MSc Music and Sound for Film and Games
Hatfield, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
Key Summary
About: The BAFTA‑endorsed MSc Music and Sound for Film and Games at the University of Hertfordshire teaches music composition, sound design and audio production for linear and non‑linear media. You’ll develop a professional showreel in top studios, collaborate with MA Film students, learn from industry tutors and guest speakers, and study electroacoustic techniques. Teaching combines lectures, seminars and tutorials across two days a week plus studio practice. Applications are open to international and EU students.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter film, TV and games as composers, sound designers and audio engineers, or move into music publishing, journalism, teaching or doctoral study.
"Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, examinations may be replaced by an alternative form of assessment during the academic year 2021/2022. Please refer to the Programme Specification on these pages for further details."
Why choose Herts?
- Employment Prospects: Graduates work as producers, audio engineers, and composers for organisations such as Channel 4, Splash Damage, and Creative Assembly.
- Strong Industry Connections: You will benefit from extensive networking opportunities with our industry partners, including BAFTA, Sony, and Splash Damage Videogame Company.
- Teaching Excellence: Delivered by Bruce Aisher, a music producer, songwriter, composer, remixer, sound designer and technology journalist with featured work in over 100 commercially released tracks (including a US Billboard Club Chart No.1) and on TV programmes such as ‘CSI’ and 'Top Gear', and products by Apple, Clavia, and Native Instruments.
About the course
- BAFTA approved. BAFTA endorsement is a significant recognition of the industry focus of the course and means that you can be sure you will be studying on a course that has been recognised as fully industry-relevant by THE leading organisation in the sector. As stated on the BAFTA website, "The eligible courses have been identified by industry professionals as producing students ready to work in film, games or television".
- Develop a showreel demonstrating your creative talent in composing music and designing sound for a wide range of media (video, film, video games), opening up a 360º horizon of possibilities and opportunities for work.
- Collaborate with MA Film students in our School of Creative Arts.
- Learn in the university’s top-class facilities, assisted by tutors who are themselves industry professionals
Why choose this course?
This course is conceived to meet the current industry’s demand for creative professionals who are equally versed in music composition as well as sound design and can work effectively across a range of media – whether it’s video, narrative film or interactive games.
All aspects of the soundtrack are systematically explored in both linear and non-linear environments, leading to a fuller understanding of the discipline, of the industry, and of the production processes.
In this course, you will harness the whole gamut of sonic resources for your creative practice – from acoustic instruments to electroacoustic sound, utilising all the latest studio techniques and technologies.
You’ll study in the University’s top-class studios, supported by tutors who have experienced industry professionals, with the potential to collaborate with students from our M.A. Film course.
With targeted sessions and expert guidance, you’ll develop a showreel demonstrating your creative talent in providing sound and music for a wide range of media (video, film, video games), opening up a 360º horizon of possibilities and opportunities for work.
Guest speakers
Industry guest speakers, composers, sound artists, sound designers, are invited to talk and advise on all aspects of the soundtrack and the professional engagement with the production process.
Recent guests have included sound design guru and film editor Walter Murch, choreographer Jane Turner, film composer Matt Backer, audio designer Josh Smith, and many more.
Lecture, seminars and tutorials are typically scheduled over two consecutive days a week, plus some extra sessions for particular workshops, performance, recording, as necessary. In addition to scheduled sessions, students are expected to engage in continuous self-directed study and studio practice.
Student experience
At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation, and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.
Additional information
- Sandwich placement or study abroad year: n/a
- Applications open to international and EU students: Yes
Course contents
Assessment is conceived around real-life projects, allowing you to build a showreel of works demonstrating your creative talent in providing sound and music for a wide range of media. You will undertake the following portfolio projects:
- Sound Design Practice 1
- Sound Design Practice 2
- The soundtrack to Narrative Film 1
- The soundtrack to Narrative Film 2
- The soundtrack to linear game-play footage
- The interactive soundtrack to video games
- Student project – this can be any substantial work related to this course of study. It gives you the opportunity either to specialise by delving deeper into one of the areas explored in the previous projects or to expand further by exploring other areas of music-media interaction. Interdisciplinary collaborations are strongly encouraged and supported as far as possible.
What will I study?
Industry partners/Work placement
- BAFTA
- Splash Damage Videogame Company
- Videofeet Media Company
- Focusrite
- SampleMagic
- Dynamic Music
- Extreme Music (Sony)
- Grand Chapel Studios
- iZotope
- SSL
Level 7
- Creative Economies II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Research and Enquiry II 15 Credits II Compulsory
- Sound Design In Visual Media II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Music and Sound Project II 60 Credits II Compulsory
- The soundtrack in Narrative Film II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- The soundtrack in Interactive Games II 30 Credits II Compulsory
- Research and Enquiry (Online) II 15 Credits II Optional
- Creative Economies (Online) II 15 Credits II Optional
BAFTA Scholarship Programme
If you are intending to apply to undertake this MSc, you may be eligible to apply for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (B.A.F.T.A.) Scholarship. The B.A.F.T.A. Scholarship Programme offered talented individuals of any age - those of British nationality or Chinese nationals studying in the UK - a chance to receive up to £12,000 towards your annual tuition fees, mentoring by an industry professional, and free access to BAFTA events.
Postgraduate Scholarships for UK and EU students
We offer a range of tuition fee discounts and non-repayable scholarships to support our postgraduate students. You can get funding for postgraduate study through studentships, loans, bursaries and grants - you might also get help from your employer.
Tuition fee discounts
- Herts graduate/alumni discount - 20% off
Postgraduate loans
- Postgraduate Masters Loan - £11,570
- Doctoral Loan - £27,265
Scholarships
Education
Helen Burchell Scholarship
A scholarship of £750 is available each year to a student on the doctoral or masters’ programmes in the School of Education.
To apply: Eligible students are invited to complete an application form in the first year of their programme.
Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science
Dannenberg Scholarship (M.Eng.)
The School of Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science will award prizes annually up to the value of £1,000 for students on the M.Eng. programme. Nominations will be made by the Board of Examiners to the Engineering Prize Committee, who will then select the awardees; no application is required.
Bursaries
Our bursaries are awarded to students from specific economic or under-represented backgrounds who wouldn't otherwise be able to study at the postgraduate level. You can apply for funding for the following bursaries:
- Education and Teaching
- Healthcare and medical
- Social work
- Medical students
Scholarships and grants from charities, trusts, and government
There are various other sources of funding available from a variety of sources with more including charities, trusts, and societies. If you would like to see the government’s response to support for postgraduate study, please visit the Government website. We’ve listed a few useful resources below:
- Turn2us
Turn2us is a national charity that runs a database of charitable grants across the country. They make it easy for you to search this database and to find out what funding you might be eligible for.
The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding
Co-written by two former Ph.D. students with experience of self-funding, this guide offers a look at less well-trodden ways of funding your studies. Many universities subscribe to the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding, which provides practical advice and application tips, as well as a searchable database of over 1,000 grants.
Scholarships for international students
We have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in scholarships for high-achieving and enterprising students from around the world. We look for enterprising and aspirational students who want to excel in an international university.
Please be aware that you do not need to apply for the Chancellor's International Scholarship as we automatically assess your course application form alongside your supporting documents. If you are successful we will email you to confirm the amount you have been awarded.
You do not need to email us to apply or be considered.
September 2021 scholarship opportunities
Global scholarships
- Chancellor's International Scholarship
- Chevening Scholarship
- 20% Alumni Discount
- 20% Study Abroad Discount
- Sports Scholarships
Africa and the Middle East
- Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund
- Aga Khan Foundation
- Middle East Government Scholarships
- Qalaa Foundation
South Asia
- South Asian Government Scholarships
- Goa Education Trust scholarships
- Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation loan scholarships
- Aga Khan Foundation
East Asia and Southeast Asia
- East & SE Asian Government Scholarships
- PETRONAS Education Scholarships
- LPDP (Indonesia Endowment for Education)
- Brunei Shell Petroleum scholarships
Europe and the Americas
- European/Americas Government Scholarships
- TUK-TAM Foundation
- Entente Cordiale scholarships
- SOCAR scholarships
- Bec.ar Scholarships
- Becas Chile (CONICYT)
- Colfuturo scholarships and loans
- CONACYT scholarships
- Santander Latin America Scholarships
- Fulbright Awards
Graduates from this programme will be ideally positioned to pursue a career in the thriving field of acoustic/electroacoustic composition and sound design for film, television, and interactive games. You may, in addition, consider positions in music publishing, music journalism and criticism, teaching or you may continue your higher education at the doctoral level.
Graduate successes
Sebastien Crossley graduated in 2010 and is currently composing for a new Channel 4 sitcom.
Nichola Hutchison graduated in 2011 and teaches composition at Hertfordshire College of Music. She is also active as a multidisciplinary artist creating A/V installations for galleries.
Chris Barn graduated in 2012 and is composing for the Channel 4 Random Acts series with renowned poet Benjamin Zephaniah.
Edward Abela graduated in 2013 and has composed several short films for SABB productions, SMMusic Library, and Candie & Bell, amongst others.
2014 graduate Jamie Stonehouse is now working as an assistant composer and audio engineer at media company Urban Soul Orchestra and has just been awarded a 3-year studentship for doctoral studies at Kent University.
Callum Judd graduated in 2015 and is working as a freelance composer for a variety of commercial projects, including a documentary on Japan.
