Music Production BA Hons | University of Chester

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Course Summary

This course will equip you with the knowledge and specialist skills to become a versatile, intelligent and employable producer. You will also have the opportunity to engage with other music-industry-related areas such as live music technology, songwriting and composition.

Production students can work with performance students as part of a close-knit, thriving, cooperative and creative music community. Chester has a strong local music scene with which we have close ties. We are also well located for access to bigger cities such as Manchester and Liverpool. You can also attend events such as Creative Futures, where you can gain invaluable insights into the industry from industry professionals, musicians and academics through the delivery of performances, masterclasses and workshops.

We have extensive facilities that are equipped with professional-standard technology and software to provide students with an outstanding learning experience. You will benefit from exceptional recording studios, computer labs, skilled technical staff, and extensive equipment loan provision.

Music Production Equipment List

A group of music students performing on stage.

Music at the University of Chester

What You'll Study

Year 1 focuses on foundational music recording, production, mixing, synthesis, music theory, the study of popular music, and using technology for live performance.

In Year 2, in addition to developing your skills from Year 1, you can opt to study remixing, music for moving image, and songwriting and composition.

Year 3 provides the opportunity to deepen your music production knowledge and understanding alongside large written or practical projects, and/or a composition portfolio.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Who you'll Learn from

Jim Mason

Programme Leader for BA Music Production and Co-Programme Leader for BA Music Production & Performance

Associate Professor Ben Broughton

Head of Communications, Screen and Performance

Dr Ruth Dockwray

Associate Professor

Kristian Rozells

Programme Leader in MA Popular Music

This course is delivered in three terms of 10 weeks each. In each term students typically study 40 credits comprising one overarching module which may cover a variety of topics. Students can expect to take part in lectures, workshops, studio sessions, other practical sessions and peer-led seminars.

Students should expect to spend approximately 30-34 hours per week on independent study, which might include tutorial time with staff, studio practice time, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment.

Teaching will be delivered by experience academics and practitioners in the subject. This is likely to be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers.

There will be a broad range of assessment methods so that students are exposed to the different types of task they might encounter in the workplace. These are likely to include portfolios of music production and creation work and presentations, amongst other methods of assessment. We continuously review the assessment methods used in order that they adequately prepare students for graduate level employment.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Ali Reece x Joe Jennings Get Over It (Official)

This is the latest student single package release from our music programmes, available now on all platforms including several remixes by our students. The project was very successful, achieved a range of radio exposure, including playlisting, and was accompanied by a full national club promotion using a leading club promotions company in early 2022, which resulted in the package reaching No.7 on the Music Week Commercial Pop Club Chart, one of the UK's leading club charts.

Study a Common First Year

This course shares a common first year with students on the Music Production and Performance and Popular Music Performance courses.

This means that you’ll learn alongside students studying a similar discipline, helping to broaden your knowledge and exposure to other concepts, perspectives and professions in the first year of your degree.

As you learn and collaborate with students from other courses, you'll not only widen your social and professional network but also learn new skills that will set you up for success in your industry.

In your second and third years, you will progress to studying more specialist modules within music production, developing your skills to become a World Ready graduate.

Entry requirements

104UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	104 points
GCE A Level	Typical offer – CCC-BCC
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
International Baccalaureate	26 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H4 H4 Scottish Highers - BBBB
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
T Level	Pass (C or above on the core)
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. We accept the UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma. Applicants will be required to attend an interview.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A Level	72 points overall, including grade D at A level
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP
International Baccalaureate	24 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers - H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 Scottish Highers - CCDD
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall
T Level	Pass (D or E on the core)
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: MMP
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. We also accept the UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma. Applicants will be invited to interview. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree.

Fees and funding

£9,250per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,250 a year, or £1,540 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £13,950.

This fee is set for each year of study. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Where you'll study Creative Campus, Kingsway

Join our Creative Community

Connect with Experts

Specialist Studio and Workshop Spaces

Art and Design female student in art studio workspace with various art materials.

Music Rehearsal and Recording Facilities

Contemporary Art Space Chester (CASC)

A man looking at photography printed artwork in gallery space

Equipment Loan Provision

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

The programme equips students with skills likely to be useful in a wide range of careers. Graduates of similar provision at the University have gone on to work as recording studio owners, producers, recording engineers, mastering engineers and a variety of other music industry related roles.

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Music Production BA (Hons)

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Course Summary

Music at the University of Chester

What You'll Study