Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

BNU has been delivering courses in the music industry for over 25 years, they have a wealth of expertise from within their network of lecturing staff, guest speakers, and alumni, all with a track record of success in a wide variety of roles in the music business internationally.

If you have an interest in electronic music production, and in particular a focus on DJ and live electronics performance technologies, BNU is the place for you.

Like the industry, they put collaboration at the centre of what they do. You will get the chance to work with other BNU courses, such as the Film and TV students. You’ll record sound and work on post-production which will give you experience of working with a wide variety of genres to help you perfect your production skills.

During your time with BNU you’ll learn hands-on practical skills to help you stand out to potential employers. You’ll get to grips with industry-standard equipment including in their Sennheiser Sound Lab, ensuring upon graduation you are prepared for your first role.

All our music degrees at Buckinghamshire New University come with membership of UK Music’s Music Academic Partnership (MAP).

UK Music is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. BNU represent all sectors of their industry – bringing them together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music. The members of UK Music are: AIM, BPI, FAC, The Ivors Academy, MMF, MPA, MPG, MU, PPL, PRS for Music. UK Music also has an informal association with LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment).

MAP is a ground-breaking collaboration between educational institutions and UK Music, and is designed to maximise the relationship between the industry and educational institutions in order to inform the next generation of industry professionals.

MAP does this by nurturing collaborative projects, such as research and careers events, panel events, various education and skills work, policy work, and career opportunities. Fundamentally MAP provides extra opportunities to individuals who want to build careers out of their passion for music. This helps to future-proof the music industry by ensuring new entrants have the right mix of experience and skills.

What facilities can you use?

BNU state-of-the-art recording studios and Dolby Atmos certified sound lab, give you access to the space and technology you need. From individual edit rooms up to large Pro Tools Ultimate studios with attached live rooms and vocal booths, they have it all to help you gain hands-on experience.

• Studio 1 boasts a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 speaker system and an Avid S6 console. They are one of the first Universities in the UK to adopt Dolby Atmos into a music environment.
• Studio 2 boasts an Avid D-Command control surface and 24 channels of Focusrite ISA828 microphone preamps.
• Studio three and the Electronic Music Studio are based around Avid S3/S4 control surfaces and UAD Apollo x8 audio interfaces.
• The edit booths are equipped with microphone preamps from Avid.



What will you study?

During your time studying on this degree, content will cover both essential and advanced production and composition techniques. You will explore new methods of sound creation and manipulation using industry standard software.

You will also be provided with the opportunity to experiment with DJ and live electronic performance technologies, and a chance to develop your own production skillsets in synthesis and signal processing techniques, as well as refining your knowledge in recording, sampling and mixing audio.

How will you be taught and assessed?

Buckinghamshier New University teaching staff have a wealth of professional and academic experience, with many still actively working in the music industry. You’ll also engage with their dynamic programme of visiting lectures and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and plenty of networking opportunities. You’ll also benefit from our expert-lecturers who have a wealth of knowledge and experience within the industry.

You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only will you make friends for life, you’ll also make important connections that will last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in the working-world.

Teaching on this course will involve a substantial component of small-group teaching, meaning you will receive a personalised and hands-on education.

Much of the teaching is an interactive process, with students, professional practitioner-teachers and academics gaining mutual benefit within a research and professional informed environment. The interaction between teaching, research and scholarship is a key element of our course.

A variety of assessment vehicles will be used as appropriate to the modules you take, including assignments carried out in your own time, in-class assignments, workshops and presentations. Assessments will be appropriate to the task, achievable, motivating and vocationally focussed, forming a constructive part of your learning process.

What are your career prospects? 

Throughout your time with Buckinghamshier New University they’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. They will help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. BNU also help you find employment after graduation. 

BNU's Electronic Music Production course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities in career pathways such as:

• Self-employed as professional DJs
• Recording Engineer
• Mix Engineer
• Studio Technician
• Radio Engineer
• Web Sound Technician
• Sound Editor
• Sound Technology Educator
• Programmer

To help you prepare for your chosen career, we invite experts from industry to come and talk to you at their High Wycombe campus.