and historical dimensions of music technology, situating your practice within a broader understanding of how recorded and electronic music has developed.

A sandwich year and work placement opportunities are embedded in the degree, giving you direct experience in professional audio, production or media environments. The programme also includes a year abroad, broadening your creative and cultural horizons while you continue to develop your technical skills. The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points.

Graduates work as music producers, sound designers, audio engineers, composers for media, music technology educators, studio technicians and live sound engineers. The industry is competitive but diverse, encompassing record labels, recording studios, post-production houses, games companies, advertising agencies, broadcast organisations and independent creative practice. The combination of technical expertise, creative skills and professional placement experience that this programme provides positions graduates well for a range of entry-level roles and for building a freelance career in the audio and music industries.