Music and Sonic Media MA

at University of Sussex

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

• Composition (Practice)
• Sonic Media Practice

Degree requirements    
You should normally have an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree or above.

Subject-specific requirements    

• Your qualification should be in music, theatre, sonic arts or audio-visual media. You’ll also be considered for this course if you have relevant professional experience.
• Since much of the practical work on different modules involves your own creative and/or compositional engagement with the topics covered, you should include a short composition portfolio with your application. This is composition interpreted broadly (i.e. it does not have to be 'traditional' notated composition): it could be songs, tracks you have produced, movie soundtracks, performances of your own compositions, a score. etc. The portfolio should demonstrate your ability to create music, audio or other sonic media. You can submit in a variety of formats: links to tracks on Soundcloud, Youtube, MP3s, scores, etc.

IELTS (Academic)
Standard level (6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component).

• Home students: £9,500 per year for full-time students
• Channel Islands and Isle of Man students: £9,500 per year for full-time students
• International students: £19,775 per year for full-time students

If you study part time over two years, you’ll be charged 50% of the equivalent full-time fee in each year of study. Your second-year fee – if you continue your studies without a break – will be subject to a 3% increase (subject to rounding).

Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis.

You will have built up a substantial portfolio of compositions and creative projects during the course.

Our course emphasises and encourages skills in technology, communication, IT, evaluation, analysis, collaboration and organisation, and enables you to go on to compose, arrange, perform, produce, record and engage in sound design.

With these skills and experiences, our graduates are prepared to work in an amazing range of careers, such as:

• freelance professional musicians and composers
• work in the arts sector
• in publishing
• arts administration
• producing events
• radio broadcasting
• writing and lecturing.

You also gain the skills to go on to do research, teaching in schools, music journalism, writing music for video games and running your own music production company.

Graduate destinations

Recent Music and Sonic Media MA graduates have gone on to jobs including:

• music PR inter, Liberty Music PR
• new business development executive, Net Natives
• events manager, Old Tree.