University College London (UCL)
Designing Audio Experiences: Art, Science and Production MA
London, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
The program focuses on exploring the creative, scientific, and technical aspects of designing audio experiences. It offers students a chance to develop skills in sound design, audio production, and technological innovation. The curriculum combines practical workshops with theoretical courses, ensuring students understand both the artistic and scientific principles behind audio creation. Students will engage with a variety of audio techniques, from traditional sound design to emerging technologies like spatial audio and immersive experiences.
Students are encouraged to experiment and push the boundaries of audio, whether for film, games, virtual reality, or installations. The program also emphasizes collaboration, allowing students to work on real-world projects and develop industry-ready portfolios. With a strong focus on both creative practice and scientific understanding, participants gain the ability to critically evaluate audio methods and produce high-quality audio experiences. This balanced approach aims to prepare students for careers in diverse fields such as entertainment, media, and technology.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. You can click the link below to search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or ethnic or religious background it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
You will learn through lectures, interactive seminars involving critical discussion, fast-turnaround practical exercises, personal listening, and independent, directed and self-directed reading.
Across the programme, you will spend a minimum of six hours every week completing recording and editing exercises, building up a portfolio of work.
While planning and producing your final project, you will benefit from one-to-one academic supervision.
You will be assessed through a series of summative exercises for which you will receive feedback. These include audio works of varying lengths and styles, critical evaluation, pre-production folders and your final project. You will also need to submit a number of formative exercises (for which you will receive feedback, but do not count toward the degree).
In terms one and two, full-time students can typically expect between 10 and 12 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, crits and tutorials. In term three and the summer period students will be completing their own graduation project research and will keep regular contact with their graduation project mentors.
On average, across the programme, in a typical week, your time is spent as follows:
- Approximately 20% in workshops.
- Approximately 30% in lectures.
- Approximately 30% in seminars.
- 20% dedicated to administrative, research and self-directed learning.
The first 12 weeks of the programme are conducted full-time as they set the stage for the rest of the year. Part-time students will also need to be available on a full-time basis during this period to fulfil these requirements.
The specific days vary throughout the year depending on the modules and the teaching and training needs.
Modules
Full-time
The degree comprises three compulsory modules and one optional module.
In the first and second term, Introduction to Designing Audio Experiences: Art and Science and Sonic Experience Production will prepare you to design and produce engaging immersive audio experiences using relevant technology.
In the third term, to be completed over the summer, Advanced Design of Audio Experiences enables you to apply your learning to design and produce ambitious audio experiences. You will also produce an extended written work, critically evaluating your work and how it contributes to the field of immersive audio storytelling.
Part-time
As a part-time student, you will complete Introduction to Designing Audio Experiences: Art and Science and Sonic Experience Production in the first year (and likely also your optional module).
In the second year, you will complete Advanced Design of Audio Experiences (and your optional module if you did not take it in the first year). You will also produce an extended written work, critically evaluating your work and how it contributes to the field of immersive audio storytelling.
Compulsory modules
- Introduction to Designing Audio Experiences: Art and Science
- Sonic Experience Production
- Advanced Design of Audio Experiences
Optional modules
- The Story and I - Finding the Form: A Practical Exploration of Storytelling
- Experimental cinema and new media: Form and narrative
- An Introduction to Social Theory - a foundation course
- History and Aesthetics of Documentary
- Practical Documentary Filmmaking
- Intermediate Radio and Broadcasting Production
- International Audio Criticism and Analysis
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Designing Audio Experiences: Art, Science and Production.
Fieldwork
You will spend the summer term researching and producing your final project, with many students choosing to undertake self-funded fieldwork-based projects in the UK or abroad.
The scope and nature of fieldwork is formulated in discussion with your appointed supervisor, and subject to departmental approval.
What this course will give you
You will receive advanced training in the fundamentals of audio experience design, production and delivery, including independent research design and implementation; 3D sound design; editing; and delivery.
You will also develop demonstrable competencies transferable to any profession, including complex problem solving and creative initiative; communication skills and the ability to interpret and present complex data to diverse audiences; independent and team working; leadership; and time and project management.
The foundation of your career
You will graduate an expert in audio experience design, fully equipped to pursue a successful career in immersive audio design or production or any profession requiring strong project management, problem-solving and communication skills.
Employability
Designing Audio Experiences: Art, Science and Production MA graduates will be equipped to pursue a range of careers, including broadcasting, immersive audio, installation, theatre, and virtual and mixed reality.
Networking
As a student in the Department, you have access to many opportunities to help further your career:
- You will become part of the department's Public Anthropology section, learning from and networking with leading internal and external industry practitioners through a weekly seminar series, regular masterclasses and visits to audio specialist partners.
- You will be supported by an industry mentor while planning and producing your final project, who will help you to forge links with and gain access to relevant professional organisations.
- You will be encouraged to attend complementary departmental seminars given by active researchers in environmental, evolutionary and social anthropology and material, visual and digital culture throughout your studies.
- You will benefit from cultural and educational connections with our East Bank partners, including the V&A and BBC Music.
- You will be encouraged to take advantage of the broader audio and factual storytelling communities at UCL, our neighbouring institutions and across London more widely, including attending and participating in seminars, conferences, exhibitions and research partnership opportunities to help you establish industry connections and extend your professional networks.
- You will be encouraged to engage with the department’s active careers support activities and initiatives, which include regular career development seminars and networking events.
All students are encouraged to host and/or participate in a Reading and Research Group (RRG), which are open spaces to exchange ideas on themes of mutual interest and welcome staff and student participation from across UCL and our neighbouring institutions.
The department's London location presents a range of opportunities to work, volunteer and carry out fieldwork in major government, business and third sector organisations.
The department also houses London's global non-fiction film festival, Open City Documentary Festival, which all students are invited to volunteer to support to network with non-fiction film industry leading professionals.